Why Consider Philosophy?
I'm not trying to persuade anyone to pursue academic philosophy in the manner that I have. I simply believe that in order to pursue what the heart desires, it is more effective to welcome difference into our hearts and minds than to try to defeat competing viewpoints. That's the recipe for fulfillment that will allow people to show up in the world with kind and welcoming hearts, because that is method by which we most effectively grow. That's the purpose of my academic study, and it helps me to put it into plain English like this. I'd like to share a story of a challenge in my life that tested this principle.
I decided to start studying philosophy after I finished a master's degree in technology studies and continued on to a Ph.D. in technology. I realized after a few semesters that the deep questions that I had were not being answered by that program and I couldn't express my interests in that context. So, I withdrew from the program and entered a long period of self-study.
One of the things you learn early on in choosing to pursue philosophy is that many of the enthusiasts are hostile to religion. I mentioned here previously that my Catholic upbringing was core to my value system and self-concept, and I originally had a very negative reaction to the reception my personal beliefs received in that environment. I have always considered myself extremely well-educated (religious beliefs are not considered to be intelligent) and so I wasn't prepared for an environment that called my Notre Dame education and family upbringing into question.
I had to engage with rationality, what it is and what it means for what I believe. It was clear to me that my colleagues did not share the same values that I held, but I needed to examine the basis for those beliefs (theirs and mine) in order to give their point of view appropriate consideration.
The conclusion that I am working toward is that human reason is a tool, nothing more. It does not give us truth, but rather gives us a very effective means of accomplishing the objectives that we set. Those are two very different things. One article I read said that human reason evolved as a political tool, a method of establishing your personal beliefs and objectives in the face of competing interests. I surely think that is an angle to entertain, considering how our culture and politics have evolved in the current landscape. I think this is the concession that rationalist thinkers need to make to arrive at a solution for peace, but I do not need a concession from them to do important and effective work.
I study Continental Philosophy at the University of Dundee, Scotland which is a European brand of philosophy contrasted to the predominant Analytic Philosophy of America. The difference between them centers on the above point about truth. Analytic philosophy believes that our logic and reasoning give us truth (epistemological truth), whereas Continental Philosophy suggests that truth is more divergent, more akin to an absolute reality, (ontological) the nature of which we can explore, but which always leaves room for the discovery of new ideas that work.
That, of course, is the way I have always understood God (as something more) but the philosopher Gilles Deleuze who is the focus of my studies says that reality is not transcendent like the traditional Christian God, or even like the absolute knowledge that rationalists pursue. For Deleuze, reality is "immanent" meaning it unfolds rather that is arrived at through some journey. The 17th-century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza believed the difference was a core distinction between a oneness (everything is one substance) and various modes in which we recognize reality according to its parts. Spinoza was central to Deleuze's work. I prefer Spinoza's God (the God of Einstein) because God is essentially nature, an unfolding rather than something that needs to be reached through efforts. I truly think this offers a reasonable compromise between the positions of the theist and the atheist.
Peace cannot always be reached by protracted debate towards an effective compromise. For example, the identity politics and cancel culture tactics of the left are mercilessly criticized on social media and YouTube. Suddenly, the groups that considered themselves to be oppressed, poor and minortarian groups of all kinds, found several methods to fight back against their supposed oppressors. I don't place blame on the left for the current state of public discourse, but what realistically should a disempowered person do in the face of oppressive structures seemingly preventing them from reaching their goals?
A peace philosophy offers a solution that might seem eerily reminiscent of the conservative attitude. Make your own future. Empower yourself. To the degree that subtly unfair or discriminatory practices are reality, and make it difficult for people to achieve their dreams, the best course of action is band together and take action. Oppositional thinking characterizes so much of our current political and cultural landscape. Too often, we think "if only this other person would do something different" THEN I could reach my goal. I'm not saying that roadblocks are not real, the other people always act in a just fashion, but to the extent you have freedom and autonomy to study the problem you wish to solve, you have control over the situation. What is this life about? What do you want it to be? Become curious about the things that your personal belief system is preventing you from seeing: the new perspectives you need to make progress.
The solution that I have come to is that your personal beliefs are your personal beliefs. For example, my faith in God is core to me and not something that I am willing to sacrifice despite any desire I have to be accepted professionally as a philosopher. If my Christian faith is considered a minority view in this context, then it is not necessary for me to either turn-the-other-cheek or resort to political tactics that embarrass or weaken my perceived opponent. I only need to use their different perspective to make me stronger. There do not have to be opponents, only difference. Difference which can be utilized for discovery and growth.
A Philosophy of Creativity invites practitioners to dive into things they do not yet understand. Things that we might be consider to be intimidating or offensive and provide fertile ground to improve our attempts at continuous learning. Personally, I am not a fan of Donald Trump, but almost half of the country supports him and they support him for reasons that are real and relevant to them, I think it's important to understand what he represents for them, what part of what he offers resonates with them. In doing so, we spend a whole lot more healthy energy than nasty, vehement public discourse.
The first step in developing peace is the insight given in the Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
At first, the takeaway from this prayer is the theme of acceptance. You might argue that I am not practicing acceptance in pursuing a peace movement. But I actually think that is what I have been saying. Acceptance of the "other," that viewpoint that you position yourself in opposition to, presents an opportunity for learning and growth, So many of our roadblocks can be overcome with just that simple insight.
My biggest challenge in this project is to remember my own writing and practice what I say. I can envision an ideal scenario where more people lived this way, but at the same time I need to stay grounded in that I can only do what I can do, and that is enough. Daily article writing helps me process these ideas, and whether anyone takes the time to read them doesn't matter. I'm working towards my truth, a divergent truth.
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