First of all, I would like to thank Rusty Imperial for having quoted my statement on making ABS-CBN a cooperative in order for us to see, watch and hear Makamasa programs that will uplift the intellectual understanding of our Kababayan of social political, economic and cultural matters as well as provide morally upright programs.
This exercise of hearing the statusof the media company makrs me realize the value of philosophy as a subject to be taught from the grades up to college as well as post-graduate studies.
Philosophy is very useful in helping us analyze the arguments of people with regard to issues -- whether they are logical, moral, and just.
In the course of discussions about the state of the company, some people who were deeply on the side of the company exhibited their bias and illogical thinking - some using argumentum ad baculum, and others ad hominems. (murahan). This does not augur well for our country seeking a place in international world politics. This kind of argumentation will make us a laughing stock because clearly there is the rampant descent to personal attacks.
Hence, I would like to suggest to Secretary Leonor Briones to please add more philosophy subjects in our curricula for all courses starting from the grades so that we shall be able to discuss intelligently, with all gallantry and sophistication.
WHY DO WE NEED PHILOSOPHY?
Here are the reasons provided by the University of Washington
(Philosophy) teaches critical thinking, close reading, clear writing, and logical analysis; it uses these to understand the language we use to describe the world, and our place within it. Different areas of philosophy are distinguished by the questions they ask. Do our senses accurately describe reality?
I tried surfing the departments of other universities and found that many do not really expose why they exist, what reasons they have for teaching philosophy. Instead they focus more on their course offering, their administrative structures, and what fields of philosophy they are tackling, meaning to say, they are talking to the converted.
But the Washington University explanation is greatly encompassing of why we should study philosophy.
It is really intimidating when we hear philosophy but we should not feel so. Once we learn it, then we cannot only analyze other people's thoughts but our own -- how logical we are in terms of arguing our cause or causes.
For a country that is experiencing the ups and downs of a pandemic, I know presenting philosophy as an important concern will be quite out of touch. But actually, when we examine the goings-on in our society, we will see that there is a lack of philosophical relevance. Sometimes what is just plain common sense is being obfuscated by long-winded talks.
So let us hope that Secretary Briones will be able to invigorate our academes so that when faculty and students sally forth to highly contentious issues, they will be armed with logical reasoning and a socially-critical mind, among others, not just an arsenal of insults.
I think the departments of communication and other arts are in need of philosophy. For example, the communication field churns out creative and non-fictional products. if the thrust of the department is for the production of the creative, without regard for a broad understanding of the issues that are tackled, then the product comes out as pure "art for art's sake." Sure it is beautiful, but is it meaningful? Now that is the question that is posed by a philosophical mind.
Or if the product is non-creative, meaning direct from reality, the question would be 1.) whose points of view are being presented? 2.) what lessons can we gather from the event; 3) who are affected by the circumstances? 4.) what is the alternative solution? 5.) In presenting the alternative solution, who will profit most of all; and 5.) how significant is the solution?
Many questions can still be asked but the point is we will be able to derive our intelligent opinions from a broad understanding and questioning of the event or subject matter while tempering our biases or doing away with it totally.
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