Radical Philosophy

Movement formed in 1971, in opposition to narrowness and insularity of professional philosophy in Britain, particularly Oxford. The Radical Philosophy Group has organized various national conferences, but its main influence has been through the magazine Radical Philosophy. This has persistently forsworn allegiance to any particular doctrine, but describes itself as a journal of socialist and feminist philosophy. Additionally, although it is not a Marxist journal, many of those involved with it have seen themselves as continuing a Marxist philosophical tradition. Other preoccupations include a commitment to interdisciplinary work, widening interest in continental philosophy, and reforming bad practices in academic philosophy.

Since some of its defining concerns are now shared by many distinguished philosophers, it is to be wondered whether its self-image of opposition to the narrowness of the professional discipline is any longer appropriate (although the attempt by Cambridge philosophers to deny an honorary degree to Derrida might suggest that this is premature).