Is Vonnegut a Philosopher?: Philosophy Forums

Is Vonnegut a Philosopher?
Author, Kurt Vonnegut; is he a philosopher?

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Is Vonnegut a Philosopher?

ciceronianus
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Posted 07/28/09 - 09:02 AM:	#11
If one wants to define "philosopher" as any person who write, speaks or thinks about issues considered philosophical, that's fine with me. In that sense, I suppose Vonnegut would be one. His "so it goes" may be considered indicative of a kind of fatalism. But, I think there are some who would think, not unreasonably, that such a defintion is overbroad, as most any person would be a philosopher in that case.
"Let us not pretend to doubt in philosophy what we do not doubt in our hearts."--C.S. Peirce "There is nothing so absurd but some philosopher has said it."--Marcus Tullius Cicero "Philosophy recovers itself when it ceases to be a device for dealing with the problems of philosophers and becomes a method, cultivated by philosophers, for dealing with the problems of men."--John Dewey

yasseford
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Posted 07/28/09 - 09:08 AM:	#12
I'm currently reading Godbless you Mr. Rosewater. From the books of his that I have read, Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse Five, and his nonfiction book Man Without a Country. I've also read half of Timequake, but I lost it before could finish . From Timequake and Slaughterhouse Five, I think it's very apparent that Vonnegut is a hard determinist. From his candid autobiographical anecdotes in Man Without a Country, as well as simple biographical information stated above, he is clearly a humanist. Rosewater seems like it is going to have some social and political satire (and hence social and political prescriptions), though I'm only 15 pages in. I suppose you could say everyone is a philosopher, but that sort of takes away meaning from the word. I tend to think of philosophy as a study - an active pursuit of knowledge a particular field. My definition is arguable, I suppose, but it sits well with my gut.
Yasseford

Rypcord
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Posted 07/28/09 - 08:50 PM:	#13
Shame about Timequake Yasseford. It was my first; or second maybe; Vonnegut novel. All I have yet to read of his is Time and Timbuktu, A Cat in a Canary House, his Kevorkian short novella, his upcoming second posthumous novel collection, and his various script/plays.

The Slim Salmon
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Posted 07/29/09 - 03:03 AM:	#14
slap wrote: I believe that everyone is a philosopher, just like everyone can sing. Its just that some have been trained to philosophize "better" or perhaps more rigorously? And all of a sudden the concept 'philosophy' is shreddet for every sense of meaning...

yasseford
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Posted 08/06/09 - 09:03 AM:	#15
The Slim Salmon wrote: And all of a sudden the concept 'philosophy' is shreddet for every sense of meaning... I agree. That position would mean that I am a butcher, astronaut, juggler, and graverobber, though I am not particularly skilled or experienced in any of these things.
Yasseford

Phaedruswax
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Posted 08/06/09 - 09:13 AM:	#16
Rypcord wrote: Would you consider Kurt Vonnegut [Jr.] a philosopher? And if not; why not? And if so; why-so? Throughout his numerous books he gives his views and opinions, through his fiction and non-fiction. \ So what do all of you scholars here think? I must say, if Vonnegut is a philosopher, Heinlein supersedes him.

Rypcord
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Posted 08/07/09 - 07:13 AM:	#17
Why does Heinlein supersede him?

Phaedruswax
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Posted 08/07/09 - 08:02 AM:	#18
Rypcord wrote: Why does Heinlein supersede him? I believe Heinlein supersedes Vonnegut by content, plus I feel Vonnegut ripped off of Heinlein in many ways. They differ in politics antithetically and Vonnegut seems more interested in shock. Maybe I'm just a Heinlein fan, but I definitely think as far as philosophy goes Heinlein is more original.

Rypcord
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Posted 08/07/09 - 08:33 AM:	#19
How so? How did Vonnegut rip off Heinlein?

Phaedruswax
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Posted 08/07/09 - 12:08 PM:	#20
Rypcord wrote: How so? How did Vonnegut rip off Heinlein? Heinlein was the first, from what I know, to write speculative fiction which Vonnegut clearly attempted to imitate with his first novel. He may actively deny writing in such a manner, but that's probably out of pride of ownership/ideals. Heinlein was a libertarian who supports free market and personal freedom. While Vonnegut's a socialist on the other hand. In my opinion, Vonnegut is merely a socialist wannabe Heinlein.

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