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I Think Therefore I Am a Philosopher
North Miami Beach, FL January 28, 2001 Aaron H.
Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then, Opinions pro or con are welcome.
I THINK, THEREFORE I AM A
PHILOSOPHER
Based on "I Have Tenure, Therefore I Am" By Peter Eddin New York Times Ideas
& Trends p. 4 1-28-01
"The object of philosophy is the logical clarification of thoughts" is
attributed to Ludwig Wittgenstein, one time Chair of Philosophy at Trinity
College in Cambridge University. The new Chair is an American, Simon
Blackburn.
I conclude, therefore that philosophers must be thinkers who are allowed to
think. I think this is so. What do you think? Do you think about
thinking? What do you think about ideas? Do they mean anything to you? It
seems to me that a meaningful life should include the careful examination of
the contents of our minds - to browse, so to say - in the cultivated portion
of the wild arboretum inside our heads. This is sometimes narrowed down to
an inspection of our navels.
I have tried in these essays to share the thoughts that come unsummoned
when I read, see or hear some of the language describing the human attempt
to go through life in a more or less meaningful way. I apologize regularly
for imposing my internal perambulations with others because I cannot
regulate or meter out sober philosophical pronouncements as part of a
movement or simply as my own personal effort to sit up top of a pillar in
the wilderness contemplating my navel.
However, I do think that the new "Chair", Simon Blackburn formerly of
Chapel Hill in the University of North Carolina, is correct when he too
holds forth beyond the hallowed halls where philosophers cluster and
exchange views of each other's navels. (This is rather disgusting when you
think about it.) But that is what this is all about, thinking.
I do not have a Doctorate of Philosophy although I have its equivalent as a
"Doctor" of Education. At Rutgers they did not impose the requirement of a
second language in order to have that title added to my degree. I endured
so much to become one of the Philosopher Kings who reign in academia that
one more study and achievement would not have injured me any more than I
was - mangled and thoroughly disgusted before I was through. This is
perhaps the reason why I think so much.
I didn't deliberately get up this morning to think but Blackburn
made me think, once again, about thinking. He said, "Why Bother to Think"
and answered with "Think" is "for people who want to think about the big
themes: knowledge, reason, truth, mind, freedom, destiny, identity, God,
goodness, justice." They are not "the hidden preserve of specialists. They
are the things that men and women wonder about naturally..."
Most people are preoccupied with what they will eat, what they will buy and
what they will do. If they think at all most will only wake up if the
actions of our new leaders infringe on their enjoyment of THINGS. Most
people will not be disturbed if our leaders ravage the universe of thought
and reduce it to instructions on how to live the life these leaders
prescribe for the rest of us.
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10. Carol also says: "Very thought provoking."
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