Student Surveys, Revisited

A Wonder

I mentioned in the previous post that philosophy begins with experience. This claim is often misunderstood. For instance, some people draw the mistaken conclusion that since we have not experienced all beings, we cannot possibly know that nothing can both be and not be in the same sense at the same time. But one of the wonders of the created human mind is that the experience of even a single thing is sufficient for the mind to grasp not just that this thing cannot both be and not be, but that nothing can both be and not be – that the principle of contradiction is necessarily true of all things whatsoever. It is implicit in the form or pattern of being itself. Astonishing: For this shows that the mind is so fit to engage reality that it grasps not only the sensible qualities of the things that it experiences, but also their forms.

How Philosophy Goes

Sound philosophy originates in common experience and opinion. It is futile to seek proofs of such things as that we exist; that time passes; that I remain myself even if my hair changes color; that some things are good; or that good is to be pursued. But if philosophy draws itself from common opinion, then it is not at first clear how philosophy can go beyond it. Why not just bring in the man on the street and ask him what he thinks about things? In a way, that is exactly what philosophy does. Look how Aristotle investigates happiness, beginning with the common recognition that every act is undertaken for the sake of some end, and then asking questions about this end. Even his scrutiny of common opinions depends on common opinions, for he doesn't simply shoot arrows at them from on high. He makes them interrogate themselves. For example, one common opinion is that happiness is honor, the praise of other people. Do you say happiness is sought for its own sake? Yes. Then if happiness is honor, honor would be sought for its own sake, correct? Yes. Then would you be satisfied if other people praised you for qualities you knew you did not have? No; that sort of praise has no savor. But in that case, you don’t consider praise worth having for its own sake after all, do you? More fundamental is praiseworthy qualities. That is how philosophy goes. It can elicit what we didn’t know we knew – but we must already have known it. It can draw inferences -- but we must already grasp the consequence relation. It can call attention to inconsistencies – but we must already realize that contrary views cannot all be true at once. The idea is not to destroy common opinion, but to cleanse, extend, and ennoble it, by forcing it, through dialogue, to be honest with itself.

It Was a Beautiful Fight

My father loved St. Paul, so all my life people have been quoting to me the apostle’s remark, “I have fought the good fight,” and his advice to the young Timothy, who stands for each one of us, to follow his example.

It sounded starched and churchy.  I wasn’t impressed.

Blame the translation.  The Greek phrase translated “good fight” is kalon agona.  Thayer’s Lexicon translates the underlying word kalos as “beautiful,” applied to “everything so distinguished in form, excellence, goodness, usefulness, as to be pleasing.”

So think of Paul as a champion prize fighter, climbing down from the ring after victory, gleaming with sweat, blood streaming from his nose, staggering but still on his feet.  All at once, with broken lips and a mouth of loose teeth, he stops, looks at Timothy, grins and cries cheerfully, “It was a beautiful fight.”

Children Are Not Costs and Benefits

The view that holds that all decisions should be guided by an aggregate cost-benefit analysis is spilling over from the government, military, social, and industrial bureaucracies to personal life.  For an example of this utilitarian delusion, consider the remarks of one of its spokeswomen, Bernadette Young, about whether and when to have children.

“In addition to straightforward financial outlay, parenthood comes with costs of time and opportunity.  Loss of flexibility and leisure mean you won’t be able to take all opportunities (like taking on extra work to make more money or advance your career).  Late notice travel is unlikely to be possible.  You will probably be sleep deprived for a large part of the first year or more of your child’s life, and this may impact on your work performance.  The work of parenting will take time, though some of it may be outsourced at the cost of increased financial outlay.”

Are you surprised that she doesn’t suggest “outsourcing” conception and pregnancy too?  She goes on to say, “I don’t have the answer to the origin of the longing for children that many experience.  It’s almost certainly due to a complex mixture of biological and social factors.  It might even be an evolutionary trick.”

Someone should have told the author that we do not have children on the basis of rational calculation.  We have them in hope.  Not hope in the sense of blind optimism; I am speaking of the gift of God.

Some also should have told her that having children is not about increasing the net balance of happiness over pain.  Of course they are a profound source of joy, but what makes them so is that in giving ourselves to them, we are no longer thinking of our joy.  We are thinking of them.

Praise God for sleep deprivation.  Praise God for all those other things that shatter our security and selfishness.  Children are not a lifestyle enhancement; they are themselves.  Of such is the kingdom of heaven.