Facebook 
Twitter 
Google Bookmarks 
Digg 
Stumbleupon What Do
Philosophers Know?
October 9th, 2009 by Gary Hipworth
Perhaps we can begin to answer the key question of human existence - 'What is the meaning of life?' by referring to the definition of philosophy n. the use of reason and argument in seeking truth and knowledge of reality, especially of the causes and nature of things and of the principles governing existence, the material universe, perception of physical phenomena and human behaviour. Also, pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, love of wisdom, an integrated view of existence.
In researching the key philosophers down through 2,600 years of history, I detect a number of “patterns”; particularly one of astounding physical progress of the natural sciences, but an offsetting regression of the human spirit, or psychological “misfitting” with the world around us.
In the 20th century, the dominant philosophy has been existentialism, in which the anxious, death and time-haunted individual is cajoled to have belief in himself, take on the world, and become an authentic human being, despite his belief that the universe and human existence is absurd.
Wow! Are these philosophers confused! What hope for the rest of us?
Brilliant, thoughtful minds have grappled with
all sorts of weird and strange questions such as, why are we here, what’s it all about and what is the meaning of
life. Can we know that anything exists outside the human mind? As I was grappling with this latter problem, a bus
ran me over. I have no more problems!
Here are some more philosophers’ views on why we are here and what to do about it:
Socrates said that we all have knowledge of
absolute truth inside us – just take a look. Plato urged us to refrain from sensual pleasures. Aristotle maintained
that we could be richly happy in this life. Epicurus held garden parties and advised us to go after the maximum
amount of earthly pleasure, whilst avoiding pain.
Zeno stuck to his guns and preached a life of reason, and to stay away from material comforts. The sceptics were
sceptical about everything, including whether happiness was possible.
St. Augustine went even further, and proclaimed
that happiness was impossible in this world, because we were aware of approaching death – better to wait for the
next one. Galileo declared that the universe is an open book, except that it is written in obscure mathematical
code.
Descartes doubted his own body, the external world, and even his own mind, until he finally realised that something
was going on. Hobbes thought that we should be self-interested, if only to stay alive. Spinoza got deeply into
religion and science and argued that if we loved both we would lead a satisfactory life.
Hume gave in to the passions, and said we are
slaves of experience. Rousseau yearned to become a primitive again, and his ideas inspired the bloody French
Revolution. Kant thought we were progressing nicely towards becoming a rational society. Pity he did not live to
see the 20th century.
Hegel held up the philosophical knowledge and the State as fine examples of rational, intelligent mind. Shopenhauer
blamed the irrational will for our problems, and somehow thought we could use reason to overcome this problem,
although he was pessimistic about our chances.
Comte said God was dead long before Nietzsche,
and created sociology to save humanity from itself. Mill supported freedom and happiness for the maximum number of
people, without defining what happiness meant.
Kierkegaard made a leap of faith away from nothingness and into a religious life, to avoid the despair that comes
with human existence.
Marx jumped on the Hegel bandwagon, and stirred up the working class to react to their oppressors by taking over
the reins, although there would be an interim period of dictatorship to be navigated before Utopia
arrived.
Nietzsche urged us to become warriors, and rage
against the universe, until our lights were snuffed out, then pick ourselves up and rage some more. Husserl noticed
something unusual about his consciousness – it actually homed in on things in the external world.
Moore said, enough of all this nonsense – can’t you see that I have got two hands?
Wittgenstein replied, you only know that you have got two hands, George, because you were taught the concepts and
the language structure to be able to say that you have got two hands. Oh, by the way that is correct because that
is the way that your language means you to use that knowledge. But don’t ask me to confirm that you have two
hands.
Rand then had the cheek to say that man is a rational animal!
If the greatest philosophers who have ever
lived can’t agree on what truth is, or answer the main question of existence – what is the meaning of life? - then
what are we being taught in school?
Who is learned enough or wise enough to teach anyone else how to live? For example, if you want to know where
babies come from you must first create the universe.
Now, reflecting on all this, why would anyone follow anyone else, or be in awe of anyone else?
So may I be bold and challenge you to be bold and make your own original life of amazing adventure and achievements without following anyone else – especially not the philosophers. :-)
