“As for Diseases of the Mind, against them Philosophy is provided of Remedies; being, in that respect, justly accounted the Medicine of the Mind”.
Epicurus (341 – 270 B.C.E.)
Introduction
Philosophy is the science of the mind; it is the rational soul seeking expression of its nature; it is all about love of wisdom, freedom of thought and applying our mental powers to explore ideas to an end, to a conclusion or a non conclusion. It invites us to reflect on all our assumptions, responses, goals and strategies in the galaxies of human minds interacting with constantly changing social, economic and political conditions without fear. As such it is always evolving and changing and it demands the utmost of our critical faculties. Philosophers were pioneers in the intangible realm, perhaps the first psychologists and theoretical scientists.
In the west, philosophy is positioned between religion and science. Bertrand Russell observed philosophy as “something intermediate between theology and science … a No Man’s Land exposed to attack from both sides.” Christian theology claims absolute truth and authority based on interpretations of the bible by self proclaimed representatives of god without evidence or reason. All exact knowledge belongs to practical science. In between theology which promises certainty where there is none and where exact science cannot provide answers is the vast invisible realm of philosophy. It attempts to answer essential questions as well as vexing ones and provide comfort and happiness based on reason in contrast to unfounded “absolute truth” dogmas proclaimed by theology. Philosophers were the catalysts for change; historically many were martyred, the list starting with Socrates in the west is a long one; they were imprisoned, tortured, burned at the stake, exiled, murdered and their writings often destroyed or banned.
Is there a god? Is there life after death? Is there a heaven or a hell? Are there really laws of nature? If there are, what are the natural laws? Are we innately evil or good or neither? What is good? What is evil? Is there a purpose in life? Why am I here? What is the purpose? Is there a soul and is it immortal? As we will all must ultimately die, is there a need to live a noble ethical life? Is the universe divided into mind and matter? And if so, what is mind and what is matter? Is mind subjected to matter or vice versa or are they independent of each other? These are some of the questions which science cannot answer in its laboratories.
Yahwehist theologians proclaim an external god that demanded our obedience in order to be saved is lacking in evidence, however, much evidence existed that our world is real and its reality demands our daily attention, understanding and acceptance here and now – many who could not face this reality and find solutions to questions life poses over a long period of time feel disconnected and become despondent. The Catholic Church proclaims its popes infallible and lay down a complete dogmatic system covering human morality, hopes and fears, the past and future history of the universe. Its ecclesiastical authority declares its pronouncements to be absolutely certain and eternally unchangeable.
Such claims of definite answers to all questions and the claims of certainty and possession of “absolute truth” ignoring reason and evidence is unrealistic and boastful, it causes our cultivated minds to repel and view their answers and claims with mistrust and doubts. Only by expelling all false conceptions or opinions that disturbed the minds with the aid of reason and impartial observation can an honest man find truth and happiness. Roman Catholicism was an idea of government born of anarchy in the Roman Empire. It was imposed by force by the will of the powerful with torture, inquisition, and death by fire and not the spontaneous hopes of common people and facts therefore it could not be idealized nor actualized then and now.
Philosophy attempts to study all these questions amongst many others and hopefully find some intellectually honest, reasonable and comforting answers. It does not pretend to have all the answers nor its answers absolute per se; it diligently without prejudice and fear examines all possibilities with an open mind, learns and teaches practical wisdom that make life better. Its authority or rather persuasiveness (attraction) is very different from that of “absolute” dogmatic theology, its nature akin to that of theoretical science is intellectual and not governmental. Its findings and conclusions are based on its times and circumstances, tentative and subject to changes and modifications as and when they appear and becomes necessary, it is based more on probability than on absolute unalterable certainty. No penalties are imposed on those who reject it, no undue pressure exerted on those who accept it; it prevails solely by its intrinsic appeal to reason and impartiality.
This article is in response to the widespread neurosis and psychosis apparent in westernized societies and the inability of its mental institutions to adequately deal with the problems. The increase in religious fundamentalism because of prolonged conflicts and wars is the other reason; fundamentalism in any religion is a disease that kills. As the range of questions addressed by philosophy is endless, I shall deal briefly with only the essential ones which my present state of mind can understand, experience and communicate.
My apologies, this article is under revision and updates.
