Kakšna je vrednost filozofije danes? Kakšen je smisel študija filozofije? Zakaj ni dovolj znanost ali različna področja znanja? Kaj nam lahko izobraževanje na področju filozofije ponudi, česar nam ne more ponuditi noben drug predmet?
O zapisanih vprašanjih in njim sorodnih temah sta se pogovarjala avtor pričujočega zapisa in profesor filozofije Jesus Castillo-Coronado. Pogovor se je zgodil 14. 11. 2023 v srednji šoli St. John's v belgijskem Waterlooju. Avtor se prof. Castillu na tem mestu zahvaljuje za to priložnost.
V nadaljevanju sledi zapis iztočnic pogovora. Celoten dialog pa je dostopen na naslovu:
https://youtu.be/IqEfQAXGovc?si=FK5gH_S5dCmrTzNk
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY/ PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
What is the value of philosophy today? What is the meaning of studying philosophy? Why is science not enough or the various fields of knowledge? What can education in philosophy provide for us that no other subject can?
There are two ways of thinking about philosophy and its value(s) today:
1. Philosophy is seen as an intellectual tool. Philosophy is used to develop our powers of argument, logical analysis and critical thinking. Critical thinking is understood here in a narrow sense: in terms of skills and competences – the question here is what we can achieve with the help of philosophy (and the goal of our action is set outside of philosophy).
2. Philosophy as a critical perspective, as a way of thinking or as a way of living.
In continuation, I will focus on the latter understanding.
Philosophy that fosters critical thinking implies a non-reductivist view of the notion of critical thinking: it is not just one of the skills, but an orientation of thinking that becomes an orientation in life. Philosophical education is formative rather than instrumental: we become persons with certain life orientations by engaging in philosophy. Through philosophy we develop our moral character (cultivating virtues) and form relationships with others, ourselves and the world.
Philosophy understood in this way forms or strengthens or develops our critical judgement, which is the ability to distinguish right from wrong, beauty from ugliness, truth from lies. To repeat Hannah Arendt, philosophy as radical self-reflection is constitutive of the person.
According to the classical definition, philosophy is a way of thinking/living and it is a fundamental way of taking care of our souls (ourselves). It is also a prevention against evil. The intellect or the mind is not morally neutral, there is an inherent tendency or orientation of the mind towards the Good. Philosophizing according to Plato directs us towards the (universal) Good.
Modern Challenges: What about cases of 'moral vice' within philosophy? There are famous cases of philosophers who were involved in wrong causes. For example, the case of Martin Heidegger. How is it possible that a philosopher like him was – at least for a while – a committed Nazi? Heidegger explained that he himself was inexperienced (did not think enough) in political matters. There seems to be a lack of political education on his part. There were some implications of his philosophy of existence, but they were not properly recognised and evaluated by himself. He misunderstood his own role as a philosopher in relation to political life.
Where do we stand?
I believe that philosophy as such can make the world a better place. BUT, metaphorically speaking, since it is the PEOPLE with their individual choices that can make such changes if they choose to do so. But first we need to understand the world and ourselves well enough to act wisely and thoughtfully. The catastrophes of the 20th century were largely the result of people acting too hastily and without enough critical thinking. Philosophy has been too much ignored and neglected.
Now is the time to reverse Marx's famous 11th thesis. To paraphrase the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, people have tried to change the world too much in the past, now is the time to stop and think deeply about where we should go and how we should act. Philosophy is a necessary basis for such action to have any chance now and in the future.