How did Bernard Williams describe philosophy as a humanistic discipline?

Bernard Williams viewed philosophy as an effort to achieve a deeper understanding of human life and the human point of view in its multiple dimensions. While he was trained in analytic philosophy and met its standards for clarity and rigor, he believed its aims should extend far beyond mere conceptual analysis.1

He rejected the tendency to model philosophy after the natural sciences, arguing that physical science pursues an objectivity and universality that is inappropriate for humanistic subjects. Instead, Williams maintained that the project of understanding human nature should rely on history, which allows for critical distance from the present without abandoning the fullness of the human perspective.1

His approach was deeply suspicious of systematic theories, particularly in ethics, because he believed they failed to account for the complexity, contingency, and individuality of human life. By prioritizing the human point of view, Williams challenged the ambition of transcending one's own perspective, arguing that such attempts in the practical domain are often self-deceived and undermine the personal projects that give life meaning.1