Contemporary philosophy

Contemporary philosophy describes the current era of Western philosophical thought. This period began in the early 20th century. It is defined by the increasing professionalization of the discipline. This means philosophy became an organized career with specific standards. It is often confused with modern or postmodern philosophy. It is also distinct from the personal views held by the general public. While many people have their own personal philosophies, professional philosophy is a specialized academic field.

Professionalization is a social process that creates specific rules for a job. It establishes norms of conduct and acceptable qualifications for members. It also creates professional bodies to oversee how members behave. This process separates qualified experts from untrained amateurs. In philosophy, this changed how researchers share their findings. Instead of writing large books for a general audience, philosophers began writing brief articles. These articles are written for professional colleagues who share a specific way of thinking. This shift makes the work very technical and specialized.

Germany was the first country to professionalize the field of philosophy. In 1817, Hegel became the first philosopher appointed as a professor by the state. This happened in Prussia due to Napoleonic reforms. The United States later adopted a similar model for its higher education system. In England, professionalization was also closely tied to changes in universities. Today, most professional work is done by university professors. These professors usually hold a doctorate in their field. They publish their research in highly technical, peer-reviewed journals.

There is a major distinction in the field between analytic and continental philosophy. This is often called the analytic-continental divide. Analytic philosophy emerged from the work of Gottlob Frege, Bertrand Russell, and G. E. Moore. They used modern logic and conceptual analysis to study language. This style aims for extreme precision and argumentative clarity. It is the dominant tradition in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Many analytic philosophers identify more closely with mathematics and the sciences than with the humanities.

Continental philosophy followed a different path of development. It began with thinkers like Franz Brentano, Edmund Husserl, Adolf Reinach, and Martin Heidegger. This tradition developed the method of phenomenology. Continental philosophy is most prevalent in Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. While the two styles differ in method, they share a common Western tradition. Both traditions trace their roots back to the philosopher Immanuel Kant. They often disagree on which thinkers after Kant are the most important. For example, continental philosophers value Hegel highly, while analytic philosophers view him as a minor figure.

Professional organizations help manage the work of modern philosophers. In the United States, the American Philosophical Association is the main group. It was formed when the Western Philosophical Association and parts of the American Psychological Association merged. The association has three divisions: Pacific, Central, and Eastern. The Eastern Division holds a massive annual meeting every December. This meeting attracts around 2,000 philosophers. It is also the largest recruitment event for philosophy jobs in the United States. The association also awards honors, such as the American Philosophical Association Book Prize.

Specialized groups also exist to support specific traditions. The Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy focuses on continental philosophy. To track philosophical activity, the Philosophy Documentation Center publishes important directories. The Directory of American Philosophers covers the United States and Canada. It is published every two years. Its companion, the International Directory of Philosophy and Philosophers, covers Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Latin America. These resources help scholars keep track of the global profession.

Modern technology has also changed how philosophers communicate. Since the start of the 21st century, many use blogs for professional exchange. David Chalmers started an informal list of philosophy blogs that is widely used. Some blogs, like PEA Soup, partner with major journals to discuss ethics. Other blogs, such as "What is it Like to be a Woman in Philosophy?", highlight specific experiences in the profession. Although most professional work is very technical, some books reach a broad audience. Michael Sandel's "Justice" and Harry Frankfurt's "On Bullshit" both became New York Times best sellers.