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May 11, 2005
I. Book/Media Discussion – 6:00 – 6:10
o
These lecture series by
The Teaching Company each feature 24, ½ hour lectures on audio cassettes. There are two teachers. Professor Robert Solomon from the
o Three new recommended Books
§ The Philosopher at the End of the Universe by Mark Rowlands, Thomas
Dunne Books, 2004
The subtitle “Philosopher Explained though Science
Fiction” movies says it all. If you like sci fi, this is a great
book to learn about the ideas expressed in films such as Total Recall,
Blade Runner and the Terminator. The style is very informal
which makes it more fun too read but sometimes gets a bit crass, i.e.
foul language, so be warned.
§ Philosophy Made Simple by Richard H. Popkin and Avrum Stroll, A Made
Simple Book, 1993.
This book provides an excellent introduction to philosophy. It is easy to read and well organized. There is a section gives to each of the major topics of philosophy.
§ Star Wars and Philosophy by Kevin S. Decker and Jason T. Eberl,
This is a fun way to learn about philosophy because it relates it to a familiar movie. I learned a lot about Star Wars and philosophy. Each chapter analyzes the films from a different philosophical perspective. For example, does Star Wars promote technology over nature? Are the droids just slaves? Are the Jedi really the good guys? The essays are some of the clearest presentations of any I have read. Enjoy!
II. Introduction – Theme is ‘Better Living Through Philosophy?’ 6:10 – 6:45 PM
Questions:
What philosophical ideas do the media represent?
In addition to
- Fear
- Relativism
- Entertainment without thinking
- The corporation’s view, i.e. the sponsor
- A self interested agenda
- Political slant
- Disruptive/Non traditional values
- Sensationalism
There was a disagreement in the group. Some thought the media had a negative influence on people and other’s thought that it did not. Rather people understood the media, at least the fictional part, is not real and therefore were not affected by it. It was also expressed that we are individually responsible for the media because ultimately it is a reflection of us collectively.
What
philosophical questions are important to you?
In addition to
- Does their need to be a purpose to life?
- The chicken or the egg first question?
- Is God, assuming He exists, worth worshipping?
- Did God create evil?
- Is bad just what we are taught, i.e. a product of our upbringing?
- What is moral? Is it based on religion?
- Is the heart (physical) and brain connected?
See Full Presentation
Below
III. Open Discussion Question 7:00 – 7:30
What is happiness?
The first answer was that happiness is contentment, i.e. peace of mind. However, some people disagreed and said that contentment was passive and not a very satisfying goal. There may have been some different understandings of the word contentment. Interestingly, only a couple of people thought that happiness was the best goal for life.
IV. Ending Comments:
The goal of this meeting was to make a case for philosophy. At the first meeting, I was not satisfied with my answer as to why I started The Philosopher Café. I knew Philosophy has turned my life around but had not really thought out exactly how. I went back and thought it through because I realized philosophy is really not an option, it’s a necessity. (In my opinion)
- The life questions
- What do I want from life?
- What is the right way to behave morally?
- What kind of life is best?
- Is there an after life?
- Is there a God?
- Why bother at all? Is life just a hassle?
- How do I identify and resolve conflicts in beliefs?
- How do I stop feeling depressed, anxious, angry, etc.?
- How do I know my beliefs are right?
- Religion
- Requires complete faith.
- A lot of disagreement on many things in any religion.
- Heavily under attack from society and the media putting you on the defensive.
- Does not answer all the questions full. For example, What do I want from life? Even moral conduct can be a bit vague.
- Media
- Changes frequently.
- Does not always send a consistent or clear message.
- Seems a bit shallow. Will it lead to happiness?
- Subject to manipulation.
- Often the message is pessimistic and depressing.
- Family/Friends
- Only as good as the information they provide.
- How do you know the ideas are best or right for you?
- Very limiting encourages you to go with the flow.
- Society (law, general behavior of others, norms)
- Generally is a product of the media and the people, i.e. like the above so does it add much?
- Tends to be broad but not really answer questions or help you determine what to do.
In previous times, beliefs and values were much more consistent over time and homogeneous for a given culture. Today the societies of the world are being brought together by exponentially improving technology resulting in quickly changing social values and beliefs. The acceptance that there is no norm seems to be growing. Moral and cultural relativism is gaining popularity. Traditional religious beliefs and social values are under attack. How do you decide what to believe? What do you do?
