u/geumkoi

I have always been bothered by this sentiment, so generalized, that only the Greeks were original and “genius” in their time; as if Vedic philosophy, or the thought of the Chinese, couldn’t compete with the “oh so elevated” reason of the pre-socratics.

Any other tradition besides the greek isn’t even taught in schools; the historical, lived context of the greeks (who were very much in contact with the rest of the world) is completely omitted. And any ounce of religious or theological (“mystical”) dialogue is excused as “a device to appeal to the masses” (like Parmenides using poetry), a “metaphor” or whatever myth.

To believe that Parmenides wrote in hexameter just to “appeal” to people is both unfalsifiable and the result of modernist myth. Parmenides was as much a mystic and a religious man of his time as were, say, Buddha or Zhuang Zu. Trying to “elevate” ancient philosophers to the standards of the modern academia and its methods, to “excuse” the theology and their religious and spiritual attitudes, is deeply dishonest.

It also paints them in a light that conveniently separates them from all the other sages of their time, pertaining to other cultures (like the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Hindu, etc.) in an attempt to make them seem more “elevated” and fitting of today’s standards. It is also extremely offensive to the rightful authenticity of Ancient Greece and its culture. This is a myth deviced to demonstrate that the western tradition is “better” than any other. I have encountered philosophy professors who argue that philosophy use strictly western, no one else can or has participated in it. These guys weren’t even western by today’s ideas.

What I don’t understand is why this attitude is so widespread still. You’d think that a scientifically inclined society that has a reverence for history and a tiny bit of epistemic humility wouldn’t make that mistake. But it is extremely widespread, even within professions circles. My Ontology teacher genuinely believed that Aristotle was a sort of “pre-christian”, somewhat the “first monotheist”, and a “direct precursor of western science.”

I find this laughable, unfair, and quite shallow.

>!Also: I hate that the!< >!r/philosophy!< >!subreddit is so strict it becomes almost esoteric in the way it handles posts and participation. You have to submit a fucking dissertation for the MODs to let you respond to questions or even interact with others. Any post is so extremely moderated that… damn. It doesn’t have to be that strict.!<

There is really nothing stopping me from creating an institution (a free one) that attempts to improve education. Something that unites the sciences and philosophy and gives people everywhere a better understanding of the world.

Except funding, of course, and knowledge. I don’t have the money to create it, so it would have to be a voluntary project; and recruit scientists and philosophers who would want to voluntarily educate others without any possible (monetary) reward. Perhaps through social media, or in-person meetings; the point is to mobilize people so that we are actively creating a change that operates against the logic of capitalism, and benefits human beings with the greatest gift of all; education (to improve our society).

I currently have just one student (who actually helps me monetarily). I haven’t been able to get more. And my limited knowledge of the sciences or other complex philosophical fields outside of my background prevent me from expanding the course as I’d like.

What I mean is; I’m always complaining that schools teach math without its context (just symbols without substance, a map but no territory); that the sciences are divorced from philosophy to a point that they can be unethically used and exploited; that many philosophers don’t know science and don’t use it to our benefit. I’m always complaining that this actually feeds the power structure and contributes to humans doing things mindlessly and setting up mindlessly administrated systems that reward the worst types.

But also… just everything I said above. There’s nothing stopping us from just going out and attempting to fix this educational conundrum. It’s just that I’m 1 single person.