I’m going to be honest, man. Like, truly, brutally, honest: I probably know more about people, psychologically and philosophically, than just about anyone you know. I feel confident entering just about any intellectual community; if I don’t know the topic, it won’t take long for me to learn the basic principles.

all this to say, there’s a lot of people who want to be considered Philosophers in some capacity. they want to be seen as serious thinkers in the age of incessant internet noise, maybe because they see this behavior as a means of fixing what they think to be a broken world.

I don’t know. I could say things about people who have given up because “the world is hard”, and they act like others should follow in suit. stupid. I’ve seen others who rationalize the dumbest things you ever seen, simply because they can Logic their way into what looks like a reasonable argument. I’ve seen all types; I’ve heard all arguments. Nothing is surprising anymore. Jaded, is the word I often use.

There are no serious thinkers anymore. It’s just a collection of cults and intellectual posturing as a means of collecting social capital to be exchanged for influence and power.

This isn’t to say there isn’t talent out in the world. There is. There’s plenty of serious writers, and those who do it well, and there’s plenty of people making good points. But I do not see any serious philosophers rising from these ranks.

Then again, what makes me qualified to judge a serious philosopher from non-serious philosopher? who died and made me philosopher king? nobody, and I shouldn’t be viewed as one. I am simply a layman who enjoys a nice book, a nice stroll, and coffee and pastries. I know nothing of logic, and find more interest in art, to be frank. I am the least qualified person for just about anything I do.

And yet…