After missing a lecture due to Labour Day public holiday, Peter R. continued talking more about Socrates in his second lecture. The one hour lecture was a full interlinking of many various subtopics as usual; but if it had to be specifically narrowed down to a theme it would be “caring less about what other people think would in turn make us happier” What are the degrees of credibility in this argument? Or more so, how can the degrees of credibility be measured? We can only hope for a vague solution by the end of this discussion. Welcome to the philosophical diaries.
For those of you unfamiliar with the teachings of Socrates, an excellent indepth commentary is available here: The Happiness of Socrates by Dr. Miller
An indifferent, suspicious and even ignorant approach to popular beliefs is predominant in the philosophy of Socrates. He could in many senses be deemed as an extremist non-conformist-causing his unpopularity, and ultimately his death. Countless examples demonstrate this philosophical heavy-weight’s appetite for questioning common beliefs, a life of wondering the streets of Athens questioning the reasons people did the things they did. He often not only questioned these ‘common beliefs’ but acted upon what he questioned: he wore torn robes, dirty sandals, denied wealth etc.
After much cross examination of the citizen’s belief systems he came to a conclusion that many of these common beliefs were based on feeble truths. He therefore applied the philosophy that because belief systems of man weren’t truths by any means, he could continue living his life in an indifferent, challenging and self-justifying manner.
In modern day Melbourne 2008, diversity in cultures has lead to a phenomenon in varying perspectives. We can still, however, come up with ‘common beliefs’. Common beliefs about common themes: money, friendship, love, power-these beliefs, usually drawn by the majority, should not be contemplated-they are common.
So if by defining ‘common beliefs’ as beliefs drawn by the masses, it can be assumed that we all in some way are shaped by these beliefs. In out democratic society, democracy employs the idea that the majority will always hold the power. What the majority of people support seems to be synonmous with common beliefs-and for that very reason we are all in somewhat affected by these ‘common beliefs’.
Yet, by simply observing people the next time we roam the public we can see that these common beliefs are already so deeply embalmed in society that many are not even aware of it. People wear clothes, they eat, they move, they interact, they think, they work to reach the desires of their hearts. These are the most common of all common beliefs-if everyone is doing it, then it must be right, right? The moral issue is not so much the question as to the purpose of common beliefs; common beliefs exist for a reason-to help us. Clothes keep us warm, conceal our genitalia (another common belief, perhaps), food feeds our body energy in forms of nutrition,water hydrates us, shelter protects us from the environment’s unpredictability.
We live within constraints. Financial, societal, chronological, physical contstraints just to name a few. We cannot defy gravity with our physical body alone, we cannot reverse time, and we definitely cannot revive ourselves out of debt if we keep consuming for the wrong reasons. Basically all these are common beliefs, derived from the constraints on what, us, as humans can or cannot do. In that sense, common beliefs are truths in themselves-they help us function as society. Socrates extensive questioning of common beliefs was neither right nor wrong, it is not a moral issue; more a practical one. Common beliefs are designed for practicality, they allow us to realise our limits.
Of course, the degrees of common beliefs potentially extend to inifinite (so does philosophy), however if we can conclude that society impends beliefs for a purpose we can approach Socrate’s philosophy in a broader frame of mind. In that sense, it does matter that other people think the way they do. How they think is derived from common belief systems, which in tern is derived from our own constrains as humans. Again, there is nothing morally wrong about questioning these common beliefs. However there are consequences: if we extensively question the morality or reasoning of popular beliefs and turn our back against popular society, as did Socrates, life generally won’t favour you. Rather you should embrace that society has and will always impose ‘common beliefs’ upon us, they can be either good or bad beliefs depending on your perspective, but there is a reason nevertheless.
Kudos
D
