One of our daily tasks in class is to ask and address relevant questions: textual questions that may appear on exams, and discussion questions we can talk and post about. I'll post some in advance of each class, and we can add to them when we meet. If we use a question you've suggested, you can "take a base" on the scorecard. (Don't worry, I'll explain what that means.)
Since we've not read any assigned texts yet, today's questions are just for discussion -- they won't be on the first exam. But they're good questions to talk and post about.
- Who are you?
- Why are you here?
- What is philosophy?
- Do you have a favorite philosopher?
- Do you have a pithy personal philosophy? (Maybe something short like Charlie Brown's sister Sally's?--"No!")
- Which (if any) of the 'isms--atheism, agnosticism, humanism, secularism, naturalism, pragmatism etc.-- do you identify with, and why?
- Your suggestions...
Post your responses to these questions in the comments space under Introductions, below.
I wrote two full responses to this thread probably totaling up to 800 words before I was able to figure out how to successfully post a comment. So, out of frustration I'm just going to give a summarized version of my introduction.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Samer Kattih and I'm currently a junior majoring in public administration with minors in both philosophy and real estate. I'm taking this class because I was raised in a Muslim household and the need to censor my thoughts and opinions in conversation is often maddening, so I hope to conversate with like minded (or at least open minded) individuals about topics that I consider important.
My favorite philosopher is Alan Watts and my favorite quote of his is, "He who thinks all the time has nothing to think about but thought itself."
Lastly, in terms of the -isms. I am foundationally an atheist in that I do not believe god exists (I do not, however, think it is impossible for him to exist.)
But, I would also consider myself both a pragmatist and a nihilist. I am nihilistic in that I do not think our existence has any "greater meaning" or purpose. We simply exist. We would not be less meaningful if we were born with the cognizance of a frog, and a frog would not be more meaningful if it were born with the cognizance of a human. We simply exist on a rock that will one day die and leave behind no trace of the humans that once colonized it.
However, I am also a pragmatist in that BECAUSE we exist, we must do what we can to minimize the suffering of our existence and the existence of those in the world. My moral foundation is based in a belief that life is a balance between pain and pleasure, and it is logical to minimize the pain of as many people as possible (yourself included) in order to make our existence as pleasurable as possible. My views therefore align slightly with hedonism as well.
Cheerio, sorry I wasn't able to fully express my thoughts, but we have an entire semester of conversation ahead of us!
Was going to ask if you were a Hedonist then I read the last sentence, haha. Looking forward to class with you, friend.
DeleteSorry you lost your other words! But these are quite nice.
DeleteI don't quite understand what Alan meant, but I do think I agree with the spirit of the remark. There are times when it's best to "think of nothing and do nothing," as Wm James says in "On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings."
Your version of nihilism is interesting, I'll be curious to see how much it overlaps with my version of humanism. You don't deny, I presume, that meaning and purpose can be manufactured by humans, and that some meanings and purposes can aspire to greatness. Or that our children and grandchildren (et al) may bear a trace of their forebears (us) and in that sense humans do have an opportunity tio create something exceeding froghood and meaningful beyond the lifespan of any single organism or sapient species. I look forward to discussing it!
Non-sapient, I meant to say.
DeleteOh no I undoubtedly believe that there are multitudes of ways we manufacture our own purpose and meaning and life. Some people do so with an obsessive focus on their career or hobbies while others might do so with a profound focus on their family or social life. There is no denying that to them these are very meaningful things. I do however think that these things have a very limiting meaning that obviously doesn't answer the "Why on Earth are we here?" Question.
DeleteLooking forward to our discussions!
My name is Adele Haun; I’m a junior majoring in Interdisciplinary Media and Entertainment. I have two minors, one in Media Management and one in Philosophy. I’m taking this class because I was raised strictly Southern Baptist Christian but never found myself believing or understanding their theologies or ideals, and don’t think or believe in an “all mighty God.”
ReplyDeleteI don’t really have a favorite philosopher or quote that I live by; however, I do find myself repeating the same phrase(s) during open conversations with my sister:
(This is your explicit warning—sorry, mom)
“Why the fuck not?”
It’s used very much like a little kid who asks why all the time, but explicit and with more emotion—or exhaustion.
After our class today, I also consider myself a pragmatist. I don’t think there is an end goal in life that warrants an authoritative stance. (i.e. killing innocent people for a god or trying to sway others’ beliefs for a god.)
Welcome to the club (or clubs, since I'm also both a pragmatist and former Southern Baptist indoctrinee.
DeleteWho are you?
ReplyDeleteWhy are you here?
What is philosophy?
Do you have a favorite philosopher?
Do you have a pithy personal philosophy? (Maybe something short like Charlie Brown's sister Sally's?--"No!")
Which (if any) of the 'isms--atheism, agnosticism, humanism, secularism, naturalism, pragmatism etc.-- do you identify with, and why?
My name is Javan Smith and I am a Junior, double majoring in Philosophy and Religious Studies.
DeleteMy reasons for being here are complex as I know not whether I am an atheist or a theist. I encountered much theology during my two years at St. John's College, so here I would like to see the other side of the coin. I feel like Augustine in his search for truth, caught between truth and falsity. I also do not know whether theism or atheism holds the answers, but hopefully I can find out. Maybe I'll be like Kierkegaardian Knight of Faith or possibly like Zarathustra after encountering the monk. Who is to say, but time?
My favorite Philosophers are Heraclitus and Augustine.
Philosophy, as the ancients said, is the Love of Wisdom, however I would argue it is Eros+Sophia being as the love is active and passionate. See the Parmenidian Chariot for example.
My pithy Philosophy is "It's Not That Deep!" because I have a strong tendency to overthink that ends in infinite regress.
I don't know that I have an -ism, but Sartre said that Existentialism is a Humanism so maybe I'd tend toward Humanism as I love Sartre and the French Existentialists. Maybe by the end of the semester I'll have an -ism.
Ah the complexities of understanding our own beliefs. I think we are all Augustine at one point or another in our journey for truth. I hope this class helps you along your journey!
DeleteJust beware getting too entangled in any 'ism, say the pragmatists. Ideologists have a tendency to dogmatize.
DeleteHello, my name is Grace Anastasi and I’m a Senior. I'm here due to adding on Philosophy as a double major this semester, my primary major having been Industrial Organizational Psychology for the past few years.
ReplyDeleteA basic definition of philosophy I find adequate is:
Philosophy is thinking, reasoning, and knowledge when applied to the context of reality and existence.
If I had a favorite philosopher is would probably be Diogenes, as his critical thinking skills & chaotic nature is refreshing and amusing.
I identify with Agnostic/Atheist. I was raised Christian and during my teens began to listen to arguments and other perspectives outside of Christianity, as well as became more critical of practices I didn't agree with inside the church.
However I am not opposed to spirituality, and find different practices/ religions such as Wicca, Judaism, and Shinto appealing.
Another 'ism' I identify with as well as a summarized personal philosophy for me, would be Positive Nihilism.
Positive Nihilism explained here:
https://youtu.be/MBRqu0YOH14