Let there be light!

Philosophy at university scorns the continental tradition!

Fact? Fiction? A blur of both?...

Even defining the two traditions is a perilous task. Factions war within the schools themselves. But i'll just dive in an grab the stereotypes by the Qualia!

Analytic philosophy is said to be the systematic study of concepts. While Continental can be portrayed as an equally rigorous, yet less formalised under the banner of rationality... ''convoluted coffee shop art" erring towards literature and critical theory ( (grossly misrepresented) quote, Dr Jones of the Leeds Philosophy Department).

Here's a metaphor to consider. the lone lamp light and the candelabra. Which one sheds more light and fulfils its purpose best? The lamp is unassuming, basic, pretty boring if you think about it. Jejune?
Perhaps not. It does its job efficiently with stoic resolve. You may not see the whole room illuminated; but the small part the lamp rays focus on will be brought to glaring attention.

How about the candelabra? It is commonly thought to be aesthetically pleasing. Sculpted. Gymnastics with a rod of brass. It casts its light across the whole room. But often the roaming glow will leave you in twilight. The device seems to seek to illuminate a vast expanse at the cost of focus.


Does the continental tradition still strive for system building? Trying to understand the entire human condition. Romantic perhaps, yet such a task is bound to be forever unfinished. Or at least broadly superficial. This author is well aware the whole metaphor is biased rhetoric. Dogmatically sculpted in the same fashion as the accused continental position. And the seeming lack of obvious argument leaves this post precariously teetering with a foot in both camps.

As aforementioned, this is just an thought. A simple analogy to get us wondering. I don't claim to endorse either position. If in fact there be a position at all... Perhaps the divide is unreal. Or simply a crossroads of methodology and purpose without conflict.

Maybe there is no analytic and continental. Just good and bad philosophy?...

- T. R. Firth-Jones