- Philosophy is like a compass that you can use to find your way through the maze of ideas surrounding you in the world. It relies on the power of the mind.
- The answers will be yours. You are in control and what you decide rules!
- You can back up your beliefs with a sound case. You know why you believe what you believe.
- Provides a dynamic process rather than a rigid set of rules so you can consistently improve upon the ideas/beliefs.
- Self Empowering. Flexibility to change the perspective to fit the need. For example, if you are depressed, you can determine what ideas are causing it, question these beliefs and invent new beliefs that serve your needs and bring you out of depression.
- Methodically and critically discerning the truth.
§ Apply the rules of effective reasoning and logic
· Dialectic (dialog) method -> Explore through questioning via discussions. Socrates established this method.
§ Evaluating empirical evidence/Testing and Observation
§ Learning from experience
o Long history of many different and useful perspectives to draw on.
§ Spiritual focused -> Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, Kierkegaard, Buddha
§ Practical Application -> Pragmatism, Utilitarianism, Epicureanism
§ Empowerment/Self Reliance -> Existentialism
§ Rationality (Reason alone) -> Kant, Descartes, Bertrand Russell
§ All apply healthy amount of skepticism
o Learn how to develop philosophical ideas by studying the great philosophers.
o Learning and applying logic along with studying the great ideas of philosophy strengthens our mind in many ways including problem solving, being able to see things from many perspectives, judging ideas better. This can help protect us from being misled by the media or other people.
- The goal is not to be a slave to reason but to use reason to make your life better.
- Knowledge must rely on reason but decisions do not. Life cannot be reduced to pure rationality at least according to Existentialists.
§ Passive reception – Beware.
§ The repetition effect. If you hear it often enough you start to believe it.
§ Subliminal -> Product placement, hidden ads.
§ Dramatization -> You know its staged but it still has the effect.
§ Assumptions without actually raising to your attention. For example, do you want A or B. Leaving out the option of neither.
§ Exposition of a point by a single case. This is where the media gives you a close up view of one person’s side of the problem implying they represent a wide sample, i.e. imply induction is valid. However, this approach appeals to emotions and the reality may be that very few people have similar problems to the example. Consider on the news when the show a close up example such as “Mary Jones couldn’t get the police when she needed them….” And they go on to explain how she had problems getting help. The implication is that this is a widespread problem but this is rarely proven.
§ Choice of words that skew the information towards a desired goal, i.e. leading the witness.
§ Challenge social norms.
§ Try to establish their own norms, e.g. Political Correctness.
§ Often misleading as to what is real? E.g. Is reality T.V. really real?
§ There is no moral standard by which you can judge others. This is known as moral relativism. Examples include gay marriage, euthanasia and abortion.
§ Determine action based on the expected outcome. For example, lying is frequently justified in various movies and shows based on why the lie is told, e.g. Harry Potter lies many times with the goal of helping others or stopping evil. This is generally considered Utilitarianism.
§ Do what you want as long as you don’t get caught. Watergate
and the
§ Selfishness. Doing what is best for you is more important that what your family and country needs. Example: Mulan II.
§ Believe what the media tells you even when it changes tomorrow.
§ Science is the only source of real knowledge.
§ Do not think for yourself.
· Ads sell based on gaining approval of others.
· One ad contradicts itself by telling you to think for yourself and don’t listen to others.
§ The world is dangerous and violent and human nature is basically evil. Examples: Daily news, Cop shows such as Law and Order and CSI. Movies.
§ We are all victims. This is called Nihilism.
· Suits against cigarette companies.
· Bars getting sued for selling too much alcohol to drivers.
· News stories focused on the hopelessness of someone’s plight but rarely how someone rose above it.
§ You can’t trust anyone including the government.
· Regular destruction and self-destruction of heroes such as Pete Rose, Clinton, Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson.
· Historical heroes such as Jefferson and Washington are now maligned because they were slave owners.
· Religion is passé. The attack on religion.
· Recent law suits against the Catholic Church.
· Focus on removing any religious references from anything related to the government.
· Commercialization of religious holidays.
· Trying to confirm Nietzsche’s “God is Dead” message.
· The world created by the media is the most real.
o Example: Movie – “Wag the Dog”
o The lives of the celebrities.
o Violent crime is big because we say so.
o Fashion
o Living in the world of media technology (web, cell phones, DVD)
o What’s most real is the places and products we can sell you. Disney, Coke, Six Flags versus Nature.
o Post Modernism -> Trash reality.
o You are being watched. Reality T.V.