History in philosophy, philosophy beyond history: Swami Vivekananda's curious Predicament

Abstract

The manner in which we do Philosophy involves extensive engagement with the history of ideas, the ideas which shape political and social institutions, and sometimes the engagement is with the idea of history and writing itself. Philosophy develops through and in that engagement. While doing Philosophy, the ideas being engaged with need not be necessarily treated in chronological sequences. It may help oneís thirst for the narrative to set ideas in temporal order posting one as evolving as a reaction to another. But that ordering may not be a necessary exercise and may not have the obvious benefits that it may have in another discipline. The chronology does not add to the worth of the idea, although it may help us to understand the motivations. Its history cannot justify an idea, though it could excuse the agents for being led by a certain idea at a certain point in time.