On philosophy as a disease

from p.102 of "Philosophy" Inquiry 1:1-4 (1958) 99-129

"An influential contemporary school, with many very able adherents in England and the U.S.A., would reduce philosophy to the modest task of attempting to cure the occupational diseases of philosophers. In their writings the word 'philosopher' is commonly used to denote the holder of some opinion, or more accurately the utterer of some sentence in the indicative mood, which, the writer regards as characteristically fatuous. If this is what one thinks about one's own occupation, it is certainly honest to announce the fact. It is not for me to judge whether it is altogether prudent for professional philosophers thus publicly to proclaim that their business is to take in and wash each other's dirty linen. Nor will I speculate on how long an impoverished community, such as contemporary England, will continue to pay salaries to individuals whose only function, on their own showing, is to treat a disease which they catch from each other and impart to their pupils."