CoPhi: That Podcast With Philosophers
Cole Walker
Me: Hey everyone and welcome back to "CoPhi" your one and only podcast featuring real philosophers and even realer conversations. I am your personal host through this, Cole Walker. I have been meaning to have this group here on the show for a while and I am glad we are all here. I think the viewers are going to be in for a real treat because we still haven't disclosed the identities of the Philosophers. Up first we have Susan Neiman, come on up Susan.
Susan Neiman: Hello everybody I am very glad to be here in front of this amazing audience!
Me: So glad to have you Susan, and up next we have John Kaag, John, how are you tonight?
John Kaag: Doing amazing my friend and happy to be here!
Me: Certainly a great start, last but certainly not least we have one of the greatest minds of our time and a personal favorite of mine on the show, Neil DeGrasse Tyson!
Crowd: *Cheering*
Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Hello, hi, okay so on my way up here I was gazing out in the back of the Uber and suddenly I see something shoot across the sky and I know how this works, I am aware of the processes that make this meteor come at Earth and the heating of its surface that dissipates light in the atmosphere causing a level of brightness that is detected by the retina and perceived by the brain, but what we can't understand is why the universe follows the laws that it does.
Me: Okay Neil, wow we are already starting with something miles above my head, but if you don't mind let me ask you a question. What do you personally think it means to grow up and why should we?
Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Often we pinpoint certain achievements or time spans as "maturity" or "growth", but is it quantifiable? I don't think that everyone has to meet the same requirements to be grown-up such as being able to drive, buying a house, having a baby, turning 18, or turning 21. All of these things are related to growth but for what reason, why do we need to put certain specifications on growth. I think that people grow at their own pace and that some can be very young but as mature and ready as an adult. On the other hand, there are some older people who I would easily say are less grown than people at the age of 25. I would say that growing up is a special part of living. You begin to see the world, not in the eyes of pure pleasure but you begin to think. Should you really spend your money on that big unnecessary purchase? Someone of low maturity certainly would because they would understand they have bills that still have to be paid and other monetary responsibilities. Allowing that growth to happen will eventually lead to a more fulfilling life and give you the chance to make better the world you live in.
Me: Very enticing concept there Neil and something I personally agree with. I would like to ask this question to you as well Susan, what do you personally think it means to grow up and why should we? Before I get your response I would like to point us towards a video that I found rather captivating as its star is you.
Susan: What an excellent question! Let me start by saying that growth as Neil said, has nothing to do with monetary possessions. It is entirely about the world and the way we can perceive things in it. Being able to have experience with life and how to live is a vital part of being grown. Even though there is no age at which you are grown, I would say there is an age at which you start to have the chance. Upon birth growth is noticeably there, you can see the infant starts to make mistakes then correct them almost instantly! I would have to say that is better than most adults today. I don't think it matters if I tell people to grow up or not because everyone wants to, no child runs around saying they want to stay young forever.
Me: Very interesting thoughts Susan and it makes me contemplate a lot so I appreciate your intricate response. Next, I would like to ask John the same question, what do you personally think it means to grow up and why should we?
John Kaag: I think that growth is in a way more of an experience than real meaning. Do we grow up for a purpose or do we grow up because we have to? As Susan said you do not tell people to grow up they just do, but why? I think people grow because societally they are pushed towards growth. Maybe society is engineered to position people in a place for growth or, we could be ever so wrong, but it is something to ponder. There is always this need for growth that pushes people in extraordinary ways and that to me is something powerful.
Me: Thank you John for your thoughts on this. I think we all appreciated what you had to say and it was very interesting and something I'll have to think further upon. I have another set of questions for everyone if Neil would like to start us off, Neil, what makes life worth living? Before you answer this Neil, let's watch this video on your answer to a question similar yet not the same.
In this video, I think Neil really brought down to a very understandable level what the meaning of life is.
Neil: Thank you Cole for including that bit, I think knowledge makes life worth living. As I said you create your meaning in life and through that you learn why you are living. For me, it is to learn as much as I can in the time I have. That means that for me I wake up every day with a goal and a plan that I will learn something that day and use it. For me, this creates my want to live and fuels me throughout my life, but for someone else, it might be completely different depending on which meaning they have created for their life.
Me: Neil, your answers always blow me away and really just leave me speechless so thank you for that. Next up we have Susan to which I will ask the same, what makes life worth living?
Susan: I think that the meaning of life is to make it better for the next generation and the current. Why have more people if not to make things better? If we just procreate and do nothing to make the world a better place for our children or ourselves then what have we really done. Most of us already do this to the best of our abilities and that is why the world continues to become a more civilized and less dangerous place.
Me: Thank you for that, certainly makes you think about how things are and how they can be changed with our own actions. Lastly, we have John Kaag and the same question. What makes life worth living?
John: I recently just last year suffered a massive heart attack and can say that for certain life has a purpose and is worth living. We often take for granted the time we have here and the fact that it does not last long. We should live while we are alive and do what needs to be done. Seek happiness and find truth in knowledge and wisdom.
Me: John, sorry to hear about that but we are very glad you are okay and certainly loved what you had to say. Some amazing answers from everyone here tonight but this is the part where we say goodbye and go our separate ways so goodnight everyone!
Neil: Goodnight Cole thank you for inviting me.
Susan: It was a pleasure to be here, goodnight to you all!
John: Thank you for having me here sir, good night to you.
"Around 25-30 is when I'd say you start to really grow" -- so, people shouldn't be allowed to vote, drink, or join the military before then? In fact, we all "really start to grow" from Day 1 (in the womb). If the new standard for adulthood is mid-20s, we're even more infantilized than Neiman thought!
ReplyDelete"This is neither bad nor good so I wouldn't think too hard on it" -- I don't think any credible philosopher would say this.
Delete"the meaning of life is to make it better for the next generation." -- why not for this generation as well?
John definitely endorses James's statement: "Keep your health... it's worth all the truths in the firmament."
"Again, remember to include bloggish content--especially embedded links etc."
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