Recommended Holiday Reading
Philosophy is as adaptable (and durable) as fruit cake. There are books that apply big ideas to just about every theme and topic you can imagine, including holiday merriment. If you find yourself sipping cider by the fire, with a little extra time on your hands, here’s a great holiday read.
“The Xmas Files: The Philosophy of Christmas” by Stephen Law is a feast for the mind. Law tackles everything from Santa to turkey dinners, approaching each tradition from the perspective of famous thinkers. Well-known for his highly-accessible approach to philosophy, he makes it appealing for both beginners and seasoned “professionals”.
Philosophy in the Media
Okay, maybe you won’t bump into Gandhi on a city bus, or share a crowded subway car with Nietzsche, but there’s still room for deep thoughts during the morning commute. Here’s a great story from the UK:
Philosophy and the Real World: August Edition
Current Event: The Garbage Collector’s Strike in Toronto
This was a touchy (and smelly) situation, and it rubbed everyone involved the wrong way. Sanitation workers picketed for better working conditions and security, city hall fretted over negotiations, and everyone else held their noses and swatted flies as the rubbish heap got more and more imposing. But what were the big issues involved here, beyond the spread of disease, and a bulging budget? What would a philosopher make of this situation?
- A person’s (or a group’s) value to society as a whole is a big issue for philosophers. Philosophers ask “What makes someone valuable?” and “What makes one person’s rights and privileges more important than those of someone else?”
- Are people valuable because they are willing to do what no one else will?
- Are people valuable because they have a particular set of talents or skills?
- Are people valuable because they have certain character traits, or because they’re an example to others?
- Are people valuable because they can convince others to do certain things, or behave in a certain way?
- Are people valuable just because they’re people?
How did you react to the strike? Did you consider the value of striking workers to society as a whole? Have you ever considered your own value? Does your job, your personality or your status in society make you valuable enough to demand special consideration? Would you be confident enough in your value to go on strike?
Food for thought!