Questions. Part 1.
Ayn Rand (1981) said that ‘philosophy studies the fundamental nature of human existence and mankind’s relationship to existence.’ I like this definition, and think it’s accurate. Don’t you?
However, the idea that we study our own relationship to experience is kind of a tricky idea, isn’t it?
Particularly, Rand’s description of philosophy raises some concerns for me:
- How can there be a relationship to other things, especially somethihg like existence?
- What does “relationship” mean?
- What does relationship “to” mean?
—> does this imply a seperation from the one to the other? (is existence other/seperate than humanity?)
—> is “existence” something one has and risks losing?
—> is “existence” something one must earn/obtain
—> do we ever part with existence, and if so, how?
—> lastly, how can something that you need (in order to be) be something other than you? (ie., “how can existence be something different than the individual, if the individual couldn’t exist without it?). We might not be able to say that existence is the individual, but couldn’t we say the individual is existence?
- If we study only our individual selves, we risk solipsism, self-righteousness, egotism, secularism, etc…
- If we study all individuals, we are necessarily agreeing that all humans relate to existence similarly, and/or function/respond similarly… is this too much of a leap? How much do we really differ? Is there enough common ground to really provide a foundation for philosophy?
- What else has the ability to reflect?
- Where do we draw the line for things like ourselves? … at primates?, at dogs/cats? at physiological ability? at psychological performance? social class? race? you can see where this is goiing…
Considering all these questions, can we really deny that THIS kind of thinking is exactly what Rand’s definition calls for? Aren’t we already doing philosophy, even while disputing the definition itself? That being said, it seems clear to me how there is so much work to be done in philosophy…. doesn’t it?
Posted by bell at June 13, 2006 10:24 PM
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