Our current name is harmful because it posits a big gap between the sciences and philosophy.
via Philosophy by Another Name – NYTimes.com.
Not so sure about this McGinn guy… big on realism and “Science!” Oooh! Someone please write this philosopher a check. His stock is GOING UP!
Actually, I think ‘science’ could use a bit of a makeover too– more so than ‘philosophy,’ really. How about instead of ‘science’ we start calling it ‘industry.’
The fact that as a philosopher you feel it necessary/ appropriate/ expedient to publish a letter in the NYTimes calling for an update of the name of the discipline shows a degree of chutzpah, which I admire; though it belies your espoused lack of affection for human culture generally in favor of cold hard scientific (=industrial) realism.