Interview with ... a Philosopher(s) Podcast Part 2
Jasso: Hello everyone!!! Due to popular demand and so many responses, you've asked for it and now we're doing a Part 2. If you are joining us for the first time, my name is Alexandra Jasso and this is "CoPhil", the blog to which we talk about philosophy for fellow philosopher students by philosopher students. Tonight, we are joined by not one. Not two. But three philosophers to which we had the honor of reading and disscussing their works during this semester. First up, give a warm welcome back American philosopher and author of Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire, Kurt Anderson. Thank you so much joining us again.
Anderson: Thank you so much Alexandra for having me again. I had so much fun last time and I was excited when you asked me to join in again.
Jasso: Also, we have two new people joining us today. We have American philosopher and author of Why Grow Up? Subversive Thoughts for an Infantile Age, Susan Neiman.
Neiman: Hi everyone. I saw your podcast last time last October and I have got to tell you that I've loved it and I was really honored for you to ask me to come in today on the show...
Jasso: Are you kidding me? I was shocked and so happy you decided to say yes to do this episode. I loved your book and it made have so many questions.
Neiman: Oh my god. Thank you so much.
Jasso: Finally, we have John Kaag. He's a professor at the University of Massachusetts and author of Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life. Thank you for joining me today.
Kaag: Thank you so much Alexandra. I quite thankful that you and your class has decided to read my book for philosophy.
Jasso: Anyway, we should get started with our questions which is: What does it mean to grow up and why should we? Also, what makes life worth living? I think we should start with Neiman. Your response?
Neiman: Of course. Well as I've discuss in my book, there's not one monolithic way in growing up. Many believe that growing up is goal we all try to reach for when in actuality is indeed a proccess. In Chapter 3 in my book,“Growing up is a process of sifting through your parent’s choices.” We try to navagate this harsh world given the few options and limitations we were given by our parents and circumstances. What we are striving towards is to seek wisdom, seek the truth, and to try and make this place a better one than the one we found it in.
Kaag: I like your response. I quite argee as maturity is all about seeing the world on what it is but for also on what it could be. While we may look upon others for advice and influence, we must also look upon ourselves. I quote I learned is that “The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.”
Anderson: I like that. In the U.S., we have become so fixcated on the idea of creating our own beliefs that we eventually lost touch with in reality and have ended up blocking out the truth. In my book, I've disccus the idea of growing up and we tend to get attached to our childhood as adulthood gets harder.
Jasso: I have to agree and I'm a freshmen college student. That's all the time we have but thank you guys for joining us and see you next time. Bye!!!
“Growing up is a process of sifting through your parent’s choices.” I'm not sure I did a lot of "sifting" as a teen, myself. From the first time I thought seriously of my own impending adulthood I focused more on my own choices. Still not sure exactly what Neiman meant by that.
ReplyDelete