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Russell's history of philosophy is bad because Russell was a bad philosopher, not because he wasn't a 'historicist'. It pays attention often to unimportant details and explores (albeit superficially, for the above reason) connections between various thinkers (way too much, in my opinion).
– user71009
Commented Feb 2 at 9:18
@abcga Russell, gosh. He took 400 pages just to prepare to explain how 2+2=4. If he didn't hate tea so much I'd have no use for him at all.
– Scott Rowe
Commented Feb 2 at 11:35
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Helpful answer. Yes, the past / the development of a field is what we have to work with, but in Philosophy it seems that we spend a bit too much time on raking up the coals and not enough on blacksmithing. Your Quine sentence reminds me of the quote, "All science is either Physics or stamp-collecting." (by a physicist I think)
– Scott Rowe
Commented Feb 2 at 11:38
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@ScottRowe "All science is either Physics or stamp-collecting." My father knew a mechanical engineer who had a stamp collection and was sought out for his opinion on stamps by people all over the world. This fellow was an expert and inventor of machines to make textiles and printing technology. He had historical engineering knowledge of the materials and techniques for making stamps. So he understood both physics and stamp collecting! First, the field of awareness is empty. Next, psychogenesis (mysterious process) generates synthetic drama. Next, reductive-analysis occurs. That's all folks!
– SystemTheory
Commented Feb 2 at 16:53
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Thank you for your abc options, it is helpful. As a programmer, I am somewhere between b and c I think.
– Scott Rowe
Commented Feb 4 at 14:02

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