The Rise of Neoliberal Philosophy: Human Capital, Profitable Knowledge, and the Love of Wisdom

Brandon Absher argues that the neoliberal transformation of higher education has led to a paradigm shift in philosophy in the US, resulting in the rise of neoliberal philosophy that seeks to attract investment by demonstrating optimal return and internalizing and reproducing the values of the prevailing social order.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 15 May 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

Brandon Absher's book, "The Rise of Neoliberal Philosophy: Human Capital, Profitable Knowledge, and the Love of Wisdom," explores the impact of neoliberalism on higher education and its influence on philosophy in the United States. Absher argues that the neoliberal transformation of higher education has led to a paradigm shift in philosophy, characterized by the rise of neoliberal philosophy. Neoliberal philosophy seeks to attract investment by demonstrating its ability to produce optimal returns. Philosophers in the neoliberal paradigm internalize and reproduce the values of the prevailing social order in their work, reorienting philosophical desire toward the production of attractive commodities. The aim of philosophy in the neoliberal university, according to Absher, has become the production of human capital and profitable knowledge.

One of the key arguments in Absher's book is that neoliberalism has transformed the role of philosophy in higher education. Traditionally, philosophy was seen as a discipline that sought to explore fundamental questions about the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the ethical principles that guide human behavior. However, under neoliberalism, philosophy has become increasingly focused on producing knowledge that can be applied to the marketplace. This has led to a shift in the focus of philosophy from theoretical inquiry to practical application.

Absher argues that this shift has had negative consequences for philosophy. He claims that the emphasis on producing knowledge that can be applied to the marketplace has led to a narrowing of the scope of philosophical inquiry. Philosophers are now more likely to focus on questions that have immediate practical implications, rather than questions that have broader philosophical significance. This has led to a reduction in the depth and complexity of philosophical thought, and has made it more difficult for philosophers to engage with complex and controversial issues.

Another consequence of the neoliberal transformation of higher education is the increasing commodification of philosophy. Philosophers are now more likely to be seen as professionals who provide services to businesses and organizations. This has led to a decrease in the autonomy of philosophy and has made it more difficult for philosophers to pursue their own research interests. Philosophers are now more likely to be hired by companies and organizations to provide consulting services, rather than to pursue their own research.

Absher also argues that the neoliberal transformation of higher education has led to a decline in the quality of philosophy education. He claims that the emphasis on producing knowledge that can be applied to the marketplace has led to a reduction in the amount of time that philosophers spend on research. Philosophers are now more likely to be focused on teaching courses that are designed to meet the needs of businesses and organizations, rather than courses that are designed to promote critical thinking and intellectual inquiry.

In addition to these negative consequences, Absher also argues that neoliberalism has had a positive impact on philosophy. He claims that neoliberalism has led to a greater emphasis on the importance of human capital and profitable knowledge. Philosophers are now more likely to be interested in questions that have practical implications for the economy and society. This has led to a greater emphasis on the study of economics, psychology, and sociology, and has helped to develop new theories and models that can be applied to real-world problems.

However, Absher also argues that neoliberalism has had a negative impact on the values of philosophy. He claims that the emphasis on producing knowledge that can be applied to the marketplace has led to a reduction in the importance of ethical principles. Philosophers are now more likely to be interested in questions that have immediate practical implications, rather than questions that have broader ethical significance. This has led to a decline in the importance of ethical principles in public policy and in the lives of individuals.

Absher's book provides a comprehensive analysis of the neoliberal transformation of higher education and its impact on philosophy. He argues that the neoliberal transformation has led to a paradigm shift in philosophy, characterized by the rise of neoliberal philosophy. Neoliberal philosophy seeks to attract investment by demonstrating its ability to produce optimal returns. Philosophers in the neoliberal paradigm internalize and reproduce the values of the prevailing social order in their work, reorienting philosophical desire toward the production of attractive commodities. The aim of philosophy in the neoliberal university has become the production of human capital and profitable knowledge.

However, Absher also argues that the neoliberal transformation of higher education has had negative consequences for philosophy. He claims that the emphasis on producing knowledge that can be applied to the marketplace has led to a narrowing of the scope of philosophical inquiry, a decline in the quality of philosophy education, and a reduction in the importance of ethical principles. Absher's book provides a valuable contribution to the debate about the impact of neoliberalism on higher education and its implications for philosophy.

In conclusion, Brandon Absher's book, "The Rise of Neoliberal Philosophy: Human Capital, Profitable Knowledge, and the Love of Wisdom," provides a comprehensive analysis of the neoliberal transformation of higher education and its impact on philosophy in the United States. Absher argues that the neoliberal transformation has led to a paradigm shift in philosophy, characterized by the rise of neoliberal philosophy. Neoliberal philosophy seeks to attract investment by demonstrating its ability to produce optimal returns. Philosophers in the neoliberal paradigm internalize and reproduce the values of the prevailing social order in their work, reorienting philosophical desire toward the production of attractive commodities. The aim of philosophy in the neoliberal university has become the production of human capital and profitable knowledge. However, Absher also argues that the neoliberal transformation of higher education has had negative consequences for philosophy, including a narrowing of the scope of philosophical inquiry, a decline in the quality of philosophy education, and a reduction in the importance of ethical principles. Absher's book provides a valuable contribution to the debate about the impact of neoliberalism on higher education and its implications for philosophy.

Weight: 304g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793616005