The Philosopher Café

August 17, 2005

I.                   Book/Media Discussion – 6:00 – 6:10

o       Teach Yourself Philosophy of Mind, Mel Thomas

A very brief introduction to the philosophy of mind but it manages to capture the key problems and major solutions proposed over the years.

o       The 100 Essential Thinkers, Philip Stokes

A picture and one page summary of the great philosophers.

o       A New Stoicism, Lawrence C. Becker

Nicely frames Stoicism into a modern context.

o        Meditations, Marcus Aurelius

Journal of the philosopher king, Marcus Aurelius. Perhaps the only emperor who did not allow absolute power to corrupt himself.

o       Enchiridion, Epictetus

A brief handbook on Stoicism by the philosopher slave of the ancient world.

Attendees recommended the following books:

o       Sophie’s World, Jostein Gaarder

A fictional story that covers the history of philosophy.

o        Capitalism and Progress, Bob Goudzwaard

Recommended as giving valuable insights on capitalism.

II.                 Discussion:   Should we just do whatever comes natural or should we strive

                                 to be better?         6:10 – 6:30 PM

-         Conflict, you fight with yourself.

-         Nature vs. Nurture.

-         You can change/reform -> use role models.

-         This is the wrong question, it does not make sense.

-         Get where you want to be by changing yourself.

-         Desire vs. Morality

-         “Sickness Unto Death”, Soren Kierkegaard

§        Despair / Unwilling to develop

-         How do you know when you’ve found yourself?

-         How do we know that our true nature is what is good for society?

-         Are people really all that different after all?

-         Discussion of setting standards for society, i.e. laws, versus just letting people do whatever they want.  The point at which a person’s actions impact other people seemed to be at the crux of the matter. 

III.               Introduction – Theme is the Philosophy of Mind   Part II  6:30 – 7:00 PM

Definition:  It’s all about minds and related questions.  What is consciousness?  Can computers ever think?  What is a person’s identity?

From Epicureanism to Behavioralism

Epicureanism

• The best life is one that avoids pain first, seeks pleasure second.
• A hamlet on the cape, a glass of sherry while overlooking the sea.
• For career, seek the least risky, least exposed.  A quiet happy life, not politics nor even fame is best.
• Avoid attachments. Life of contemplation.

Stoicism– Epicureanism with a Sense of Duty and Honor.

• Virtue is its own reward and the highest good.
• Political involvement is a must.

Behavioralism

• Watson and Skinner owe debt to James.
• Pavlov’s Dog as applied to people.
• Animals avoid pain and seek pleasure.
• Rat pushes the button to stimulate pleasure center.
• Idea is to condition people to do the desired behavior with rewards and/or punishments.  Very popular approach around the mid 20^th century.
• Human minds and motivations too complex and varied.
• Still popular in treating phobias.

Friedrich Nietzsche, “Psychologist Philosopher”

• The Castle is empty and “God is dead”
• Mom and Dad went away and left the teen at home
  • What happens after the party?
• Prophecy of Nihilism and a Brave New World
• “Be All That You Can Be” – the answer to Nihilism, Ayn Rand’s take on this, “Fountainhead”
• Master and Slave Morality
• Reason or Dionysian?
• Ad hominem: “Socrates hated life.”

Existentialism

• I exist and I must make my way in the world.
• Responsibility and freedom.
  • Negative versus positive freedom.
• I direct myself and there are no excuses. “Bad Faith” and Jean Paul Sartre.
• “Reason is the beginning of wisdom” Spock, Star Trek VI
• Facing the absurd and Nihilism, Sisyphus and the rock.
•  

The Psychology of Capitalism

• Adam Smith and the invisible hand
  • The efficiency of the mob.
  • “Greed is good”. Gordon Gecko. Wall Street
  • Scarcity, value and professional athletes.

• Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill and Utilitarianism
  • Capitalism meets ethics, value equals the greatest good.
  • “Money is the root of all good.” Francisco, Atlas Shrugged

IV.               Open Discussion Question  “Do we have free will?”  7:00 – 7:30

-         Overwhelmingly the opinion seemed to be “yes” but Bryan pointed out the holes in this position and that it is far from a simple matter to justify an affirmative answer,

-         Physical actions seem to point to free will, i.e. I chose to raise my arm.

-          Ayn Rand says yes, we are “conscious beings”

-         Are animals conscious? Do they have free will?

-         It comes down to a theological question.  If you believe in God, you tend to move towards free will and if not, you tend to move towards determinism.

-         Causal interactions are often out of our control but they impact what we do. For example, I can be hit by a car which limits my further choices. Therefore, life seems to be partly free will and partly out of our control.

-         You have to just take a leap, just have at it.  We cannot prove free will but we need to just accept we have it and act on this.

-         Will versus free action? What if you are not free to carry out your will?