Philosophers stoned

I go through "intellectual" phases of falling in and out of interest in studying philosophy. Philosophy seems fascinating, but when you do it, it's tough.

I've had a couple opportunities to do so in my life, but with varying success.

My first time was in college. I recall sitting on the stairs of an overly-crowded, standing-room only lecture hall, while the professor lectured on the philosopher, Popper. He was animated and obviously loved his subject. In each and every class, I tracked and understood everything our professor said up to and including, "Good morning", but then everything became a blur.

I had a bit more success in the seminary, when I was considering becoming a Catholic priest. I had to study classical philosophy as a prelude to Theology. I was fascinated to learn that the thought categories of Greek philosophy form the basis of Western thought and culture. It also gives us the language used in Theology. I got more out of this class because we got the philosophers predigested with the chance to read snippets from the direct sources.

But still, the study of philosophy called for a mental openness, intellectual flexibility, and rigor that was tough for me at that time.

Philsophers discuss ideas and abstractions. They create new concepts and make new thought connections. They coin new words and use old words with new definitions. You also need to understand their historical and cultural backgrounds and their working assumptions to follow their reasoning.

But that's ok. That's its appeal, and I guess that's why we're back to the "let's learn philosophy" phase.

My wife recently bought a series of philosophy texts on sale. They're books arepretty unique, because they are written with tons of big drawings of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, with thought bubbles containing their main ideas, and strategically placed summary prose.

Ok, the phrase "philosophy texts" may be an overstatment; they're really more like "philosofy komix"... 2 or 3 steps below, "Philosophy for Dummies".

But maybe this is what I need to finally master the Masters! Here's my experience of reading one of these books last night. It went like this (sort of)...

Part I The Philosophy Masters

About Plato
"Plato was born in a rich family. He was a student of Socrates. After Socrates died, Plato wrote down his teaching so that people would not forget Socrates. He wrote them down in a book called Dialogues. Plato started the first university. He called it the Academy. At the Academy, his students tried to answer difficult questions like, "Is there a perfect world?" Aristotle was one of his star students. Plato's most famous book is The Republic."

(Hey, I understood that...fascinating... I'm tracking; I'm doing philosophy!)

About Socrates

"Socrates is the Father of Western Philosophy. He did many others things before becoming a philosopher. He was a soldier, politician, and a stone mason. He didn't write anything down, because he liked to question other people about their opinions about truth. He didn't say what truth is. He only like to question what others believed about it. He also liked to talk about other things that are hard to talk about like virtue, piety, good and evil, and life.

(Feelin' good about this, because I'm still tracking! It's getting a little deep here talking about things like truth, virtue, etc. But, I'm ok! I'm ok...just breathe!)

And so it went! Before I knew it, a whole 20 minute had flown by. And more surprising, I was already more than half way through the book! Great, I'm jazzed! I'm getting it, finally!

This is all great history and biography of the Masters; I was ready for the meat! I think I have their system down pat!

Here we go...!

Part II

Philosophy Meat

"In Part II of this book, we will talk about some fun philosophy ideas. Lots of 'em came from the book called The Republic by Plato (360 BCE). Socrates (remember him from Part I?) and his student Polemarchus are talking here.

(Ok, now I know what to expect in Part II...bring it on!)

Socrates: "Dude, why don't you glide on over here and let's chat about life!"
(So far so good...this is the philosophical  "meat" and I can understand that...)

Polemarchus: "Your Mastership, kewl! Pray tell, whilst we imbibe and chat."

(Uh oh, fancy language. Let me check the dictionary...hmmm..."Pray tell"..."pray tell"...Here it is, "old fashioned way of saying, '"You're on!', also refers to "Do it, tell me!". And "whilst" is the old fashion way of say, "while". Check! I'm following...)

Socrates: "So Dude, order us a brewsky and let me bop this question over to you."

Polemarchus: "Kewl, muchly! Two brewskies over here! Now, pray tell, Your Mastership!"

Socrates: Listen up, Pole, and tell me then, O thou heir of the argument, what didst Simonides say, and according to you, truly say, about justice?

(Huh?)

Plomarchus: He said that the repayment of a debt is just, and in saying so he appears to me to be right.
(Hey, wait!)

Socrates: I should be sorry to doubt the word of such a wise and inspired man, but his meaning, though probably clear to you, is the reverse of clear to me. For he certainly does not mean, as we were now saying that I ought to return a return a deposit of arms or of anything else to one who asks for it when he is not in his right senses; and yet a deposit cannot be denied to be a debt..."

(I, uh...!!?? Huh?)

With a sigh, I closed the cover of my philosofy komix. The pictures were nice, but maybe next year!

Honey, what's on MTV?