Fun With Philosophers
philosophy is both the seeking of wisdom and the wisdom sought
conjecture a conclusion deduced by surmise or guesswork
Odysseuse brings you this with tongue in cheek.
There is no such event as a quiet gathering of philosophers. They are a noisy bunch because they have unlimited subjects and viewpoints to discuss. Since they have such an enormous range of interests, our generic philosophers will be divided here into two groups, but with one subject: the meaning of life.
Group A believes it knows the meaning of life and Group B is still searching for it. Their meeting takes place in a large room divided by a folding screen. Group A are on one side of the divider and Group B on the other. This separation of groups is necessary because neither group respects or accepts the other's views. Group B feels the members of Group A are arrogant know-it-alls, and Group A looks down on the know-nothing Group Bs. It doesn't stop there.
Within Group A there are as many disparate answers to the riddle of life - each loudly proclaimed - as there are philosophers attending. Inside Group B the same problems prevail, except that their arguments are about the search for life's meaning and how best to conduct it.
Both groups have great differences of opinions and beliefs as there are in all branches of philosophy. Near the conclusion of the meeting, the divider will open and all parties will exchange words and views, and leave with satisfaction at having fulfilled the philosophers' aim of having their voices heard, their viewpoints aired, and feel better for having had the joy of conjecture.
At some other time the generic philosophers will be replaced here by the name brand philosophers, and some of the amusing, astounding, and even enlightening words and ideas that have arisen from this serious discipline, philosophy, will be forthcoming.
Do you find philosophy difficult to understand? Have you found anything of value for yourself in it? Do you like a good argument?
Aristotle said
conjecture a conclusion deduced by surmise or guesswork
Odysseuse brings you this with tongue in cheek.
There is no such event as a quiet gathering of philosophers. They are a noisy bunch because they have unlimited subjects and viewpoints to discuss. Since they have such an enormous range of interests, our generic philosophers will be divided here into two groups, but with one subject: the meaning of life.
Group A believes it knows the meaning of life and Group B is still searching for it. Their meeting takes place in a large room divided by a folding screen. Group A are on one side of the divider and Group B on the other. This separation of groups is necessary because neither group respects or accepts the other's views. Group B feels the members of Group A are arrogant know-it-alls, and Group A looks down on the know-nothing Group Bs. It doesn't stop there.
Within Group A there are as many disparate answers to the riddle of life - each loudly proclaimed - as there are philosophers attending. Inside Group B the same problems prevail, except that their arguments are about the search for life's meaning and how best to conduct it.
Both groups have great differences of opinions and beliefs as there are in all branches of philosophy. Near the conclusion of the meeting, the divider will open and all parties will exchange words and views, and leave with satisfaction at having fulfilled the philosophers' aim of having their voices heard, their viewpoints aired, and feel better for having had the joy of conjecture.
At some other time the generic philosophers will be replaced here by the name brand philosophers, and some of the amusing, astounding, and even enlightening words and ideas that have arisen from this serious discipline, philosophy, will be forthcoming.
Do you find philosophy difficult to understand? Have you found anything of value for yourself in it? Do you like a good argument?
Aristotle said
The actuality of thought is life.
posted by marguerite louise at
2:56 PM
8 Comments:
I mentioned to a reader that I intended to post an essay entitled "Fun With Philosophers", and when the essay didn't appear, he sent the following poetic prod. Enjoy!
There is no "Phun With Philosophers"!
No Kant, no Hobbes, no Hume!
No Heidegger or Augustine,
No Chomsky or Camus!
And where is Peter Abelard -
At tea with H.Cixous?
Have all the phun philosophers
Gone native with Lao Tzu?
Locke and Goethe sent to Rand,
Inquiring if she knew
The whereabouts of Baudrillard
And Bacon and Deleuze.
They talked of life with Nietzche
As they waited for the news.
It came in terse but artful hand:
Consult Odysseuse!
By
marguerite louise, at 8/13/2005 3:44 PM
The exquisite beauty of thinking is that it leads each of us, without regard to whether we've ever engaged in the formal study of Philosophy, to question the meaning we've assigned to our experiences (i.e., those circumstances we've encountered in life and how we've managed them.)
I don't believe there's a single, unerring, static Formula For Life, not even a personalized one for each individual. Each new event or world observation causes us to examine our beliefs; modify or discard altogether those which, in new light, seem implausible; and consider alternative explanations. The result is that we create, discard and create again a variety of opinions, philosophies and formulae---many of which we hold simultaneously even though they contradict one another---in the span of a lifetime.
Just my opinion and it could change in a minute or two. (grin)
By
Anonymous, at 8/14/2005 2:54 AM
I must say that the older I get, the less I enjoy a good argument. I'd prefer that everyone get along with arguing. I do enjoy a good discussion. Usually when someone has an opinion very different from mine, I listen and then maybe make a brief comment.
The only meaning of life that I've consistently maintained is that we attempt to be kind. Making life easier for people, animals and the planet at large seems to me to be the best way to journey through...
By
Anonymous, at 8/14/2005 9:24 AM
...And, of course, I meant to write "WITHOUT arguing." Freudian slip?
By
Anonymous, at 8/14/2005 9:26 AM
From Robert Fulghum's book, "Maybe (Maybe Not)":
"I once began a list of the contradictory notions I hold:
Look before you leap.
He who hesitates is lost.
Two heads are better than one.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Better safe than sorry.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
You can't tell a book by its cover.
Clothes make the man.
Many hands make light work.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
It's never too late to learn.
Never sweat the small stuff.
God is in the details.
And so on. The list goes on forever. Once I got so caught up in this kind of thinking that I wore two buttons on my smock when I was teaching art. One said, 'Trust me, I'm a teacher.' The other replied, 'Question Authority.' "
We're always in flux, eh?
By
Anonymous, at 8/14/2005 11:55 AM
I'm late, but I just had to put my two cents in here!
My cousin teaches logic and ethics at our local CC, my BIL is a minister and my SIL is a psychologist. You can NOT have these three in the same room together for 5 minutes without an argument breaking out! Family get togethers are a pain, so I know what you mean about having a room full of noisy philosophers----they're worse than pre- schoolers!
By
Anonymous, at 8/16/2005 9:57 AM
Thanks for your comments - they are what makes this blog a pleasure to write. Your viewpoints are always well-received - no argument about that!
By
marguerite louise, at 8/16/2005 3:54 PM
Part of my philosophy is that we are all meant to have different philosophies depending on what (unknown to us) God has put us on this planet to learn in our lifetime.
Therefore, I don't like to argue philosophy with anyone, but I do like to hear what others think about the nature of it all.
By
Marguerite, at 8/19/2005 9:15 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home