There is an ideal, a goal that surfaces from time to time in philosophy. The inspiration is to sweep away the past and have an understanding of things which is entirely contemporary. The attractive idea underlying this is that of liberation from the dead weight of past errors and illusions. Thought casts off its chains. This may require a certain austere courage, because naturally we have grown comfortable, we have come to feel secure in the prison of the past. But it is also exhilarating.

One great model for this kind of thing is the Galilean break in science. Social scientists and psychologists periodically announce something of the kind, or else assure us of its imminence. But the last time this wind swept philosophy in our culture was with the surge of logical positivism almost half a century ago. As a doctrine, this rapidly fell on the defensive, and has been retreating ever since. But the habit of treating philosophy as an exercise which could be carried on in entirely contemporary terms has lingered on, and is still very widespread. Past authors may be read, but they are treated as if they were contemporaries. They earn a right to enter the dialogue because they happen to offer good formulations of one or another position which is worthy of a hearing. They are not explored as origins, but as atemporal resources.