Symposium - Plato’s drinking party
The importance of being philosophical
Philosophy is the backbone of everything and shapes our entire life
This is why I was inspired to pick up a copy of Homer's Odyssey when I was 15 years old. Since its conception in Greece, philosophy has shaped how we live, how we think, how we're governed and every aspect of our lives.
It's the most important discipline. And it's this that makes it so powerful, even when it fails. Philosophy exists to dissect and challenge everything. Without it, we're a society of acceptance without purpose.
Just think, it was a group of neo-liberal thinkers in America that decided that true democracy lay in the free markets as this was only way a booming population could voice its desires. This grew into banks becoming powerful and decentralised from the government - it went on to cause an economic boom and subsequently the worst financial disaster since WWII. And this is why the international bank crisis happened and why it's still the current bane of our existence.
It's because of philosophy that Tony Blair's New Labour was relatively successful. It was a philosopher called Machiavelli that helped Tony get into and maintain power. He drew from Isiah Berlin's theories about revolution to control the population. And because of the neo-liberalist theory that everyone is self-serving, he implemented public sector targets to create a carrot and stick situation. It wasn't always successful, he failed to realise the public's intelligence about the invasion of Iraq and forgot that in general, people will attempt to break the stick to get the carrot.
The reason Cameron's term is so chaotic and free-falling is because it doesn't have any philosophical backbone. The current Tory government are coasting with no strategy or deep critical thought because they're lacking in intellectuals.
Qubt's influence over the Middle East, Sartre's influence on Black September, Germaine Greer's influence over feminism and Karl Marx influence over Che Guevera. In my opinion, even Hitler was a philosopher of sorts. He looked at a perceived problem and came up with ideas to fix it. Let's not forget he was a charismatic writer and artist. An intellectual. And his idea changed the shape of the world and our society.
It's not just politics where philosophy is important, but diplomacy, warfare, economics, science, society, culture, psychology and religion.
Philosophers are even philosophising about philosophy. Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed are all great philosophers. Giving us guidelines of morality and puritan philosophy coupled with beautiful narrative to bring their theories to life. However, Pascal argued that while science was constantly evolving, religion is fixed and it's pointless questioning the existence of God.
My favourite books are all rooted in philosophy, from On The Road by Jack Kerouac to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. One dissects hedonism and spirituality and the other dissects psychosis induced by nature and nurture. What's Fight Club if it's not political philosophy? What's 120 of Sodom if not a study into human depravity. What's the Origin of Species of not a study into existentialism?
Art is a form of expressionism that establishes a philosophy of life, society or personal psychosis. Look at Tracey Emin's bed, anything by Hogarth or Francis Bacon's triptych. It exists in all protest songs and you could argue that song's steeped in emotion are also a form of philosophy. These are all ideas that are thought provoking and revolutionary.
As individuals, we have a philosophical path we live by. Not many of us, that's why the mainstream exists – the 80% of the population that's told what to think and how to live without question. The remaining 20% have a strong sense of self, worth and direction. These are the people who are tenacious in their lifestyle choices and swim against the tide.
Up until recently, there were bands of intellectuals that would gather and discuss ideas about how to change the world. Now, we have no such intellectuals - none that are taken seriously or have any influence. Philosophy has been branded a fluffy subject undertaken by pompous, middle-class, pot-smoking Marxists who gather in mouldy rooms to pontificate endlessly without getting anywhere. This may be the case, but we should never underestimate the need and power of philosophy. Once this has been reinstated, we will once against have order, fairness and change in our grasp.
The subject needs to evolve, just everything else. It needs to leave the realms of Radio 4 and Melvyn Bragg or late night TV that evokes funny memories of Baddiel and Newman in The Mary Whitehouse Experience. It needs to be accessible and embrace technology to explain philosophy in Layman's terms, involving charismatic speakers and ideas from people other than university lecturers.
A brave new world?
I've been reading lots of material about proposed government systems. Unsurprisingly, they go from totalitarian to anarchy. The logic behind each is no more fool proof than the other.
However, I did come across some fantastic ideas to modernise government. In the way we vote for our favourite singer on X-Factor after a couple of performances then the big live shows is when people start voting. It'll put politicians under pressure to win us over with their policies and manifesto. Give them a grilling in front of experts and the general public. If they have the charisma and the knowledge to survive they'll get votes. And everyone can vote as easily as hitting a red button or through an app.
Another popular stance was to restore monarchy rule. This is one that I actually think could work. Why not have a King or Queen who is primed and trained from birth to rule a country? Success isn't just being able to stay on the throne, but also a case of family pride. Who would want to be the King that failed, when they've had hundreds of years of heritage to live up to? The Privy Council would cease to be the stomping ground of lords and nobility, but of experts at the top of their field. The House of Commons would have a fixed agenda (agreed by the monarch) that's made public - any UK resident would be able to attend on the day (at no financial or annual leave cost) when the matters that mean the most to them are talked about. The Privy Council will preside over the debate, along with experts in that particular field. It will then go to the vote. The House of Lords will still exist, anything that's voted for in the House of Commons will go to the House of Lords for agreement. Then the Queen/King and the Privy Council will sign off a fool proof strategy or legislation. No MPs and no party politics.
A short term fix would be to make government a completely altruistic profession. There's no wage, but there's also no cost. As an MP, you'll be exempt from bank charges, repayments, utility bills and the food shop. Taking money out of the equation would put off money hungry Eton boys and attract people who genuinely care.
