Midterm Blog Post - Alexandra Jasso

 Interview with a Philosopher(s) 

Jasso: Hello, everyone. This is fellow philosopher student Alexandra Jasso and this is "CoPhi", the blog to which where we discuss and learn more about philosophy and philosophers. I hope you are having a lovely day and today, I am here with not one... not two... but THREE guest philosophers on the blog to discuss and answer on the big questions out there in philosophy. With me today is Nigel Warburton, British philosopher and the author of A Little History of Philosophy, Kurt Anderson, American author of Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, and Julian Baggini, Britsh philosopher, journalist, and author of How the World Thinks.   Thank you so much for coming on here.

  

Warburton: Anytime and thank you so much for having us.

Anderson: Hello everyone!

Baggini: It is so nice being here today and I appreciate you inviting us.

Jasso: I'm just glad you guys came in today as we have a lot to discuss and questions to answer after reading each of your books. I've read and loved discussing your guises topics with my philosophy class and professor and I'm going to straight to my first question for guys. First things first: Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect truth, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.? If so, how or why not? I want to start off with you Dr. Warburton with your thoughts on the question.

Warburton: Of course Alexandra. Well...  in my book, A Little History of Philosophy, I talk and describe different philosophers throughout history and discuss their point of view and teachings. Philosophers go on to discuss those difficult and uncomfortable questions we may have on our existence. More specifically, as in my first chapter on Socrates, I tell on how wisdom was not knowing lots of facts, or knowing how to do something. It meant understanding the true nature of our existence and that includes the limits of what we already know (LH 3). From Socrates to Singer, we go on these philosophical discussions to question these assumptions we have about the world by using logic and reason instead of just the teachings that were passed on by the environment.  It both challenges and improve our own point of view as well as others.

Jasso: Well said and I completely agree with that. Discussing about philosophy has certainly changed the way I see from race and nationality to religion and belief. What about you Anderson?

Anderson: That's a kinda hard question to ask. You see... America has gone on the deep end of where we have begun to create our own version of the truth and have differences on what is reality. The United States was literary built on the idea that Martin Luther said in his 95 Theses on how Christan could and should interpret the Bible to their own interpretation. From that belief created the seeds of the American belief that I've stated in my book, "Million of ordinary people decided that they, each of them, had the right to decide what was true or untrue, regardless of what fancy experts say" (FL 17). We live in polarizing times to which there are individuals so stricken with their beliefs about the world fed by their environment that many have thrown logic and reasoning out the window.

Jasso: And as fellow American, I have to agree on that fact. (Laughing) I mean I like to see on how that is both our best yet worst quality we have to provide in the world. Dr Baggini, any thoughts on the matter?

Baggini: Well... according to my finding outside of western philosophy, I do like to say that philosophy has certainly helped change people's perceptions of life. In Eastern philosophy, it's more "way-seeking" than on finding the truth or creating one like Americans do. No offense. (Laughing)

Jasso: Oh none taken. (Laughing) 

Anderson: I agree with that as well. Do go on as you were saying.

Baggini: Anyway, regardless of these differing philosophies, both Western and Eastern philosophy are shown in some aspects of all cultrue. If you know where to look. In my book, I tell readers and I quote, "Your chances of finding the right way are improved if you are willing to see the world as it is, independently of your values... Truth is useless unless it allows us to move forward and we cannot move forward unless truth illuminates the way" (HWT 101). 

Jasso: I never really thought about it that way. Anyway, we don't have enough time as we're running on a short schedule today but I do have one last question for you gentlemen. Going on William James's question, What is this world going to be? What is life eventually to make of itself?" 

Anderson: I'm not so sure for the rest of the world but I do know that for America that we are currently living in a "post-truth era" due to the aftermath of the Trump administration and the constant polarizing views. While I may not have all the answers, I do know that while we are entitled to our own opinions and fantasies, we are not to the truth and must call out the most dangerous untrue (FL 439). 

Warburton: I agree as we must continue on learning as according to Hegal, we must continuing on learning from different aspects of the world and create to form our own perception of what is reality (LH  129). Going on what Baggini said. We must learn from different parts of the world.

Baggini: Exactly. Because otherwise our own values then turn rigid and stale.

Jasso: This has been an amazing opportunity and see you guys and I hope you guys have a good day as we are signing off.