RE: How worthless is Philosophy?
February 13, 2024 at 6:03 pm
(This post was last modified: February 13, 2024 at 6:04 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
The axial philosophers of the east started from a different place and ended up with wildly divergent conclusions about what philosophy was primarily for. Nietzsche pointed this out in comparing the two - with western philosophy as being full of theological statements and virtues - and eastern philosophy being comparatively naturalistic and practical. The reason I point this out is because it might be all the more surprising, then, to realize that both sets ended up on the same sort of "fate of the philosopher" even as they disagreed on his (and thus philosophy's) use to the state and fellows.
Laozi says that the ruler with the highest virtue doesn't deliberately operate with his rulings. He conforms to the nature and flow of things. To my mind, this is an analog for the man taking shelter under the wall. The text gets more explicit in parts - particularly with respect to the ideal state. A small state of nothing but people leaning under a wall. Unencumbered by desire or ambition, living simplistic and private lives, whose only goal is to be personally virtuous and thus reduce some small measure of what both moralizing philosophies see as the fallen or chaotic nature of the world.
Laozi says that the ruler with the highest virtue doesn't deliberately operate with his rulings. He conforms to the nature and flow of things. To my mind, this is an analog for the man taking shelter under the wall. The text gets more explicit in parts - particularly with respect to the ideal state. A small state of nothing but people leaning under a wall. Unencumbered by desire or ambition, living simplistic and private lives, whose only goal is to be personally virtuous and thus reduce some small measure of what both moralizing philosophies see as the fallen or chaotic nature of the world.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
