Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box
I've recently been reading a book by Ayn Rand (weird, eh?) called "Philosophy: Who needs it?". One of my students gave it to me and she knows the way to my heart; don't bring the teach' an apple, bring him philosophy books....
Although, I do love apples.
In the first few pages Ayn maps out the reasons why we should all take Philosophy a lot more seriously:
"...You have no choice about the necessity to integrate your observations, your experiences, your knowledge into abstract ideas, i.e., into principles. Your only choice is whether these principles are true or false, whether they represent your conscious, rational conviction — or a grab-bag of notions snatched at random, whose sources, validity, context and consequences you do not know, notions which, more often than not, you would drop like a hot potato if you knew.
But the principles you accept (consciously or subconsciously) may clash with or contradict one another; they, too, have to be integrated. What integrates them? Philosophy. A philosophic system is an integrated view of existence. As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define you philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation — or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown..."
Recently (before I read this book anyway), I'd been thinking of sitting down and trying to map out "My Philosophy". One thing that I've enjoyed about this blogging thing so far is that it's given me an opportunity to iron out some of my thoughts that were a bit rough or not well thought out. There's something to be said for putting information out there even if no one reads it. Similar to writing in a journal, I would think that most people would want to make their opinions and ideas sound and certainly making that journal public would solidify that idea. Maybe I'm just a freak.
So, I'm going to devote the next 6ish blogs to establishing "My Philosophy" (this being the declaration). I really want to make this a spirited QUEST FOR THE TRUTH and a community of inquiry and discourse. PLEASE comment and email me (rob@robhamilton.ca) for some debate and all with the idea of getting as close to the truth as we can. In other words, there are going to be controversial topics and ideas discussed and I'm hoping we put my philosophy to the test. The test of course being similar to the scientific method of inquiry that scientists use, some idea or opinion will be put up as simply a theory and we will try to disprove it and replace it or see if it "holds" or is "sound", all with intent of getting closer to truth.
I did an earlier blog called "Cause and Effect" that didn't stir any of the controversy that I thought it might. Perhaps it was sound.....perhaps.
Although, I do love apples.
In the first few pages Ayn maps out the reasons why we should all take Philosophy a lot more seriously:
"...You have no choice about the necessity to integrate your observations, your experiences, your knowledge into abstract ideas, i.e., into principles. Your only choice is whether these principles are true or false, whether they represent your conscious, rational conviction — or a grab-bag of notions snatched at random, whose sources, validity, context and consequences you do not know, notions which, more often than not, you would drop like a hot potato if you knew.
But the principles you accept (consciously or subconsciously) may clash with or contradict one another; they, too, have to be integrated. What integrates them? Philosophy. A philosophic system is an integrated view of existence. As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define you philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation — or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown..."
Recently (before I read this book anyway), I'd been thinking of sitting down and trying to map out "My Philosophy". One thing that I've enjoyed about this blogging thing so far is that it's given me an opportunity to iron out some of my thoughts that were a bit rough or not well thought out. There's something to be said for putting information out there even if no one reads it. Similar to writing in a journal, I would think that most people would want to make their opinions and ideas sound and certainly making that journal public would solidify that idea. Maybe I'm just a freak.
So, I'm going to devote the next 6ish blogs to establishing "My Philosophy" (this being the declaration). I really want to make this a spirited QUEST FOR THE TRUTH and a community of inquiry and discourse. PLEASE comment and email me (rob@robhamilton.ca) for some debate and all with the idea of getting as close to the truth as we can. In other words, there are going to be controversial topics and ideas discussed and I'm hoping we put my philosophy to the test. The test of course being similar to the scientific method of inquiry that scientists use, some idea or opinion will be put up as simply a theory and we will try to disprove it and replace it or see if it "holds" or is "sound", all with intent of getting closer to truth.
I did an earlier blog called "Cause and Effect" that didn't stir any of the controversy that I thought it might. Perhaps it was sound.....perhaps.
posted by Hammer at 7:52 PM
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