What is enlightenment anyway?
Students had the opportunity to ponder this question at today’s humanities series lecture on Enlightenment and the Material World, given by philosophy instructor Mike VanQuickenborne.
“Today we’ll be discussing the indefinable notion of enlightenment,” stated VanQuickenborne as he introduced his lecture.
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| Mike VanQuickenborne answered student's questions after the lecture, opening the floor to philosophical discussion. |
VanQuickenborne focused on the idea of Truth (with a capital ‘T’) and how it connects to the material world and people. His lecture may have left some students with more questions than answers, but maybe that is what enlightenment, and Truth, is all about.
VanQuikenborne began his lecture by talking about the Fountain of Youth, a legendary spring that many people have searched for over the years in order to learn the secrets of preserving youth. He compared this futile search for the Fountain of Youth to the philosophical search for Truth.
So, what is Truth?
The problem is, no one really knows. VanQuickenborne explained that there have been many speculations of what Truth is, such as Plato’s Theory of Forms, or the Correspondence to Reality theory, or the idea that truth lies in coherence within a web of other claims. Philosophers, however, cannot seem to agree that one idea is the definition of Truth.
“There is no philosophical consensus as to what consists of the correct way to think about what constitutes Truth,” said VanQuickenborne.
There is no need to get worried, assured VanQuickenborne. Truth could be out there somewhere, but searching for it seems to be pointless.
“Rather than facilitate a generation of doomed Truth seekers,” said VanQuickenborne. “Maybe there’s a better way.”
Citing philosophers William James and Richard Rorty, VanQuickenborne explained a new theory: truth with usefulness. Instead of worrying about truth, lets worry about usefulness.
“Once we claim to have a lock on the Truth, or the method for ascertaining the Truth, we lose our ability to be tolerant of other views of the truth or other methods for ascertaining the truth,” siad Vanquickenborne. “I would urge you to stop worrying about finding the truth and what is reality, and instead aim for the useful.”
VanQuikenborne began his lecture by talking about the Fountain of Youth, a legendary spring that many people have searched for over the years in order to learn the secrets of preserving youth. He compared this futile search for the Fountain of Youth to the philosophical search for Truth.
So, what is Truth?
The problem is, no one really knows. VanQuickenborne explained that there have been many speculations of what Truth is, such as Plato’s Theory of Forms, or the Correspondence to Reality theory, or the idea that truth lies in coherence within a web of other claims. Philosophers, however, cannot seem to agree that one idea is the definition of Truth.
“There is no philosophical consensus as to what consists of the correct way to think about what constitutes Truth,” said VanQuickenborne.
There is no need to get worried, assured VanQuickenborne. Truth could be out there somewhere, but searching for it seems to be pointless.
“Rather than facilitate a generation of doomed Truth seekers,” said VanQuickenborne. “Maybe there’s a better way.”
Citing philosophers William James and Richard Rorty, VanQuickenborne explained a new theory: truth with usefulness. Instead of worrying about truth, lets worry about usefulness.
“Once we claim to have a lock on the Truth, or the method for ascertaining the Truth, we lose our ability to be tolerant of other views of the truth or other methods for ascertaining the truth,” siad Vanquickenborne. “I would urge you to stop worrying about finding the truth and what is reality, and instead aim for the useful.”
Story by Lily Haight
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