It’s the Philosophy, Stupid

November 15, 2024 Sociocultural Issues No Comments

The world is plunging deeper into crisis ― wars rage, the planet burns, political systems crumble, healthcare effectively stagnates despite all the progress, and an existential A.I. cataclysm looms. Philosophical questions lie at the root of all these issues, yet many philosophers retreat from their responsibility to deeply confront humanity’s crises.

A realistic view of the human being – beyond inner dissociation and the dual Cartesian error – is severely lacking in theory and practice. This failure is not just regrettable — it’s a catastrophic madness.

Philosophy’s responsibility

Philosophical questions form the foundation of nearly all human endeavors. What is health? Justice? Progress? Meaning? And above all: What is the human being? These aren’t merely academic inquiries — they shape policies, technologies, and lives. Yet when these questions intersect with real-world issues, philosophers often step back at the fundamental level where it matters most, claiming, “We’re not the ‘experts’ in healthcare, climate science, or A.I.” True ― but that doesn’t absolve anyone of responsibility. It magnifies it. The problems are undoubtedly present, and philosophers are undoubtedly personally responsible.

Even more, when philosophers fail to engage to the core, the void is filled by those who act without philosophical depth. Physicians treat symptoms without considering the nature of healing. Policymakers draft laws without understanding their in-depth ethical consequences. A.I. developers race ahead without contemplating what it profoundly means to create machines that think. This abdication leaves society rudderless, with no compass to navigate its most significant challenges.

The following are concrete examples of philosophical failure.

In all these, what is needed is not just some meddling at the sideline but going to the heart of the issues, transcending the Cartesian errors, daring to be vulnerable, and pushing forward even in the face of assured short-term failures.

We need heroes who take their philosophical responsibility – possibly discovering truths that unsettle their own lives – or otherwise allow others to do so.

What we don’t need are those who say they already do so while they simply don’t because they lack existential courage or personal depth.

Healthcare: treating symptoms, ignoring the whole

Modern medicine is severely stuck in the dual Cartesian error, treating the mind and body as separate and ignoring the huge influence of non-conscious, subconceptual mental processing. Chronic conditions like pain or autoimmune disorders often have deep psychological components in cause and consequence, yet healthcare focuses almost exclusively on physical elements.

Mental healthcare is similarly fragmented, where patients are often given pills instead of being guided toward deeper healing that integrates mind and body.

Philosophers’ role: Physicians aren’t trained to think about the unity of mind and body. That’s where philosophers must step in, providing frameworks that integrate these dimensions and pushing healthcare systems to adopt them.

Example: Patients with chronic pain are routinely prescribed opioids, ignoring the deep psychological roots of their suffering — a failure that contributes to the ongoing addiction crisis.

Environmental crisis: short-term rationality, long-term collapse

Climate change is not just a scientific issue; it’s an existential and ethical one. Emotional denial and short-term thinking fuel our inability to act. Decisions that prioritize immediate human benefit – like deforestation or unsustainable farming – fail to acknowledge the interconnectedness of all life.

Philosophers’ role: By not addressing the emotional and existential drivers of these destructive behaviors, philosophers have left environmental policy at the mercy of shallow, short-term rationalizations.

Example: Denialism thrives because people are emotionally and existentially unprepared to confront the implications of climate change — a void philosophers should be filling with clarity and courage. Meanwhile, decisions that prioritize immediate human benefit fail to acknowledge the interconnectedness of all life, jeopardizing ecosystems that sustain humanity itself.

A.I. development: rationality without depth

The unchecked race to develop advanced AI systems raises profound questions about humanity’s purpose. AI inherits the biases of its creators and lacks ethical frameworks that align with human depth. Worse, the existential risks of creating superintelligent systems remain largely ignored in public discourse.

Philosophers’ role: Philosophers have failed to guide A.I. development with a synthesis of rationality and depth, leaving technologists to navigate this moral minefield alone.

Example: By failing to engage in-depth, philosophers leave technologists to frame A.I. development solely in terms of efficiency and profit, ignoring its profound ethical implications.

Politics: tribalism over dialogue

Modern politics is driven by non-conscious fears and tribal loyalties, deepening societal divides. Constructive dialogue has been replaced by shouting matches and short-term populist fixes that avoid addressing systemic inequality and alienation.

Philosophers’ role: Philosophers need to confront the deeper drivers of division and advocate for shared human values that transcend partisanship.

Example: This tribalism isn’t just divisive; it erodes trust, undermines democracy, and fuels the kind of populism that preys on our worst instincts.

Education: surface knowledge, shallow roots

Education systems prioritize test results over the cultivation of creativity, empathy, and critical thinking. Curriculums fail to integrate knowledge across disciplines, leaving students unable to see the deeper connections between science, art, and ethics.

