Midterm Blog post - Jared Quillosa

 

The date is November 19, 2102. Today marks the 100th anniversary of world philosophy day. Technology had advanced so much that humanity hsa developed the possiblity of "beaming" the consciousness of humans from the past into virtual holograms. In the spirit of today's holiday, I decided to beam up some philosophers "Star Trek" style and record my findings within a virtual starship enterprise conference room.

As I sat with my laptop at hand ready to document the occasion, I beamed up Nigel Wharburton, Kurt Anderson, and Julian Baggini to the scene.

Jared Quillosa: 

Good evening gentleman, welcome to the year 2102. I am sure that none of you are surprised by now as to how we are able to be as we are, so let us begin. I brought you all here today to ask a few questions and am curious as to your response. Here is the 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? If not, why not?

Julian Baggini:

Personally, I have encountered conflict specifically between religion and philosophy. Philosophy I think has the capacity to do many of the aforementioned topics you stated in the beginning of your question, but to reject falsehood, superstition, selfishness etc based on aspects of humanity is difficult to achieve. Humans ought to be in a constatn battle of competition. Like I mentioned within my book, How The World Thinks, "positions are awarded to those who perform best" (Baggini 323) on the topic of hierarchal civil services and therefore bear different interests and interests within the self.  

Quillosa:

I must agree with you, Julian, about how humanity is in constant competition. There is an inherent moral and ethical dualism within humans. Humans are capable of deciding good and evil actions. The constant battle between humans has always been by conflicting interests and I understand your point on the matter.

Andersen:

I can only assume you speak of India's hierarchal caste system, correct? Pardon my interruption.

Quillosa: 

This is an open discussion, Mr. Andersen. Go right ahead.

Baggini: 

Why yes, but this perspective for humans to compete among the masses has also been seen elsewhere not just in Asia.

Andersen: 

I must agree with you there, Julian. America has not necessarily been able to utilize philosophy in a manner which helps them to realize the unification of humanity early on. America at its founding had been greatly influenced by religion or hate thereof by the Puritans, Pilgrims, and those who settled later on. I don't believe western philosophy had its taste of what the old world philosophers had been thinking until the 19th century. Philosophy can indeed help to progress humanity but there will always be exceptions due to the pretense of humanity's moral dualism. Take for example America's upbringing after WWII. This time period allowed for Americans to think critically on their own economy and such the progression of suburbia. In the 1950's, Americans began to think critically of their opportunity to fulfill this "fantasyland" they had all dreamed of since coming to the new world. They had all devised to fulfill their own personal dreams of their future and were willing to fight for it. I mentioned that "Walt Disney was born at precisely the right moment" (Andersen 152). What I meant by this was that he had been able to consider the passions of the people and utilize his skills to market his own passion for others. I think he was effective in disregarding the many differences of the nation's populace and instead created an entertainment establishment which catered to all. 

Wharburton:

Your analysis on America can very much be related to my topic of Voltaire in Candide, Kurt. I recall referencing in my book, A Little History of Philosophy, of the phrase "we must cultivate our garden" (Wharburton 97). I feel America had become very disillusioned to the dreams of their fantasyland, but I must disagree that philosophy can help people simply because of Julian's reference to humanity's conflict with itself. Nonetheless, there will always be humans who will continue to work for their own commonality. There is the mind of the philosopher within each of everyone's mind to ponder and question the reality of their passions, but the efforts of the species is very much selfish. I may seem very neglectful that philosophy can still help, and I understand. I still stand firm in believing that philosophy can still help to alleviate. After all, Socrates had become one of the earliest scientists due to his adept ability to question the world. Although this did get him killed down the road, he had been able to expand humanity's process of the world. Philosophy can indeed help people to learn the truth and omit the notion of differences among the masses.

Andersen and Baggini: 

Well said!

Quillosa: 

Yes, well said indeed. So it would seem that humanity would still make use of philosophy and continue to learn the truths of the world. As a secondary question and I understand if you are unable to answer, but it pertains to the future of philosophy in a world constantly developing hand in hand with material and technological advances.

Do you think philosophy would become less significant as science and research continue to improve and therefore negate the need for philosophy? What I mean is that answers to questions about the mysteries of the world are continually becoming answered by scientists and adventurers alike. Is philosophy lost at this point? 

Wharburton: 

You know, Jared, that is a great question, but I think it is important to remember that Socrates was in fact somewhat of a scientist for the reason that he continued to question the infinite mysteries of the world. these questions led him to research like any scientist and eventually found answers even if they were findings that negated his questions. Philosophy in a sense is a foundation of science because it provides the skepticism needed to challenge many aspects of a mystery. It is a true battle of whittling down the mystery by a series of questions and answers.

Andersen and Baggini: 

Well said, again!

Quillosa:

 Ahhh! of course, how foolish of me. Well it seems I have found my answer like Socrates would have. 

Andersen:

Rightly so, Jared. Do you have any other questions? 

Quillosa: 

Yes, actually. I have one last question before my interview time runs out. This question is something I personally have struggled to answer. How would you answer William James' vital question. 

What is the world going to be? what is life eventually to make of itself?

Anyone one of you may answer when you are ready.

[A very audible silence has struck the room. The delicate ticks of the clock on the virtual walls of this space is the only thing which contests for the deafening silence. The men in front of me can be seen thinking within their chairs similarly to the statue of The Thinker. Quite a remarkable sight.]

