Comments on: Working methods of philosophers http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:33:20 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Ingrid Robeyns http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262671 Ingrid Robeyns Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:54:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262671 Writing in general is not the problem for me- whether in pants, pyjamas, in the office, at home, or somewhere else (though sufficient amounts of coffee and once in a while a little piece of belgian chocolate do help). The main problem is that projects without deadlines always get lower priority than projects with deadlines, especially when these deadlines invovle other people (typically: a chapter for a book promised to an editor). So that's why that damned monograph never gets written. Solution? I have come to believe that without a book contract with a publisher, there is not going to be a book written on this computer. And I recently heard a colleague from another university coming to exactly the same conclusion. So it's not just me. Writing in general is not the problem for me- whether in pants, pyjamas, in the office, at home, or somewhere else (though sufficient amounts of coffee and once in a while a little piece of belgian chocolate do help).

The main problem is that projects without deadlines always get lower priority than projects with deadlines, especially when these deadlines invovle other people (typically: a chapter for a book promised to an editor). So that’s why that damned monograph never gets written. Solution? I have come to believe that without a book contract with a publisher, there is not going to be a book written on this computer. And I recently heard a colleague from another university coming to exactly the same conclusion. So it’s not just me.

]]> By: Samir Okasha http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262661 Samir Okasha Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:51:27 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262661 Part of the problem with philosophy, though, is that people write far too much, in my opinion. Speaking of J.S. Mill, think of his vastly too-long A System of Logic. Rather than discussing ways to overcome writer's block when doing philosophy, perhaps we should be discussing ways to induce it? Part of the problem with philosophy, though, is that people write far too much, in my opinion.
Speaking of J.S. Mill, think of his vastly too-long A System of Logic.
Rather than discussing ways to overcome writer’s block when doing philosophy, perhaps we should be discussing ways to induce it?

]]> By: James Wimberley http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262646 James Wimberley Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:28:39 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262646 <a href="http://quote.robertgenn.com/auth_search.php?authid=298" rel="nofollow">Somerset Maugham</a>: "I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp." Somerset Maugham: “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”

]]> By: Chris Bertram http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262634 Chris Bertram Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:20:44 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262634 #3 Thanks! Great link. #3 Thanks! Great link.

]]> By: t e whalen http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262632 t e whalen Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:08:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262632 We're all reading <a href="http://dailyroutines.typepad.com/" rel="nofollow">Daily Routines</a>, right? We’re all reading Daily Routines, right?

]]> By: Matt http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262630 Matt Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:35:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262630 I suggested moving up a step from "casual friday" to "pantsless friday" for my work but was out-voted. I did think it would improve our moods and so our productivity. That's pretty low on friday, anyway, so it couldn't have hurt. As for work and drink, more often than not now I also have half of Burgess's formula, though usually the opposite half of Chris. I suggested moving up a step from “casual friday” to “pantsless friday” for my work but was out-voted. I did think it would improve our moods and so our productivity. That’s pretty low on friday, anyway, so it couldn’t have hurt. As for work and drink, more often than not now I also have half of Burgess’s formula, though usually the opposite half of Chris.

]]> By: HP http://crookedtimber.org/2009/01/06/working-methods-of-philosophers/comment-page-1/#comment-262624 HP Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:50:40 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/?p=9074#comment-262624 Break time already? Break time already?

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