Where Are the Philosophers?

Harry V. Jaffa wrote:

“Politics is inherently controversial because humans are passionately attached to their opinions by interests that have nothing to do with the truth. But because philosophers… have no interest other than the truth, they alone can bring the canon of reason that will transform the conflict of opinion that otherwise dominates the world. “

But where are the philosophers?

Most of the philosophers of this country are drinking at the trough of economic stability. Lapping away at $100,000 a year salaries can suck the philosopher right out of you and fitting in to corporate culture can have its perks; electro-magnetic golf, sex hormone chewing gum and a bottle of soma.

What?

In his Foreword to the second printing (1946) of Brave New World, Aldous Huxley explained the underlying calm in his 632 A.F. fictional dystopia, “The masses don’t have to be coerced because they love their servitude.”

The problem of making people love their servitude is a function of economic security and economic security serves as part of the indoctrinating machinery of the novel as expressed in the World State’s motto; “Community, Identity, Stability”.

But now with exposure of the feckless “limitless GNP growth” theory, Wall Street honor and other extraction economy myths, we might see a few more philosophers falling from stability and coming back to where great societies need them: asking the hard questions about our politics and politicians. As Huxley wrote, “…greater triumph of propaganda has been accomplished not by doing something but by refraining from doing. Great is truth but silence about truth is greater.”