The Relevance of Relevant Thinking: Remarks on Carlin Romano's America the Philosophical

This paper elaborates on Romano's landmark book as a paradigm extension from philosophy as a doctrine to philosophy as a personal disposition to think reflectively. Romano's pragmatism highlights philosophy as a reflective tendency in the service of the relevant and for the benefit of a better life as it is actually lived. Rather than staying within its own territory, the point is to enter what might seem like non-philosophical realms of action with the idea of cultivating them. Breaking away from the overtly academic boundaries of philosophy, Romano's book paves the way for a positive philosophy movement and for philosophy that contributes to people's actual conduct of their lives.