I've re-written this post 3 times so far today. I've got half a post on knowledge vs belief, half a post on different types of liberty, a rough cut of a #dtube video on possible worlds - and that's just what I was doing when I wasn't staring at the three potential journal articles I have started.
Some days it's hard to finish what I've started.
It's not all bad though.
I went to a seminar with philosophers of biology, Kim Sterelny and Paul Griffiths. Short summary: There probably isn't anything such as human nature - not in any essential sense anyway. And they way that most people talk about the nature vs nurture debate is so pre-theoretic that getting any ideas across is deeply challenging.
I've also managed to make some progress the Philosophical Engagement in Public Life (PEiPL) working group I'm currently team leader of - PEiPL: At the Margins
For those who've missed my previous posts about this, this the aim of this group is to explore ways that philosophy can enrich the lives of people who are marginalised in society - and how this engagement can help us do better philosophy.
Anyway, I've got a meeting next week with the director of a not-for-profit organisation that provides food support in our area where we'll discuss what might be possible to achieve between or organisations. People might be sceptical about this, and wonder what the point is of talking philosophy with the poor, the homeless, people in our criminal justice system, and disadvantaged migrant communities etc. But I suspect that these people are the ones who could benefit the most from a little discussion with us. And I certainly think they deserve the opportunity to have these conversations and think these thoughts.
I'm pretty excited at being able to make some actual progress towards taking some philosophers off-campus and into the places where they are almost never seen. It's something I've wanted to do for a really long time. It doesn't pay anything at this time, but it's worth doing nonetheless.
I'm also, very slowly, making progress on an article about Steemit that I want to write for Independent Australia (their editors are very patient with me, for which I'm very grateful).
Thanks for reading. You support means a lot to me - whether that's an upvote or not.
Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash
I think you are hitting a few nails on the head with this article.
philosophy is condemned, by virtue to of the fact that it is great for entertaining conversation among intellectuals. But, does it have any value (practical application) for the man in the street?
Beside the question of practical application to the public in general, the next question pops up. How do we make it accessible to the man in the street? The first time people often into contact with philosophy is at first year university. What about those that never have a tertiary education OR don't follow the social sciences stream? (I think your activism and passion for the subject goes a long way to addressing this issue - we need more of your kind).
Philosophical studies should be a major subject at all primary and secondary institutions as well, before it becomes necessary to implement the kind of initiative that you are contemplating.
Apologies, I probably didn't articulate or fully complete my first statement (my focus was probably clouded by simultaneously formulating points 2 and 3).
Does, it have any practical value, by virtue of it being introduced into the mainstream so late and in limited doses.
I get what you say, in general we have the ability to grasp the detail and the content. And many of your students are the fortunate to be given the theory in a formal setting, so certainly they can discus philosophy with a measure of confidence. In my case I studied engineering, I had no exposure to philosophical doctrines or teaching whatsoever. So, I respond to philosophical content, without understanding the theory and it's true context in a series of theories. I therefore genuinely approach this subject with the confidence akin to a fish out of water. I constantly feel as though i'm always grabbing the cat at it's tail.
Using your example taking philosophy to the criminal justice system, facilities - there is probably a case to be made that if these people were exposed to philosophy much earlier in life then many of them, could've avoid the trip the corrective facilities.
Forgive me for interrupting, I just wanted to comment on point no.2
I studied Marketing/Advertising, and I also never took a class on Philosophy. But I love reading, and read a few books from writers who wrote kinda philosophical stuff like paulo coelho, jostein gaarder, antoine saint exupery (The Little Prince).
I know the names of A LOT of famous philosophers, but I can't tell you which philosophical theory came from which philosopher. There is no one theory or school of thought that I fully agree with anyway, so I couldn't say that I'm a nihilist or existentialist or whatever.
My point is, you don't have to be a "philosopher" or studied "philosophy" to talk about philosophy! All you need is an open mind and some free time to read Wikipedia =)
@somethingrandom - you are most welcome.
Having read and considered your comments;
I think what I am really getting at is that, in order for philosophy to have the positive impact it could have on society - it needs to be introduced more widespread in mainstream education, otherwise it's just great as a social conversation piece and ever evolving in academic circles.
I think you have articulated my point better than I could, in terms of the theoretical context of the various philosophies. Without that background one tends to create one's own context, which could be problematic.
I agree that philosophy should be introduced in mainstream education, like Maths or Science!
Creating your own context based on the information you have is a human thing, as everyone interprets things differently anyway, that's why there are so many versions/offshoots of the same religion or philosophy.
Hha, fair enough, but I'm cool with...
Not so cool with: Creating your own context based on the information you don't have...
Good for you, i think its a great idea and i wish you guys the best of luck.
''People might be sceptical about this, and wonder what the point is of talking philosophy with the poor, the homeless, people in our criminal justice system, and disadvantaged migrant communities etc''
I think its good to engage with these groups, though more in need of an injection of ethics is the ruling class of politicians, corporate CEO's, royalty, and the vatican!
Teaching morality should be fundamental in public and private schools. Teaching criminals in the justice system should be interesting. I think that most criminals know that their actions are wrong but do them anyway because they dont care or that they need the money. On the other hand the legal system itself can be immoral, selling a medicinal plant for example does not merit ANY time behind bars. People should be free to consume whatever substance they want. if we own anything at all, we own our own bodies.
I respect your voluntary work samuel, just be careful you dont get stabbed in the neck by a psychopathic inmate!!
That’s sounds great! Perspective is so important and we often reject so many perspectives without even realizing it. Sharing perspective isn’t only a one way project either. You may find that they’re perspective helps you more than yours helps them. That’s what I discovered from hanging out with the “disenfranchised”.
As for human nature, we can only know what human nature is inside of the confines of certain situations and a certain history. Human nature is infinite!
That photo really pulled me in.
I've looked up those philosophers. I think you may enjoy Slavoy Zizek on the Kierkegaard topic. :-D