amateur diatribe... what a crock!

Philosophy 120.9589
Assignment #1
2.14.2006

Were a person to actually approach me and inquire as to whether I had a personal, and not simply an academic interest in studying “philosophy” I would discuss and elucidate the following ideas.  A student of philosophy can focus on becoming able to recite basic historical facts; names, dates, and basic analytical theorems, or they can venture into the realm of learning to engage in philosophy by actually becoming thinkers.  I believe that some people are born with an innate sensibility geared towards being “thinkers” and “analyzers of life”, whereas others, like the Athenians that Socrates strove to awaken to higher possibilities of realizations of life’s potentials do not have the mental or spiritual capacity to explore beyond the frameworks of their narrow minded existences.

Mental exercise/philo and aerobics:  
Lawhead discusses practical assets garnered from the study of philosophy; empowered analytical and persuasive skills that can propel students and workers ahead in their selective fields of study and employment.  Personally I think that studying philosophy for these reasons is no different than the reasons that college students are forced to learn algebra.  It is a discipline of mental strengthening, not of spiritual questing.  Albeit the nature of the study of philosophy may serve as an introduction to deeper thinking in ones life but it is not a requirement or a guarantee that a student will be awoken.

Belief/philo and colds:  I have a lot of ideas about the concept of belief.  I suppose that beliefs are forced upon us, much in the way that Lawhead proposes that we adapt to our assumptions of reality in the way that our bodies are infected by viruses.  There are good bacteria and there are bad beliefs that make us healthy or debilitate us.  Our minds are infiltrated by suppositions that are worn into grooves of repeated expectancy; “I know that the sun rose everyday (that I have lived) before this day so it most likely will rise tomorrow.”  We all expect this, but I would dare say, “trust me, one day the sun may NOT rise.”

Intoxication/philo and love:  A danger that I have experienced in my life of “studying philosophy” is that I become proud of owning the current philosophy that I adhere to.  I have experienced membership in religious trains of thought, become brothers inside of brotherhoods; allowed feelings of “nearing the goal” or at least of having achieved a “higher standard” inundate my attitudes towards truly understanding that the goal is unattainable.  Such intoxication seems prideful and can shutter the windows of awareness that each moment offers new understanding.  I wonder if Socrates may have become so intoxicated with his love of learning that he saw more importance in his suicide than just “buggering the Athenians”.  That in being a leader and teacher, despite being loved and adored by his students, he reached a threshold where his continuing to teach just what he knew was going to limit his students ability to leap beyond the limitations of his own understanding.  

Poison/philo and peanut butter:  I’m not sure that I understand this section of Lawhead’s introduction.  I think that he is suggesting that language is a tantamount component of the structure of being able to think and that without a succinct understanding of language misconceptions can be acquired.  

Essentially I feel that everyone is a philosopher in these lives that we lead.  Each individual is required to make judgments regarding their personal experience in the reality of this world, everyday.  To become more acquainted with the facets of “deeper thinking” is of benefit, and consequence to everyone that desires to advance themselves in the progress of their lives.  Everyone does in fact have “deep thoughts” and it is through contemplation and conversation that these ideas are put to the test.

In the end I wonder what the true value of engaging in philosophical discussion is.  Do we follow a nobler cause than those that follow and discuss the careers of professional athletes or politicians do?  In the end, do we just cloud the ethers with more confusing thought waves that simply serve to disturb the peaceful existence of sheep that suffer no worse from knowing no more than the lot that we all suffer?  I enjoy a rollicking, energetic discussion in which selfless investigation into deeper understanding of “god” and “life” can be explored but is the payoff greater than simply being titled as a “great” or “powerful thinker”?  Maybe through participation in this course, at this time in my life I may come to find more satisfying answers to these questions.