Bob Schwartz

Philosophy is embedded in all that we do, believe, and is done to us. It often goes unrecognized and unattended. Among other places, it appears in our religious traditions, though we receive the philosophies of God, the founders and the wise people as givens which we follow and practice. The same goes for calls to patriotism, nationalism and war.

There are those whose lives and careers are devoted, in whole or in part, to philosophy. Some are in the academy, some are outside. If philosophy is important, and it is, it should be front and center. If media reports regularly included philosophical notes or discussions with philosophers, events and issues could go far and deep beyond “He said, he said, this country attacked, this country fought back, these children were killed, the killing is unfortunate but excusable.” Like that.

Philosophers don’t come more forward, or out at all, for many reasons. Some philosophers, brilliant and insightful as they are, are not easily comprehensible to ordinary people—including other philosophers. This lack of communicative clarity keeps media from regularly including philosophers in their interviews and round-tables. When issues are hot and controversial, as they are now, it is risky for philosophers to offer any insights, especially when the very higher ed institutions they work for are under investigation and assault.

Nevertheless, we need to dig deeper into war and the death of democracy, or the dozens of other issues we face, beyond black and white, good guys and bad guys. Philosophers can do that, as they have always done, when they are given a platform and can make themselves understood.

Philosophers: Come out and come forward.

© 2026 Bob Schwartz