Thursday, 15 November 2018

World Philosophy Day (15th November 2018)


Today is World Philosophy Day (15th November 2018).

“The link between philosophy and UNESCO stems from inquiry on the possibility of and necessary conditions for the establishment of long-term peace and security in the world.”

“The humanities and philosophy deal not only with the traditional legacy derived from past cultures and times but also with the challenges the world is currently facing: the plurality of identities, languages, migration, environmental change, critical thinking on theory, action and policies… These legacies and dynamics nurture inventive approaches to social change.”1

Harriet Taylor Mill and JS Mill were philosophers not only in theory but in practice. They were engaged in the world, especially in politics and social change. Both were feminists and supporters of women’s suffrage. JS Mill certainly did not just sit in his armchair at home working on his logic book. He used his philosophical/logic skills to improve society and influence politics in a positive, liberal and tolerant way. He, together with the 17th century Dutch Jewish philosopher Spinoza, valued toleration which didn’t mean merely putting up with others but attempting an empathetic approach whereby people try to appreciate the standpoint of the other, whether they agree with them or not (and JS Mill often didn’t) and respect them as fellow human beings. If there was one word that would sum up his political approach it would be debate and then debate some more and even when you think you’ve debated enough debate again! Only then do you have a shot at the truth. JS Mill would not consider a one-off referendum without adequate prior information and debate to be democracy or freedom. It certainly would not bring you close to the truth! What would JS Mill do if he were in politics today? As a liberal he would take a measured, middle of the road approach bearing in mind what is best for society. He would not continue with Brexit because it has not only sparked off hate speech, racism, nationalism but is causing and will cause immense suffering and poverty as well as financial instability. When his views became too unpopular he took time out in France so he would be a supporter of the EU and would think that working together in harmony and peace was crucial to stability, prosperity and social order, cohesion and justice.

The liberal voice in politics has disappeared and what we are left with are extremists views voiced from the right or the left of the political spectrum. This has left politics very unbalanced and prone to dictatorships which would be of great concern to both Harriet and JS Mill. How does one bring back the voice of reason? For JS Mill it would be an educated population. However, many people attend university in the 21st century so they are more educated than in the 19th century. Overall, women have more formal education and a number of them hold university degrees albeit less PhD’s than men. It could be why 75% of young people (18-24) are pro-Europe and voted Remain. They are better educated than their parents’ generation and have the ability to grasp the issues and recognise the advantages the EU offers. Young people are more outward looking as a result. An island frame of mind is not for them and neither are they hankering for a British Empire. Women are also more inclined towards voting to remain in Europe because they, like the LGBT community worry their rights will be eroded. Harriet T Mill would be up and about galvanising the women’s movement to have their voices not just heard but listened to and acted upon. She would be concerned about the rights of women and how Brexit would affect these rights, including laws, education, employment, marriage/divorce and domestic violence. JS Mill would be supporting them in Parliament making his points strongly and clearly.  What would worry both Harriet and JS Mill is the aggressive insistence on the part of the Brexiteers to shout down anyone whose opinion isn’t the same as theirs and, even worse, try to hound out academics in universities who speak against Brexit demanding to see their syllabus. This would have sent shivers down Spinoza’s spine too! Conformity is not liberty.

I think both JS Mill and Harriet would be shocked to see how the UK has gone backwards instead of becoming more civilised and peace loving with a strong democracy it spends its time insulting the EU making them appear to be a dictatorship when nothing can be further from the truth!

As an aside, having just commemorated those who fought and those who died in the two World Wars, and pledging with one voice –‘Never Again’ will there be a world war or a holocaust or violent discrimination of certain peoples, nevertheless, once the day 11/11/18 was over, people were back to destroying each other with violent words and acts.

As JS Mill said it’s not just the will of the people that matters, it’s what is good for the people socially, economically, health-wise and politically. Democracy, peace and freedom must be maintained. If anything threatens it, it must be eradicated. I’m sure Spinoza two centuries earlier would echo the same sentiments.

On this World Philosophy Day, I think we should celebrate the skills of critical, logical thinking that philosophy provides and together with the great philosophers JS Mill, Lady Mary Shepherd, Spinoza, and Hume maintain that philosophical rigour clear of interference from theology should be maintained. The two are very different in their argumentation and as these philosophers would argue freedom to think is important, a human right and, therefore, should not be subject to or compromised by any particular religious doctrine/dogma or watered down by an interdisciplinary approach. Subjects, such as, literature, history, or science are not philosophy. This does not mean that there is no dialogue between them. But as UNESCO put it, philosophy has a distinctive role to play in world peace and security and, in accordance with a seminal UNESCO publication, philosophy “is defined as a “School of Freedom””2.


1quote from:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/most-programme/humanities-and-philosophy/

2 ibid
Publication available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001541/154173e.pdf


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