Philosophy in the streets: Walking the city with Engels and de Certeau

摘要

Idealistic or bird's-eye views of cities often blind us to the mutual interdependence of philosophy and the city. But there are philosophers who refuse Utopian positions in favor of philosophies that are grounded in urban streets. Meagher argues that Engels and de Certeau are two such philosophers, who, taken together, can provide us with an understanding of how philosophy can both offer a normative critique of the city as well as guidelines for resisting social injustices discovered through that critique. Meagher demonstrates how such a reconceptualization of the task of the philosopher can inform our understanding of both cities and philosophy by engaging in a philosophical 'walking tour' of Scranton, Pennsylvania, a small industrial city facing challenges in an age of globalization.