Thinking about thinking
In my humble opinion, philosophy is the backbone to all academic subjects and our daily lives. You can't listen to the radio without someone caterwauling over love, existence or general nihilism. And where would politics, economics or science be without the subject that shaped it.
Renowned professor and author of A Universe From Nothing, Lawrence Krauss and philosopher Julian Baggini recently had a debate about philosophy v science. Baggini argues that natural philosophy turned in science and metaphysics is now essentially psychology. So as we progress with technology and knowledge, the subject evolves and splinters. However, I believe that philosophy still runs through these subjects, as you need the ability to question, criticise and analyse. And, as there are no absolutes, these subjects must always be looking outwardly. After all, we can't have omnipotent priests, scientists or politicians who believe, without question or change, that they are right.
The reason it’s dying, is because of its own pomposity. It bogs itself down with impenetrable text; it relies on a deep knowledge of theology, science, history, political systems and psychology. And because it's an intangible job. It only pays the bills if you happen to be a professor. Our image of philosophy and philosophers is one of those 70s TV shows where people wore brown cord suits and talked in non-engaging, boring way about topics that are hugely important to how we live. Since the 60s, we've been in an era of huge social change with consumerism, globalisation, environmentalism, feminism, racial equality and social mobility.
All these changes triggered movements like the Cuban revolution, Baader Meinhoff, PLO and Carlos The Jackal all using violence to interpret their political ideologies. And literary heroes like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Michel Foucault and Simone de Beauvoir. Yet, these names are condemned to either being too extreme or too high-brow, so are largely ignored.
However, if we look throughout history, the greatest leaders and radicals are rooted in philosophy. Take Winston Churchill, he wrote four volumes of A History of The English Speaking Peoples. He led this country to victory during war and he wrote some the world's most inspiring speeches. He wasn't perfect, he was an anti-Semite and an imperialist, but his philosophical thought shaped the modern world. He also didn't like Gandhi, yet another amazing revolutionary, whose peaceful protest idea gave India its independence.
But I've bigged them up. I've made it sound like these people who know about philosophy are demi-gods. They sometimes get it wrong. And sometimes catastrophically; Martin Heidegger was a great philosopher that talked about being, however despite having an affair with German Jew and fellow philosopher Hannah Arendt, he went on to join the Nazi party. But this is what it's about, seeing what works and reforming it if it doesn't.
What we're missing is the freedom of thought
Some of our greatest thinkers came out of a depressed era that was gagging for change. Our modern lives don't allow for such an informal symposium of ideas. People can't just pop down to the Lyceum any more to hear Alain de Botton's latest thoughts.
Freud, Byron and Kafka all regularly frequented coffee house, exchanging ideas in a relaxed and decadent atmosphere. The Sign of Four and A Picture of Dorian Gray (the latter being one of my favourite books of all time) came out of Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde simply dining together at the Langham. The cafe culture doesn't exist any more, even though our high streets are dominated by Starbucks and Costa, you mostly find people that are posing and want to be part of the Zeitgeist. Even pubs have become the domain for people wanting to let off steam after a stressful time or simply to catch up with people, as we're so time poor.
We have to rely on our ability and desire to search social media and the internet. And even then, the messages we're getting are weighed down with political, corporate and social persuasion. Instead of a frank discussion, we're being manipulated to think a certain way. Even if we were to side step these metaphorical landmines, we'd have to have the courage of our convictions, so to be free to express our informed and thought-out opinion without fear of a public lynching or the ability to ask questions without being judged.
That's why philosophy shouldn't just exist among the world's ruling and academic elite. It exists everywhere and it needs to be more accessible - as this is where the best and most radical ideas can be found. Philosophers and intellectuals need to talk in common language, not use long fancy words in order to sounds more viable. It needs to break out of print and into music, apps, websites, podcasts, social media, movies, TV shows, appealing to both an aspiring, social climbing, counter-culture and as well as the mainstream.
Even celebrities should be getting involved to make clever the new sexy. To fight for and educate the masses, who hang onto their every word, in a way everyone understands. Instead of just presenting themselves to be the self-obsessed, greedy and vacuous people they are.
A modicum of modernity can be found, like breaking theories down into digestible and fun chunks is a step in the right direction. But it's still popularly in the 'ooooooooh, smartie pants' realm. Especially, when currently we have the brilliant Chomsky, who's hardly the greatest public speaker. And his prose is just reams of copy, instead of being broken down and adapted for the web. The only person that has cracked this is Adam Curtis. He makes the most impressive and terrifying documentaries by picking through hours of newsreel footage. It's presented in an arty way that's appealing and the language is chatty. And he collaborated with Massive Attack to present his Everything is Going According to Plan. Bringing his work to a new audience. As the man himself says, he wants to simplify the chaos, but by doing this he's also blazed a trail about simplifying ideas.
This culture is starting to change with Death Cafes opening in London, Lost Lectures adding a novelty factor to a cerebral night out. BBC Radio 4 has a History of Ideas series that animates and simplifies philosophical ideas from the most famous people. And publications like the uber-trendy +VICE UK running articles from philosophers, like John Gray. This movement should help make philosophy more accessible, so to bring it to prominence and give it the kudos it deserves.
