为哲学“正名”

Philosophy by Another Name

第一位哲字针惨有征同外俊及自己专业时．对“哲学”二字给人的困扰都深有感触，人家一听就认定你干的行当是传播圣训（通常是些无可置疑的警句、谚语）。你拼命解释你做的不是“那种”哲学，为此又可能背上对历史使命（发掘、阐释生命的意义及人类的最终福祉）弃之不顾的骂名。

Every professional philosopher, or student of philosophy, knows how linguistically confusingthe name of our discipline1 can be when talking to people outside the field. They immediately assume you are in the business of offering sage advice, usually in the form of unargued aphorisms2 and proverbs. You struggle to explain that you don＇t do that kind of philosophy, at which point you may well be accused ofabandoning your historical calling -- unearthing3 and explicating4 the ＂meaning of life＂ and what the ultimate human goods are. You may then be castigated5 for not being a ＂real philosopher＂.