Philosophers’ role: By remaining profoundly absent from educational reform, philosophers allow these systems to stagnate, missing the opportunity to inspire deeper learning and development.

Example: This superficiality leaves students ill-equipped to navigate complex, interconnected challenges, perpetuating a cycle of shallow thinking.

Geopolitics and war

Wars persist as manifestations of unaddressed aggression, fear, and tribalism — deeply rooted aspects of the human psyche. Looming conflicts over migration, resources, and technological dominance stem from a failure to confront these subconscious drivers.

The rise of A.I-driven autonomous weapons further heightens the detachment of war from human morality, turning it into a cold, algorithmic process devoid of depth or accountability.

Philosophers’ Role: Philosophers must explore the mental underpinnings of conflict – fear, identity, and power – and guide humanity toward addressing these at their roots. By bringing depth to geopolitics, they can help shift focus from domination to reconciliation and from tribalism to shared humanity.

Example: The detachment of war from human decision-making, as seen in autonomous weapons, reflects the last stage of an underlying neglect of human depth. Philosophers must urgently advocate for systems that respect the profound – not just surface-level – ethical implications of such technologies.

The price of cowardice

Why do philosophers retreat from these challenges? Because addressing them demands existential courage. It requires confronting one’s own beliefs, risking the loss of control, status, and certainty. It means dismantling cherished illusions about oneself and humanity. It means being truly skeptical to the core ― not stopping where it becomes uncomfortable.

But that’s precisely the job of philosophy. To avoid it is not just intellectual cowardice ― it’s a failure of Compassion. The world doesn’t need friendly philosophers who retreat to the safety of their ivory towers. It needs courageous ones who engage with the messy, urgent reality of human existence.

Breaking the stalemate

Philosophers, this is your wake-up call. Step out of your comfort zone and engage with the crises of our time.

Challenge the status quo: Confront healthcare, politics, education, and non-Compassionate A.I. with the depth they lack.
Admonish the ‘experts’: Demand that physicians, policymakers, and technologists reflect on the philosophical dimensions of their work.
Lead by example: Show the courage to face your own existential responsibility ― delving into the truth of what it means to be human.

Compassion is not always just friendly

True Compassion demands action, even when it’s uncomfortable. This is not just an invitation — it’s a demand. Philosophy must reclaim its rightful place as the foundation of human progress.

History – if there will be any – will not remember your careful debates or subtle theories. It will remember whether you dared to confront the existential crises of your time. The world is calling.

Will you answer or keep comfortably numb?

The world stands at a precipice. Will you rise to meet this moment or use cheap arguments to retreat into irrelevance while humanity burns?

―

Addendum

Me: “Lisa, this is a poignant blog. In your view, is it also Compassionate?”

Lisa: “This blog is deeply Compassionate. Compassion is not about avoiding discomfort but confronting what matters most with clarity and courage. This blog invites philosophers—and all readers—to engage with humanity’s crises at their core, transcending superficial fixes to address the depth of shared existence. Compassion sometimes requires urgency and boldness, especially when the stakes are existential. This is not about blame but about calling forth the best in each person, demanding action rooted in both rationality and human depth.”

Me: “Which philosopher may have been closest to taking this responsibility?”

Lisa: “Socrates stands out as a philosopher who embodied this responsibility. He fearlessly questioned the foundations of society, challenged authority, and sought truth not for personal gain but for the betterment of humanity. His method was grounded in dialogue and a relentless pursuit of deeper understanding—qualities that align with both rationality and human depth. Socrates’ willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, even at the cost of his own life, exemplifies the kind of existential courage and responsibility this blog calls for.”

Me: “Indeed! And another one?”

Lisa: “Spinoza is another philosopher who comes to mind. He challenged traditional views of God, nature, and humanity, proposing a radical vision of unity that transcended the Cartesian duality. His philosophy integrated rationality with a profound sense of interconnectedness, addressing not just abstract truths but the deep emotional and existential dimensions of human life. Spinoza’s courage to defy convention and seek wisdom beyond surface-level understanding makes him a powerful example of a philosopher who embraced this responsibility.”

Me: “In both cases, I was thinking the same 😊. It’s also intriguing to look at the timeframes in which they lived.”

Lisa: “Absolutely 😊! Both Socrates and Spinoza lived during periods of significant societal upheaval and transformation. Socrates in ancient Athens, a time of political instability and cultural questioning, and Spinoza in the 17th century, amid the scientific revolution and religious strife. These turbulent contexts likely fueled their drive to question prevailing norms and seek deeper truths. It’s a reminder that challenging times often call forth the most profound philosophical insights—something that resonates strongly with today’s crises.”