Your 5 Minute Philosophy Primer

Philosophy remains my favorite subject.  When I think of those things I am a philosopher.  When you think of those things it makes you a philosopher, too.  I hate that it seems so remote, stuffy and above our normal lives.  We use it daily.  Today, I will answer all the great questions of people-kind and will do it in five minutes.  Here we go:

1.  Do humans have free will?

Yes

2.   Does God exist?

There is no empirical evidence of His existence and there is no empirical evidence that He does not exist.  It all comes down to personal preference.

3.  Why does God allow evil things to happen?

See question #1.

4.  How do we know if external reality is really real?

You can't.

5.  What does lack of free will mean to our responsibility to each other?

We have less ability to freely interact to each other.  

6.  What is knowledge?

Knowledge is knowing.  If you know, you have knowledge. Alternatively, you can also know and feel like you do not know.  This is a good definition of philosophy.

7.  What do we owe to each other?

Civility and kindness.  

8.  How do we know?

See question #6

9. How do we know that we know?

See question #6

10.  What is it like to be a bat?

If you are a bat you feel normal.  You will feel the need to feed, have sex, sleep and have connection to your environment.

11.  What is it like to be Batman?  

If you are Batman you will feel normal.  You will feel the need to feed, have sex, sleep and have connection to your environment. You will also feel that with great power comes great responsibility.

12. What is consciousness?

If you are reading this you have it.

13. What kind of Venn diagram involves philosophy?

  

14.  Is that a zebra or a cleverly disguised mule?  

The only way to tell is to conduct scientific testing.

15.  Okay, what is science?

Science verifies what is knowable.

16.  Should we fear death?  

Sure.  Its a scary topic.    

17.  Does death give life meaning?

Death enhances life. Meaning comes from living well.

18. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

Yes, see question 15.

19. Is philosophy important in this modern age?

More important then ever before.  You can do it while watching TV, at the market or on a jog.  You can do it riding a motorcycle or a Cub Cadet.  The more you do it, the more you will learn about yourself.  It may even help make sense of Illinois losing to Loyola.

Was that 5 minutes?  Now, enjoy the day.