Taboo Plaza

The Efficacy of Philosophy

The first question you might think of is "what does that means?"  And that's a good question.

"What does that mean?"

The question cannot be asked enough.  Surely some people will grow tired of answering the question and we can only use our own good judgment to try to guess when our questions become tiresome to an-other.  It is good to be alert on this account, because I believe that most people don't want to be a burden upon an-other.  Assuming that is the case, we may agree that discretion with regard to force and recurrence of question-asking should be a well-practiced art. 

The right amount in the right place at the right time is what seems desirable in most situations. 

So what does this have to do with the efficacy of philsophy?  Which should raise questions about the choice of words.

Efficacy carries a sense of efficiency without industrial or mechanical notions tied into it.

Philosophy on the other hand may be a heated debate.  Philosophy's meaning changes depending on who you ask.  It seems though, that philosophy is a seeking to understand.  Understanding may suggest action.  Most people, however, do not associate philosophy with action.

"Why not?"

Philosophy is questions. 

However, philosophy carries the baggage from centuries of seemingly unanswered questions continuing to be asked ad naseum.  That history doesn't suggest action of any type other than a circular, unending pit mired in questioning despair.  Proponents of philosophy have seemingly contributed to the creation and endurance of a negative impression of philosophy carried by many detractors.  This negative impression comments derogatorily on the dense language as well as the incoherence often displayed while searching for ideas that seem big but inevitably seem to have no real impact on the lives of people.  In order to reverse this trend, philosophy must include the general public.

In actionable words, philosophy needs a make-over.

The U.S. Army attempts to write many of its Standard Operating Procedures at an eighth grade level.  That's because the Army understands its audience.  Philosophy, on the other hand, either doesn't understand its audience, or philosophy actively chooses to exclude the people it needs most to be effective.  Many philosophers seem to speak a different language than the rest of the world.  So while a high-minded individual desires to come up with the "answer."  The language utilized in philosophic circles ensures that only those people in the circle will ever have an opportunity to judge the practicality of any idea expressed.

For philosophy to ever have a positive impact on the world, philosophy must be more inclusive.  The act of inclusiveness may require philosophers to think at an eighth grade level.

"Would this water down the nuances available to language?  Would it prove to be a hindrance on our ability to discover?"

It seems that philosophy is an art of questioning.  The answers to the questions we ask may prove interesting, but the specific answers themselves are not always critical or actionable.  Even the questions do not matter in each individual case.  The thought may be that eventually we'll arrive at something better than what we have today by simply questioning everything we have today with no sacred cows unable to be brought to light for questioning.

In other words, nothing is taboo.

If we ask enough questions without the need for an immediate answer that will be relevant maybe one day we'll be a bit closer than we once were to being better off.

"What's better off?"

That questions waits for another day, because I grow tired of these questions.  I feel as though I've learned something new by asking the questions within this piece, even though the subject matter may seem trivial. 

I thought.  Even if for only a moment: I thought.

That, I believe, is philosophy.

Does it seem like it should be more complicated that that?  Sure.  Does it have to be more complicated than that?  I don't know.  What I do know is, that if more people started asking more questions we could say- at the very least- that we live in a more reflective world than the one that was before it.

7 Holy Virtues

Humility:

It's amazing what can be accomplished when we first stop talking about ourselves and focus upon what stands in front of us. 

I will choose to be humble for the sake of unity and solidarity. 
I will choose to be humble for the sake of those around me.
I will choose to be humble because it seems to be the right thing to do.

The degree to which a person exercises humility defines their character.  It may not be something you notice in another right when you meet them; however, it is something you notice over time.  The degree to which they exercise humility is the degree to which they allow you to be a person.

Can you exist in a space with someone else?  It really depends on if they let you.

If lack of humility stands between you and another, it is only because they will not allow you an accomplishment.  They will not allow you to be right.  They will not allow you to exceed, because somehow your accomplishments may diminish their own.

