If you could have dinner with any philosopher, who would it be?
Mind the doors! Going down. 1st flaw: “The love for human wisdom”. That’s what the word philosophy means. I might be stabbing in the dark here, but since when has it been clearly obvious that that’s a good idea?
Seriously. Look around you and point to a conclusively good working example that human philosophy works. Go on. I’m waiting. (Not with baited breath you understand!).
Mind the doors, 2nd flaw. How much actual experience of life would any given philosopher have had or read about that makes his/her world view any better or more insightful than say, a mechanic.
One source states that it takes 7-12 years to have a piece of paper (admittedly from one or other ‘prestigious’ learning environment) that declares you to be a ‘Doctor’ of philosophy. It only takes 4 years to be a mechanic.
I agree that you won’t be having a deeply wide-ranging discussion about the meaning of life but at least they’ll get your car working! You can go and discover the human condition yourself!
Going down, 3rd flaw. Please mind the gap. What practical use is philosophy? Apart from training dogs to eat or not eat at a given signal what use is it?
Will it feed your family? Will it make you a better person? If you go to the bank for a loan, will it be a good idea – when the manager asks when will you pay back your loan? – to say, “well I’m glad you asked . . .” and then waffle* on for 2 hours about your version of the human condition and how you would alleviate certain issues that only you possibly can! “GET OUT!”
There you have it people. A rough guide to all there is to know about philosophy. I’m personally of the opinion that there is a higher wisdom.
It’s accessible, easy to understand and available without cost (but requires a LOT of personal effort) and it’s guaranteed to work.
Would I invite a philosopher to dinner? Nah! Just go to the pub^ and chat with the landlord for an hour. You’ll get more wisdom from him than 7 years at uni!
Be kind, friendly and look after the ones you love. If you can be of positive help to someone, anyone(!), do it without complaining or bragging.
There. Philosophy lesson endeth here. You have reached the important floor – reasonable expectations. Enjoy!
*waffle – not the one from Belgium! English colloquial for meaningless dribble, verbal diarrhoea and/or complete nonsense.
^pub – short for Public House. An institution found throughout Great Britain and Ireland where you will find the dispensing of alcoholic and other refreshments for your delectation. Not forgetting the aforementioned inimitable wisdom of the local landlord (a sort of manager/owner). No, I haven’t got time to tell you the history of pubs. Try chatgtp.
By the way, that’s how you spell diarrhoea. Just saying.
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