Reason and Unreason in Western Philosophy: The Struggle of Certainty against Probability through History: A Layman's Notes on Philosophy
This book is an attempt to summarize Western Philosophy based on three primary sources: Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy, Will Durant's The Story of Philosophy, and R.H. Popkin and A. Stroll's Philosophy Made Simple.
Why should anyone spend time reading a book on philosophy; much less one written by a non-philosopher?
The author thinks he has found answers to these questions. Not THE answers, mind you, but answers nonetheless. Reasons that may be intriguing to some, but not to others. Arguments that don't intend to finalize things, but rather prompt new thoughts. Pondering. Contemplating... in the footsteps of those called philosophers who have done so through the millennia. Those that Bertrand Russell called the “lovers of vision of truth.” The kind of lovers, the author believes, unbeknown to us we all are.
So; why philosophy? Because in the past 2500 years, this richest bundle of human thoughts has explored nearly every aspect of our existence. If we pay a little attention to it, philosophy can assist us in countless ways. It could open our minds to broad questions, such as, "why am I here?" It could give us templates to interpret large-scale concepts such as the US Declaration of Independence that is based on Locke’s natural rights. By evaluating arguments developed by history's brightest minds we could get guidance when facing burning questions permeating our daily life. What is a humanly and economically sensible way to look at the migrant crisis? How could we recognize and balance our short-term and long-term interests? How far should we go with placing our personal interest above the community's interests in global questions such as wealth distribution? Environmental protection? Climate change? But philosophy may also guide us in the nitty-gritty of every-day life. Can I use the pedestrian walkway with my bike? Is it ethical to download questionable content from the Internet? Do I have the right attitude in treating the opposite gender?
Learning about how well-thought-out ideas have been proposed through the millennia—and how those same ideas were torn to pieces by other, equally powerful ideas holds valuable lessons for all of us. In the end, familiarity with the philosophical arguments may hone our ability to express ourselves with more clarity, more substance; and thus, earn us more well-deserved authority.
So; why do so few people bother reading philosophy? The author is convinced that one of the obstacles between the layperson and the philosophical thoughts is the formidable language of philosophy. This was already recognized almost 300 years ago by David Hume who accused his colleagues with inventing a special language for communication amongst themselves. It is this aspect of philosophy where the author is hoping to offer additional value to his highly qualified primary sources. Through language simplification, thoughtful organization, a splash of unconventional interpretations and personal notes, he has attempted to improve the accessibility of the book’s source material. It is hoped that by offering a layman’s view on the difficult scholarly field of philosophy, a wider public interest will be generated in this treasure house of human intellectual achievement.
No comments:
Post a Comment