A Guide to Field Philosophy: Case Studies and Practical Strategies

Philosophers increasingly engage in practical work with other disciplines and the world at large. This volume draws together the lessons learned from this work―including philosophers’ contributions to scientific research projects, consultations on matters of policy, and expertise provided to government agencies and non-profits―on how to effectively practice philosophy. Its 22 case studies are organized into five sections:

I Collaboration and Communication

II Policymaking and the Public Sphere

III Fieldwork in the Academy

IV Fieldwork in the Professions

V Changing Philosophical Practice

Together, these essays provide a practical, how-to guide for doing philosophy in the field―how to find problems that can benefit from philosophical contributions, effectively collaborate with other professionals and community members, make fieldwork a positive part of a philosophical career, and anticipate and negotiate the sorts of unanticipated problems that crop up in direct public engagement.

Key features:

• Gives specific advice on how to integrate philosophy with outside groups.
• Offers examples from working with the public and private sectors, community organizations, and academic groups.
• Provides lessons learned, often summarized at the end of chapters, for how to practice philosophy in the field.

Evelyn Brister is Associate Professor in the Philosophy Department at Rochester Institute of Technology. She has a PhD in Philosophy and an MS in Environmental Science, and she has written articles on the philosophy of sustainability, environmental decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific objectivity.

Robert Frodeman has taught at the University of Colorado and the University of North Texas. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and an MS in Environmental Science, and his research ranges across environmental philosophy and public policy, the philosophy of science and technology, and the philosophy of interdisciplinarity. He is the author or editor of 16 books, including the Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity (2010 and 2017) and Transhumanism, Nature, and the Ends of Science (Routledge, 2019).