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