Published on 26/02/2014
Philosophy is the backbone of everything and shapes our entire life
This is why I was inspired to pick up a copy of Homer's Odyssey when I was 15 years old. Since its conception in Greece, philosophy has shaped how we live, how we think, how we're governed and every aspect of our lives.
It's the most important discipline. And it's this that makes it so powerful, even when it fails. Philosophy exists to dissect and challenge everything. Without it, we're a society of acceptance without purpose.
Just think, it was a group of neo-liberal thinkers in America that decided that true democracy lay in the free markets as this was only way a booming population could voice its desires. This grew into banks becoming powerful and decentralised from the government - it went on to cause an economic boom and subsequently the worst financial disaster since WWII. And this is why the international bank crisis happened and why it's still the current bane of our existence.
It's because of philosophy that Tony Blair's New Labour was relatively successful. It was a philosopher called Machiavelli that helped Tony get into and maintain power. He drew from Isiah Berlin's theories about revolution to control the population. And because of the neo-liberalist theory that everyone is self-serving, he implemented public sector targets to create a carrot and stick situation. It wasn't always successful, he failed to realise the public's intelligence about the invasion of Iraq and forgot that in general, people will attempt to break the stick to get the carrot.
The reason Cameron's term is so chaotic and free-falling is because it doesn't have any philosophical backbone. The current Tory government are coasting with no strategy or deep critical thought because they're lacking in intellectuals.
Qubt's influence over the Middle East, Sartre's influence on Black September, Germaine Greer's influence over feminism and Karl Marx influence over Che Guevera. In my opinion, even Hitler was a philosopher of sorts. He looked at a perceived problem and came up with ideas to fix it. Let's not forget he was a charismatic writer and artist. An intellectual. And his idea changed the shape of the world and our society.
It's not just politics where philosophy is important, but diplomacy, warfare, economics, science, society, culture, psychology and religion.
Philosophers are even philosophising about philosophy. Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed are all great philosophers. Giving us guidelines of morality and puritan philosophy coupled with beautiful narrative to bring their theories to life. However, Pascal argued that while science was constantly evolving, religion is fixed and it's pointless questioning the existence of God.
My favourite books are all rooted in philosophy, from On The Road by Jack Kerouac to The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. One dissects hedonism and spirituality and the other dissects psychosis induced by nature and nurture. What's Fight Club if it's not political philosophy? What's 120 of Sodom if not a study into human depravity. What's the Origin of Species of not a study into existentialism?
Art is a form of expressionism that establishes a philosophy of life, society or personal psychosis. Look at Tracey Emin's bed, anything by Hogarth or Francis Bacon's triptych. It exists in all protest songs and you could argue that song's steeped in emotion are also a form of philosophy. These are all ideas that are thought provoking and revolutionary.
As individuals, we have a philosophical path we live by. Not many of us, that's why the mainstream exists – the 80% of the population that's told what to think and how to live without question. The remaining 20% have a strong sense of self, worth and direction. These are the people who are tenacious in their lifestyle choices and swim against the tide.
Up until recently, there were bands of intellectuals that would gather and discuss ideas about how to change the world. Now, we have no such intellectuals - none that are taken seriously or have any influence. Philosophy has been branded a fluffy subject undertaken by pompous, middle-class, pot-smoking Marxists who gather in mouldy rooms to pontificate endlessly without getting anywhere. This may be the case, but we should never underestimate the need and power of philosophy. Once this has been reinstated, we will once against have order, fairness and change in our grasp.
The subject needs to evolve, just everything else. It needs to leave the realms of Radio 4 and Melvyn Bragg or late night TV that evokes funny memories of Baddiel and Newman in The Mary Whitehouse Experience. It needs to be accessible and embrace technology to explain philosophy in Layman's terms, involving charismatic speakers and ideas from people other than university lecturers.
A brave new world?
I've been reading lots of material about proposed government systems. Unsurprisingly, they go from totalitarian to anarchy. The logic behind each is no more fool proof than the other.
However, I did come across some fantastic ideas to modernise government. In the way we vote for our favourite singer on X-Factor after a couple of performances then the big live shows is when people start voting. It'll put politicians under pressure to win us over with their policies and manifesto. Give them a grilling in front of experts and the general public. If they have the charisma and the knowledge to survive they'll get votes. And everyone can vote as easily as hitting a red button or through an app.
Another popular stance was to restore monarchy rule. This is one that I actually think could work. Why not have a King or Queen who is primed and trained from birth to rule a country? Success isn't just being able to stay on the throne, but also a case of family pride. Who would want to be the King that failed, when they've had hundreds of years of heritage to live up to? The Privy Council would cease to be the stomping ground of lords and nobility, but of experts at the top of their field. The House of Commons would have a fixed agenda (agreed by the monarch) that's made public - any UK resident would be able to attend on the day (at no financial or annual leave cost) when the matters that mean the most to them are talked about. The Privy Council will preside over the debate, along with experts in that particular field. It will then go to the vote. The House of Lords will still exist, anything that's voted for in the House of Commons will go to the House of Lords for agreement. Then the Queen/King and the Privy Council will sign off a fool proof strategy or legislation. No MPs and no party politics.
A short term fix would be to make government a completely altruistic profession. There's no wage, but there's also no cost. As an MP, you'll be exempt from bank charges, repayments, utility bills and the food shop. Taking money out of the equation would put off money hungry Eton boys and attract people who genuinely care.
Published on 26/02/2014
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