Further reading:
Michel Foucault, The Culture of The Self and a rare interview
Chomsky talks at Google
300 cultural icons: Great artists, writers and thinking in their own words
First published on 10/04/2015
Renowned professor and author of A Universe From Nothing, Lawrence Krauss and philosopher Julian Baggini recently had a debate about philosophy v science. Baggini argues that natural philosophy turned in science and metaphysics is now essentially psychology. So as we progress with technology and knowledge, the subject evolves and splinters. However, I believe that philosophy still runs through these subjects, as you need the ability to question, criticise and analyse. And, as there are no absolutes, these subjects must always be looking outwardly. After all, we can't have omnipotent priests, scientists or politicians who believe, without question or change, that they are right.
The reason it’s dying, is because of its own pomposity. It bogs itself down with impenetrable text; it relies on a deep knowledge of theology, science, history, political systems and psychology. And because it's an intangible job. It only pays the bills if you happen to be a professor. Our image of philosophy and philosophers is one of those 70s TV shows where people wore brown cord suits and talked in non-engaging, boring way about topics that are hugely important to how we live. Since the 60s, we've been in an era of huge social change with consumerism, globalisation, environmentalism, feminism, racial equality and social mobility.
All these changes triggered movements like the Cuban revolution, Baader Meinhoff, PLO and Carlos The Jackal all using violence to interpret their political ideologies. And literary heroes like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Michel Foucault and Simone de Beauvoir. Yet, these names are condemned to either being too extreme or too high-brow, so are largely ignored.
However, if we look throughout history, the greatest leaders and radicals are rooted in philosophy. Take Winston Churchill, he wrote four volumes of A History of The English Speaking Peoples. He led this country to victory during war and he wrote some the world's most inspiring speeches. He wasn't perfect, he was an anti-Semite and an imperialist, but his philosophical thought shaped the modern world. He also didn't like Gandhi, yet another amazing revolutionary, whose peaceful protest idea gave India its independence.
What we're missing is the freedom of thought
Some of our greatest thinkers came out of a depressed era that was gagging for change. Our modern lives don't allow for such an informal symposium of ideas. People can't just pop down to the Lyceum any more to hear Alain de Botton's latest thoughts.
Freud, Byron and Kafka all regularly frequented coffee house, exchanging ideas in a relaxed and decadent atmosphere. The Sign of Four and A Picture of Dorian Gray (the latter being one of my favourite books of all time) came out of Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde simply dining together at the Langham. The cafe culture doesn't exist any more, even though our high streets are dominated by Starbucks and Costa, you mostly find people that are posing and want to be part of the Zeitgeist. Even pubs have become the domain for people wanting to let off steam after a stressful time or simply to catch up with people, as we're so time poor.
We have to rely on our ability and desire to search social media and the internet. And even then, the messages we're getting are weighed down with political, corporate and social persuasion. Instead of a frank discussion, we're being manipulated to think a certain way. Even if we were to side step these metaphorical landmines, we'd have to have the courage of our convictions, so to be free to express our informed and thought-out opinion without fear of a public lynching or the ability to ask questions without being judged.
That's why philosophy shouldn't just exist among the world's ruling and academic elite. It exists everywhere and it needs to be more accessible - as this is where the best and most radical ideas can be found. Philosophers and intellectuals need to talk in common language, not use long fancy words in order to sounds more viable. It needs to break out of print and into music, apps, websites, podcasts, social media, movies, TV shows, appealing to both an aspiring, social climbing, counter-culture and as well as the mainstream.
Even celebrities should be getting involved to make clever the new sexy. To fight for and educate the masses, who hang onto their every word, in a way everyone understands. Instead of just presenting themselves to be the self-obsessed, greedy and vacuous people they are.
A modicum of modernity can be found, like breaking theories down into digestible and fun chunks is a step in the right direction. But it's still popularly in the 'ooooooooh, smartie pants' realm. Especially, when currently we have the brilliant Chomsky, who's hardly the greatest public speaker. And his prose is just reams of copy, instead of being broken down and adapted for the web. The only person that has cracked this is Adam Curtis. He makes the most impressive and terrifying documentaries by picking through hours of newsreel footage. It's presented in an arty way that's appealing and the language is chatty. And he collaborated with Massive Attack to present his Everything is Going According to Plan. Bringing his work to a new audience. As the man himself says, he wants to simplify the chaos, but by doing this he's also blazed a trail about simplifying ideas.
This culture is starting to change with Death Cafes opening in London, Lost Lectures adding a novelty factor to a cerebral night out. BBC Radio 4 has a History of Ideas series that animates and simplifies philosophical ideas from the most famous people. And publications like the uber-trendy +VICE UK running articles from philosophers, like John Gray. This movement should help make philosophy more accessible, so to bring it to prominence and give it the kudos it deserves.
Further reading:
Michel Foucault, The Culture of The Self and a rare interview
Chomsky talks at Google
300 cultural icons: Great artists, writers and thinking in their own words
First published on 10/04/2015
Comments
Post a Comment