A discussion of opinions

 Posted for Nicolas Smith (#10)

(Somewhere in the farthest broadband of time rest a station. This is a station that maintains a shape somewhere between an obelisk and a dreidel. The outer plating seems metallic, but upon further inspection maintains the biological structure of an oak bark. As we venture inside, we find something resembling a 18th century jinn bar…or perhaps a control room from an era not yet discovered. inside the lounge sits a collection of history’s most provocative minds. Freud sits alongside Aristotle, sharing a vile of some unspecified vapor. Nietzsche plays solitary, while Socrates argues with the piano player, who seems to be simultaneously wearing all of David Bowies’ fashion pieces. At the entrance to this lounge sits a sign: “Rodden berries”

( At a table sits the esteemed philosophers: Nigel Warburton, Kurt Andersen, and Julian Baggini. They are soon greeted by the definition of a voyeur. They welcome him as if they were old colleagues, even though they have never shared each other’s company—conceptually or otherwise. )

The Voyeur: Gentlemen. We have been summoned to this thread of reality to answer a question: “Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth—

Kurt Andersen: TRUTH? YOU DARE BRING UP THE—

Nigel Warburton: “Silence is a true friend who never betrays” 

(Silence rushes over the table.) 

The Voyeur: *ahem* -- “…facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partnership, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief etc.? if so how? If not, why not?” 

Kurt Andersen: Well, in what reality are we talking about? The true reality or the one we are currently perceiving around us?

Julian Baggini: Oh please! Are you done?

Kurt Andersen: Not remotely! —

The voyeur: (squeamishly) Please. Let us remain on task.

Nigel Warburton: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

Kurt Andersen: Where shall we begin?

Julian Baggini: In order for us to understand the question at hand, I believe we must understand the beginning of philosophy. Let us look at Thales of militias, or the many philosophies of Confucius, or perhaps even Buddha? I believe that I have written the best example of this. If we look at my book How the World Thinks (page xiii) “these early philosophies have a profound impact on the development of distinctive cultures across the world. Their values and tenets have shaped the different way people worship, live and think about the big questions that concern us all.”

Kurt Andersen: *whispers* shameless plug. 

Julian Baggini: So, to answer your question—the answer is yes. As we can see from these examples, philosophy teaches and guides civilizations to be better and more…Moral. We can see their influence take root across any/every civilization they have been exposed to them!

Kurt Andersen: But how does this explain the state that America is in? It’s a fantasyland!

The voyeur: What do you mean Fantasyland?

Kurt Andersen: Haven’t you been paying attention? Look around you? The country has been turned on its head by this “anything-goes relativism” (Fantasyland pg. 5)

Julian Baggini: Oh, here we go…

Kurt Andersen: If you read my book titled Fantasyland: “what’s problematic is going overboard, letting the subjective entirely override the objective, people thinking and acting as if opinions and feelings were just as true as facts. The American experiment, the original embodiment of the great Enlightenment idea of intellectual freedom, every individual free to believe anything she wishes, has metastasized out of control.” (5) 

--And I think we have to hold everyone in Jules’ book responsible for what has happened to my country. It is because of this blind faith to these ancient religions that has led to our collective lack of reality!

Julian Baggini: How dare you!

(Julian and Kurt begin to scream at each other inaudibly) 

Nigel Warburton: “A man living without conflicts, as if he never lives at all.” 

The voyeur: Gentlemen please… Can we remain on task...?

Julian Baggini: why don’t you ask Nigel if he has an opinion on the matter? 

Kurt Andersen: Ah yes, Let’s see if you can get something out of the Confucius calendar! I mean what could he have to say. He doesn’t even have a forward in his book!

Nigel Warburton: Perhaps I just don’t enjoy the sound of my own voice as much as some people… 

Kurt Andersen: Now he speaks! Well, dazzle us with your words than!

Nigel Warburton: It is common knowledge that Socrates was the teacher to Plato who then taught Aristotle, yes? 

Julian Baggini: Of course!

Nigel Warburton: Do Socrates and Aristotle agree on every issue? 

Kurt and Julian: Of course not!

Nigel Warburton: How can they be from the same school of thought then? 

Kurt Andersen: I don’t understand what you are saying. 

Julian Baggini: What are you getting at?

Nigel Warburton: As you can see in my book: a little history of philosophy. I reference this fact. “Socrates’ immediate impact was on those around him. Plato carried on teaching in the spirit of Socrates after his teacher’s death. By far his most impressive pupil was Aristotle, a very different sort of thinker from either of them.” (8) 

Kurt Andersen: English man! 

Nigel Warburton: Look around us… the answer is US. We all are philosophers—we all come from Socrates (all the ancient philosophers and their ideals) that were distilled by Plato (the classical philosophers of the renaissance unto the industrial evolution) that birthed us—the Modern Philosophers! Even though we all disagree with our fore-fathers, they have taught us through their lessons to think for ourselves—to form our own opinions! So to answer your question: does philosophy change lives? absolutely it does! It changes and grows, but the art of thinking will always be there to guide us. In any shape or any form.

The voyeur: well gentlemen, on that note…it seems my work is done. 

(the voyeur stands up and proceeds out of the lounge.)

(Fade to black)

The end