[I began to think just as they do, surprisingly striking the same pose while I gaze in a direction opposite of them]

Andersen:

What a great question. I am still struggling to answer and rightfully so. 

Baggini:

I must agree, Kurt. Even Nigel sits just as we are.

Wharburton: 

That is the case. Do you have any thoughts, Jared? I am curious as to your thoughts. Obviously there is no wrong answer.

Quillosa: 

I will try my best to answer. I personally believe that this world will continue to be what it is, but rather our views of the world will have been expanded greatly. I understand that humanity continues to grow and grow and with this so do the many minds, thoughts, beliefs, values and such. This world would continue to progress into advancement in many fields, but the content of humanity will continue to foster the world within its own hands. as to life, it will come and go just as the waves do. the ebb and flow of humanity will continue to see great conflict, but also great harmony. I cannot envision a world of the future completely different of the past or the present, but I am also afraid of the unknown and its dangers or blessings. I am content with the world and life as we know of today. I hope that answer is sufficient and not too ambiguous to my philosophy of life.

Andersen: 

I think that this world is going to become somewhat of a scene like America. Nations across the world will be struck by the "Donald Trump" syndrome which had riddled America, and the shift from reason and reality to dreams and determination will unknowingly poison humanity. Donald Trump, as I have stated in my book, is "driven by resentment of the establishment" (Andersen 417). It is unfortunate to say but there will always be those like Trump who will continue this tirade for entertainment rackets among the social structures along with other corrupt philosophies of which to cover their intention. But much like in the scene of America, there will become a world which challenges this new method of thinking in the world and of the facts presented within it. Life will eventually foster evolutions of philosophies within the people and shift the the names of ideological themes such as "The American Dream" to more twisted and hidden themes of personal interest. the world and life within the world will continue to become more and more complicated in my opinion which somewhat flips your understanding of the world and life.

Quillosa: 

I completely understand your statement. I must agree that humanity is complicated, and the situations of life can only further complicate these things. How about you, Mr. Baggini? have you summed up your thoughts?

Baggini:

Yes, the world to my understanding will be able to achieve great things if kept in connection with history. I made note in my book that yes as "material and technological advancements progress,... morality and ethics are more likely to regress (Baggini 325). I mean to say that we must continue to remain in touch with history because they outline problems and situations humanity has faced before. With history, we are able to understand how to overcome these problems and further ourselves as a unifying force of humanity. I think humanity will continue to progress into better understanding of each other around the world and help shape the world together. If this very difficult task is achieved, we can better understand the history of all nations and continue hand in hand in a world that will reach a golden age. Life would eventually create harmony and further expand the golden age of humanity and perceive the world to great heights thought of to be unimaginable. 

Quillosa:

Would you think humanity is close to this opportunity in the current year of 2102?

Baggini:

You know, based upon my understand from How the World Thinks, I would believe so. If there were to asrise a common enemy of humanity such as little green men in a spaceship, then yes. after all our understanding of the cosmos has not overruled the possibility of life outside of Earth, and i think it would become a turning point in humanity to gather together to explore the cosmos and the new frontier.

Quillosa: 

I do hope we encounter some green men in the future. It would certainly spice up the knowledge of the cosmos greatly.

Andersen: 

Rightly so, Jared. 

Quillosa:

It is your turn, Mr. Wharburton. What are your thoughts?

Wharburton:

You know, this is quite difficult to answer and it seems you all have touched on similar thoughts of mine. However, I would like to think the world would become something of the past but with new experiences, new questions similar to history's, and new ideas that begin to sound familiar. I think the world would usher a golden age of philosophy as we begin to see parallels from history from Socrates to Peter Singer. I think life would encounter the same life of the past, but maybe less extreme. Such is the great Socrates who has questioned the world. Such may be the future where someone may question the future as to be the same as the past. We may become like Pyrrho and question absolutely everything (Wharburton 16). With new experiences in the future, we may become dulled to the past and their experiences. Many would agree that history does repeat itself, but its' with this of the past which we can use for the betterment of the future. I think that the world and life within the world will reach a point of ultimatum. The new experiences we begin to go through will become a variation of what we have already seen. Individuals may sprout new ideas but rather these ideas are just echoes of history. Like scientists, we "learn from our mistakes" (Wharburton 214) and the mistakes of humanity. Of course technology will progress new ideas and concepts not known to man, but with this come the comparison of our history to the present. Technology becoming compared to humanity and the comparison of AI to the complex human mind. 

[As Wharburton finishes his response, the timer for which indicates my duration for interview had rung for their departure. It was a sound I had immediately disliked, but a saving grace for my mind had become so fatigued from simply thinking]

Quillosa: 

Well it appears that my time has come to a close. I would like to very briefly say thank you for your time and participation in this interview. This experience has truly enlightened my thinking of the world and it is thanks to you all.

Baggini: 

Thank for the opportunity to speak. 

Andersen:

Likewise.

Wharburton:

I only hope next time you come back to interview us, you provide more time for us to ponder life's questions!

Quillosa:

Of course! Farewell philosophers!

[As I waved goodbye, their holographic bodies faded from existence and I was left alone to my chair within the virtual space]

With such a great event now passed, it had come to my realization that i now needed to reflect on my recordings. In the year 2102,  I am around my 100's, but this still does not inhibit my ability to continue learning more of the cosmos of this life. Life to me had become about furthering myself as a human being and continuing to learn more of the world makes me feel young again.