Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
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Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#2Philosophy hasn’t stopped being relevant, if anything, it’s even more relevant today in a hyper-globalized world. What’s changed is that academics have become over-specialized, to the point where many outright deny the usefulness of entire academic fields. Scientists like Einstein or Humboldt were well versed in philosophy and religion, whereas today the “public intellectuals” often say philosophy is outdated or useless, as if 21st-century American values were the best, final ones, never to be questioned again.
One would think that after Fukuyama’s end of history nonsense, we’d have learned this lesson, but apparently not.
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#3Philosophy hasn’t stopped being relevant, if anything, it’s even more relevant today in a hyper-globalized world. What’s changed is that academics have become over-specialized, to the point where many outright deny the usefulness of entire academic fields. Scientists like Einstein or Humboldt were well versed in philosophy and religion, whereas today the “public intellectuals” often say philosophy is outdated or usel…
Agreed. Everyone already has a philosophy (and a religion), though many people don't know it, and some would deny it. The question isn't whether to have a philosophy but which philosophy to have.
EDIT: since some have asked what I meant by "everyone already has...a religion," I meant that even something like atheism is a religion. It has a story of the origin of the universe, various accounts for why and how you should live your life, and an eschatology (where the universe is headed). Many atheists think they don't have a religion because they don't worship a personal God, when in reality atheism holds that the universe itself is functionally an impersonal, all-ordering deity.
In my experience, many atheists also seem to proselytize with a religious fervor as well (famously, Dawkins et al.).
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#4Philosophers: [many words...]
Everybody else: Please get to the point!
Philosophers: What even are ideas, anyway? [more words...]
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#5Philosophy hasn’t stopped being relevant, if anything, it’s even more relevant today in a hyper-globalized world. What’s changed is that academics have become over-specialized, to the point where many outright deny the usefulness of entire academic fields. Scientists like Einstein or Humboldt were well versed in philosophy and religion, whereas today the “public intellectuals” often say philosophy is outdated or usel…
Philosophy will cease to be relevant when thinking ceases to be relevant. I would cast suspicion on the intentions of anyone who wants people to stop reasoning and questioning.
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#6Philosophy is arguably the most important thing in my life. I'd like to live a morally good life, and figuring out what makes such a life is a great journey.
Thanks to my pursuit, I now give at least 10% of my income to the most cost-effective charities I can find (see GiveWell). Thousands of people do the same: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/
Many philosophers are working on society's most pressing issues (see the Effective Altruism) movement.
Here's a recent book that may be relevant: https://www.moraluncertainty.com/
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#7Great interview! Rebecca Goldstein never fails to kindle my interests in philosophy. Science really needs people like her, she pulls the rug out from under us but does it from a place of love. Her ability to communicate makes a huge difference also.
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#8Philosophers: [many words...] Everybody else: Please get to the point! Philosophers: What even are ideas, anyway? [more words...]
More like:
Everybody else: [this whole garbage pile called the internet]
Philosophers: told you so.
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#9Philosophy hasn’t stopped being relevant, if anything, it’s even more relevant today in a hyper-globalized world. What’s changed is that academics have become over-specialized, to the point where many outright deny the usefulness of entire academic fields. Scientists like Einstein or Humboldt were well versed in philosophy and religion, whereas today the “public intellectuals” often say philosophy is outdated or usel…
Mark Fisher describes the same thing, as not "the end of history" but the cancellation of the future based on observations that the Neoliberal political system has continued well past its serviceable life and that there seems to be nothing coming to replace it.
Re: Plato at the Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away
#10Philosophy hasn’t stopped being relevant, if anything, it’s even more relevant today in a hyper-globalized world. What’s changed is that academics have become over-specialized, to the point where many outright deny the usefulness of entire academic fields. Scientists like Einstein or Humboldt were well versed in philosophy and religion, whereas today the “public intellectuals” often say philosophy is outdated or usel…
Agreed. Everyone already has a philosophy (and a religion), though many people don't know it, and some would deny it. The question isn't whether to have a philosophy but which philosophy to have. EDIT: since some have asked what I meant by "everyone already has...a religion," I meant that even something like atheism is a religion. It has a story of the origin of the universe, various accounts for why and how you shou…
As someone who would deny having a religion, can you clarify what you mean by that?