We discussed philosophy last night, or made an attempt.  I made an effort, but just could not seem to “get there.”  We are all “ground down” by the pandemic, by the lies, betrayal, and conflict disseminated from the White House.

Senator Kamala Harris has been selected as VP partner by Joe Biden.  The announcement was made late in the day, shortly before we convened our discussion.  The announcement barely made, the misogyny, race-baiting tirade began from the President of the United States.  Awareness of these developments contributed a weight of ‘world weariness’  which I felt prior to our discussion.

The foundation for our discussion was an essay written by a magazine publisher about the difficulty of doing serious research, unless one has a bottomless purse.  The title, The Truth Is Paywalled But the Lies Are Free, sums up his thesis.  A cursory investigation of the matter reveals that the author has a fair point, — but the matter is complicated.  In a society such as ours, where Capitalism and property rights are regarded as sacred, it is difficult to conceive of an alternative to copyright law as we practice it, without upending the foundation of our society.  How might ‘just reward for recognized success’ in creativity be recognized?  The well being of individuals as well as the viability of channels of distribution must be maintained, one way or another.  It can be reasonably argued that our current practices are unjust, unfair.  This is not the best of all possible worlds, but to imagine an alternative is quite difficult.

Our discussion did not treat the issue of “bias.”  And what of the matter of lying, the foisting of lies into the public discourse, as if salvos of artillery fire?  That issue we did not get around to discussing either.  The light faded, as we are deep into the summer season.  We called our session to an end, and picked up our chairs in order to depart.

In retrospect, to reflect upon the course of our conversation, it is clear that we share disorientation, the pangs of social isolation.  Our effort to avoid infection and serious illness has greatly interrupted our usual routine of spending time in social spaces.  I think the dissonance resulting from this deficit calls for care prior to any discussion of epistemology.  Is bias a normal aspect of learning?  The need to feel membership in a circle of friends must come before the bias-discussion begins.  And what about lying?  These days lies seem to be well funded, with no need of a subscription paywall, or advertising.  How do we identify a statement as a lie?  And what about “truth” that is the necessary basis for any lie?  What is required in order for you and I, or a community of us to agree upon a statement as “true?”  Are facts self evident?

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As has been done before many times, I conclude the post with a rock ‘n’ roll tune.  The one comes from the Kinks 1978 album, The Misfits.  Anyone interested in philosophy is atypical, something of a misfit.  You knew that already.  This lyric is about a band-member in the throes of doubt about the importance and value of his art, who considers leaving the band.  The song writer, Ray Davies, appeals to his fellow musician’s better judgment requesting that he remain and continue to make music.  The “argument” is a description of someone for whom the music is a life-line, a reason for living.

You and I cannot dismiss the importance of thinking about and discussing philosophy.  Philosophy is a practice, a way-of-life that is more important than ever in a time when lies are available, free of charge and quality story telling is often pay-walled.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy

By the Kinks

Hello you, hello me, hello people we used to be
Isn’t it strange, we never change
We’ve been through it all yet we’re still the same
And I know it’s a miracle, we still go, and for all we know
We might still have a way to go

Hello me, hello you, you say you want out
Want to start anew, throw in your hand
Break up the band, start a new life, be a new man
But for all we know, we might still have a way to go
Before you go, there’s something you ought to know

There’s a guy on my block, he lives for rock
He plays records day and night
And when he feels down, he puts some rock ‘n’ roll on
And it makes him feel all right
And when he feels the world is closing in
He turns his stereo way up high

He just spends his life, living in a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life, in a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living in a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living on the edge of reality
He just spends his life, in a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy
He just spends his life, living in a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy

Look at me, look at you
You say you’ve got nothing left to prove
The King is dead, rock is done
You might be through but I’ve just begun
I don’t know, I feel free and I won’t let go
Before you go, there’s something you ought to know

Dan is a fan and he lives for our music
It’s the only thing that gets him by
He’s watched us grow and he’s seen all our shows
He’s seen us low and he’s seen us high
Oh, but you and me keep thinking
That the world’s just passing us by

Don’t want to spend my life, living in a rock ‘n’ rol fantasy
Don’t want to spend my life, living on the edge of reality
Don’t want to waste my life, hiding away anymore
Don’t want to spend my life, living in a rock ‘n’ roll fantasy

Written by Ray Davies