Midterm Blogpost- Pedro Rojas

 Section 10 , 10/15/20 

              

Pedro Rojas : WOW! beautiful weather we're having today is definitely going to be a good day. I wish I could stay home and relax, but Professor James Oliver is urging me to come to class. He keeps going on and on that today is my only chance to ask my "Big Question". I don't understand what's so fascinating about it I was just curious. Maybe he's going to bring the news and introduce me; or maybe he thinks I'm super smart he'll have the school board attend. Who knows but I should hurry before I'm late.

                                                        (Scene Changes to Tucker Theater) 

Me: Good morning Professor James Oliver, how are you doing this fine morning?

Professor: "I'm doing well Mr. Rojas now before it's to late could you enter into this Ball Dome very quickly? "

Me: Ball Dome?

Professor: "It's a new method we're having for in person communication." You know with Covid-19 going on, and I wanted you to be the first to test it."

Me: Sounds interesting... Okay I'll do it, but I thought you called me over about my big question?

Professor: "It is over that just our surprise guest suggested this method." 

Me: Well okay Professor Excuse me then.

( Time passes I have entered the ball dome and three other Gentlemen are facing towards me each with their separate dome.)

Me: Good morning Gentlemen lovely weather we're having Thank you for coming!

Julian Baggini: "Why Hello there!"

Kurt Andersen: "Morning !"

Nigel Warburton: "How do you do ?"

Me: "Gasp", Oh my this is not happening! You must be Kurt Andersen next to Julian Baggini and is that Nigel Warburton! I'm a big fan I love you're books over philosophy. My professor talks about each one of you quite a lot. What brings the big three over here? 

Andersen: " Your Professor James Oliver is a good friend of ours, and has asked us to participate in your big question." 

Baggini: "Yes indeed young lad would you present it for us? or should I say hit us with the question."

Me: Well yes of course, "Do you think philosophy can help people learn to respect the truth, facts, reality, and one another, and to reject false hood, superstition selfishness, polarization, partisanship, and mutual hostility based on differences of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, belief, etc.?. If so how? If not, why not?" 

Andersen: "Oh boy I'll be needing a drink"

Baggini: "Make that too please"

Warburton: "A glass of wine for me please"

Me: I apologize I'm just curious.

Warburton: "I'm quoting myself from my book, " A Little History of Philosophy". "The kind of wisdom that it values is based on argument, reasoning and asking questions, not on believing things simply because someone important told you they are true." (Pg.3)  "Respecting other's opinions and focus point's is being philosophical." "Being Philosophical simply means accepting what you can't change." (Pg. 28)  " You can't change everyone's personal views, but you are allowed to suggest your opinion in hopes for change." " That is when stoicism comes in play." " At the heart of stoicism was the idea that we are responsible for what we feel and think." (Pg. 29) "We have no control in ones words or actions the only thing we can offer is guidance in search of the truth."  

Andersen: "I have to agree with Warburton that we have no control on ones opinion, but I do believe that we are living in a divided nation." "I'll be also quoting myself from my New York times Bestseller, "Fantasyland How America Went Haywire."  "Well, anybody who knows me knows that I'm no fan of dictionaries or reference books." (Pg.4) "Constantly telling us what is or isn't true... or what did or didn't happen." (Pg.4) "Face it, folks, we are a divided nation...divided between those who think with their head and those who know with their heart... because that's where the truth comes from, ladies and gentlemen- the gut." (Pg.4) "Nations will evade other nations for money, produce, and goods if necessary or even just because they felt like it." "The Spaniards who followed Columbus, instead of searching in vail for a passage to Asia, headed southwest... there they discovered the Aztec in Mexico and the Inca in South America...Sought their Gold stole it and mined for over a century." (Pg.19) "This is exactly what I mean philosophy isn't enough to teach those who pray for wealth, and if willingly will attack an abandoned civilization best believe you're home as well. 

Baggini: " Well since the two of you are quoting from your books I will be quoting from How The World Thinks, my Sunday Times Bestseller." "Early philosophies have had a profound impact on the development of distinctive cultures across the world...Their values and tenets have shaped the different ways people worship, live and think about the big questions that concern us all."(Pg. xiii) "Andersen I do acknowledge your believe on Divided nations and agree with you." " However, I believe that we all come from one origin of philosophical ways." "For all the varied and rich philosophical traditions across the world, the western philosophy I have studied for over thirty years...is presented as the universal philosophy, the ultimate inquiry into human understanding." (Pg. xiv)  "Western Philosophy, a tradition that stretches from the ancient Greeks to the great universities in Europe and America."(Pg.xv) "I do believe philosophy can bring nations and people together." " But many a time we have had white elephant projects basically because  the people bringing them have no understanding of the philosophy and religion of the people." (pg.xv) So, if people could take the time and learn and understand in a way we could all come to agreements to the factual truth regardless of the race, but that'll take centuries." 

Me: Very Good focus point's from the three of you. Now I personally don't have an answer for either three of you, but I will respect all of you're opinions into consideration. Once again Thank You for coming and for your time I highly appreciate it ! Good day to the three of you ! 

                                          ( Pedro Pops the bubble and runs back home)

Kurt: Would the three of you like to go to a bar in downtown and go star gazing?

Baggini: That sounds splendid !

Warburton: Indeed !

Professor: Could I join as well

3 Philosophers in sync: Of course !