Subj : Everyone's Philosopher
To   : LEE LOFASO
From : Frank Masingill
Date : Thu Jul 19 2001 09:08 am

 > How can philosophy be a private affair when one intermingles with the
 > rest of his/her community?  "No man is an island unto himself" may seem
 > cliche, but it is nonetheless a truth.

    Unfortunately the modern world since enlightenment and the worship of 
scientism rather than appreciation for the gift of science, the woods are full 
of ideologues and purveyors of private doxa (Plato's nemesis) who are eager to 
lock us up in the prison of their private dreams, apocalypses, gnostic hauling 
of salvation and perfection into whatever order sane people have been able to 
establish and other prisons.  If our political order is strong and resistant 
enough we can maintain our individual freedom but if not then those who 
disagree end up in concentration camps or mass graves.  Ideology, it is true, 
is dead as intellectually respectable but its political appeal can still do 
endless damage to human order and philosophy is the sole guardian against that.

Frank

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 * Origin: Frank's House (1:396/45.12)

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