Jonathan, I’m enjoying your enthusiasm about school and how it really shows in your writing! You are making a difference!
In the 11th hour, in three life changing decisions, it was my philosophy degree that helped me decide not to go to law school, not to join the military, and not to partake in corporate American. Instead, I became an entrepreneur. I founded an art studio for children which I sold 5 years ago after owning and operating it for 25 years. BEST DECISION EVER!
The value of philosophy is the quest to seek truth, solve problems, and wonder and ponder about the unknown. Philosophy should be a required high school class. I have been saying this for years. Perhaps it would teach society to vote appropriately, ask more questions, and communicate effectively. I sometimes wonder and ponder how different the world might be if we all had a basic understanding of philosophy.
"The pre-Socratics were largely concerned with what we would call cosmology and physics. What is stuff? Why does it do things? I’m in Physics II this semester, and we are just asking the same questions with better lab equipment."
I returned to grad school last year as well and am studying psychotherapy. I have yet to read a piece of western psychotherapy that wasn't already taught by the Buddha, we are asking the same questions with better lab equipment as well.
Stay safe, my friend. I'm eager to learn if the history of Socrates will repeat itself.
I know you know this absolutely, but the fact sorta slipped by that Socrates didn’t write anything either. But there were some whip/smart people around him that heard him carrying on and they wrote it down. Plato was was one and I think there might have been others where you really had me though was the four words. High school, ethics, logic and a PhD teaching it. I’m sorry. But I just don’t think high school students today are so fortunate to have that kind of education. Can you imagine if logic was a required course for high school students? In any event Jonathan I’m really loving this stuff you’re writing.
Thank you, Grant. No, I can’t imagine a high school logic class these days, and I think it was pretty rare even then. I also played in our jazz big band for four years, where I learned nearly everything I know about music. That was a terrible time in my life, but Orange High was a great school.
Oh, and the thing about Democracy reminded me of the Churchill quote. Something along the lines of: the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
Jonathan, I’m enjoying your enthusiasm about school and how it really shows in your writing! You are making a difference!
In the 11th hour, in three life changing decisions, it was my philosophy degree that helped me decide not to go to law school, not to join the military, and not to partake in corporate American. Instead, I became an entrepreneur. I founded an art studio for children which I sold 5 years ago after owning and operating it for 25 years. BEST DECISION EVER!
The value of philosophy is the quest to seek truth, solve problems, and wonder and ponder about the unknown. Philosophy should be a required high school class. I have been saying this for years. Perhaps it would teach society to vote appropriately, ask more questions, and communicate effectively. I sometimes wonder and ponder how different the world might be if we all had a basic understanding of philosophy.
You definitely chose the right path! I’m glad we crossed paths too.
I loved this piece and this passage:
"The pre-Socratics were largely concerned with what we would call cosmology and physics. What is stuff? Why does it do things? I’m in Physics II this semester, and we are just asking the same questions with better lab equipment."
I returned to grad school last year as well and am studying psychotherapy. I have yet to read a piece of western psychotherapy that wasn't already taught by the Buddha, we are asking the same questions with better lab equipment as well.
Stay safe, my friend. I'm eager to learn if the history of Socrates will repeat itself.
Thank you, Troy. The whole Information Age has been overwhelmingly more about salience than truth, which seems congruent to history.
The only truth seems to be that humans prefer mythology to anything empirical. It just may be our Achilles Heal…
I know you know this absolutely, but the fact sorta slipped by that Socrates didn’t write anything either. But there were some whip/smart people around him that heard him carrying on and they wrote it down. Plato was was one and I think there might have been others where you really had me though was the four words. High school, ethics, logic and a PhD teaching it. I’m sorry. But I just don’t think high school students today are so fortunate to have that kind of education. Can you imagine if logic was a required course for high school students? In any event Jonathan I’m really loving this stuff you’re writing.
Thank you, Grant. No, I can’t imagine a high school logic class these days, and I think it was pretty rare even then. I also played in our jazz big band for four years, where I learned nearly everything I know about music. That was a terrible time in my life, but Orange High was a great school.
Oh, and the thing about Democracy reminded me of the Churchill quote. Something along the lines of: the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
They left out Philosophy in high school . I took as elective going forward. Time to hit the library.