Peter Hacker is not somebody who thinks “philosophy should be useless.” Of the list of “basics” that you cite Peter Hacker would agree that “things are made of atoms”, “that many questions don’t need to be answered but instead dissolved” and “that language is full of tricks.” He also explicitly states that “Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience” should be judged on its usefulness (which is why methodological concerns are relegated to the back pages). Indeed, it seems you equate dissolving problems with “thinking philosophy should be useless” (you cite the later Wittgenstein and dissolution was his method), despite the fact that you also cite it favourably. I find this odd.
Peter Hacker is not somebody who thinks “philosophy should be useless.” Of the list of “basics” that you cite Peter Hacker would agree that “things are made of atoms”, “that many questions don’t need to be answered but instead dissolved” and “that language is full of tricks.” He also explicitly states that “Philosophical Foundations of Neuroscience” should be judged on its usefulness (which is why methodological concerns are relegated to the back pages). Indeed, it seems you equate dissolving problems with “thinking philosophy should be useless” (you cite the later Wittgenstein and dissolution was his method), despite the fact that you also cite it favourably. I find this odd.
You’re right. I mis-remembered Hacker’s positions. I’ve updated the original post. Thanks for the correction.