I will choose to be conceited because it suits me.
I will choose to conceit because it makes me feel better about my place in the world.
I choose conceit because I am unsure of how I am supposed to be.

Humility is a trait all children should be taught in grade school.  It is possible to be too humble; however, if you're good people then others will notice.  Then people will notice the degree of humility and suddenly "too humble" becomes a positive trait that further defines the nature of the one who possesses it.

Current Affairs

Ralph Nader has put his hat in the U.S. presidential race.  This happens at a time when it seems that Barack Obama is strengthening his hold on the Democratic nomination for U.S. President.  Hillary Clinton will not, apparently, go down without a fight though.  Noone really should expect her to quit either.  Texas and Ohio- as well as about 14 other states- have yet to weigh in with their primary results.

Obama seems to be the most articulate, thoughtful and well prepared to be representative of the United States.  Clinton seems to be the most prepared candidate in a calculating, tactical-sense.  McCain seems to be the candidate most likely to conserve what we have today.  Huckabee is still in the Republican race, as is Ron Paul; but neither seems likely to create much more of an impression on the American people than they have already done up to today.  In the presidential race today, both are having a negligible impact and Ralph Nader will probably suffer the same result as Paul and Huckabee.

Based on the rhetoric offered so far, one set of choices the American people seem to have right now is between:

-more aggression and global power-seeking with John McCain.

-a calculated focus on domestic affairs balanced by a calculated focus on foreign policy with Hillary Clinton.


-a change in how we approach foreign affairs as well as a renewed focus on domestic affairs with Barack Obama.

McCain has clearly stated we will be in Iraq for another 100 years if he has his way.  Clinton has overstated her experience with government management.  The recent history of government management in America has very clearly been a history of government-support for corporate interests at the expense of social welfare interests.  Obama has suggested changes in who we speak with on the global front as well as trying to help our own citizens without first looking to enforce measures on our own citizens.

Birthday Shout Outs (Feb. 24th through March 1st)

2/24
(1968) Mitch Hedberg- This guy was pretty funny.

2/25
(1913) Jim Backus- It's Mr. Howell or Mr. Magoo, either way, it's all good.
(1917) Anthony Burgess- I never imagined the author of "A Clockwork Orange" could look this distinguished.
(1943) George Harrison- The Beatles are the standard by which all other things "cool" (in this world) must be measured against.

(1949) Ric Flair- He was cool as the Beatles.



2/26
(1916) Jackie Gleason- A very funny man; however, watching early episodes of "The Honeymooners" now has me fearing for Alice's life.  I'd swear at any minute he might actually hit her.
(1932) Johnny Cash- He was an interesting singer with the ability to cross over in unthinkable directions.

2/27
(1891) David Sarnoff- Apparently this is one of the guys you can blame for all the problems television has created.  Thank you David.
(1902) John Steinbeck- He is an American treasure.
(1940) Howard Hesseman- He was Dr. Johnny Fever.  That use to be as cool as the Beatles.

2/28
(1948) Bernadette Peters- She was a talented actress and quite the cutie in her day.

(1953) Ricky Steamboat- One of the best wrestlers of all time.



(1955) Gilbert Gottfried- Nobody's better at making people uncomfortable.

2/29
(1792) Gioachino Rossini- He wrote powerful music.

3/1
(1841) Blanche Bruce- The first black man to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate.  He served from 1875 to 1881 representing Mississippi.
(1914) Ralph Ellison- He wrote "Invisible Man."  A moving and powerful narrative about being a black man growing up in early to mid-20th century America.
(1954) Catherine Bach- She was a hottie.
(1954) Ron Howard- It's Opie Cunningham.

(1965) Booker T- He was one of the meanest black men to ever appear on television when he first started.

Belly Laugh

Let me tell ya.  Rodney Dangerfield is the creative king of the one-liner.  Long live the memory and respect of Rodney Dangerfield.