Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Philosophy Section

I looked at the philosophy section in my neighborhood used bookstore the other day and took this picture. I thought about this as a large collection of books that as a commitment to wisdom, reason and logic that is beautiful and flawed - like all human activity. In spite of the flaws it is valuable and useful in helping us become a little wiser, more reasonable and more clear.

There is no subject, including religion or faith, that escapes the philosopher's gaze. The philosopher does not lack faith - it is my assertion that no one does who bothers to get out of bed in the morning.

Why is all this philosophy flawed? As a student of the subject back in the day it was our job to read the great thinkers and then write papers exposing the weaknesses in the various theses and arguments we read about. They are always present. Still, as students, we were always enriched by the effort.

Wisdom is not the same as knowledge and meditating on this distinction in our current political and economic climate is worth the effort.