Modern Philosophy

Recently I have read The Symposium by Plato. For those of you who have not yet read this excellent piece of literature, to summarize, Plato describes a night of drunken conversation between Socrates and some comrades. By definition a symposium is a drinking party or convivial discussion, in the story the discussion held is about love. Each man in the party gives a monologue expressing his praises of the god Love.

I find in my studies of humanity a sad fact. Why, in our modern world, do we, an "advanced civilization", find it more pleasing to discuss the lives of the rich and famous, rather than higher philosophical advancement? So many people would say that conversation involving philosophical value is over their heads. This is not true.

Truth boils down to every day experiences; this meaning that truth affects every action. therefore, every individual human is called to better understand their own philosophical prerogative. I am asking every reader of this blog to strive for a better understanding of their perspective of the world.

 

Zombie Land?

I have always been fascinated by the concept of a zombie. Imagine a modern world where almost all human life has been reduced to mindless blood thirsty animals. These creatures endlessly drift around familiar sights, such as New York City or the streets of Piccadilly Circus in London or even your local mall.

The protagonists in the "zombie story" usually stumble around their home towns searching for other survivors or to find a place to protect them from harm. In most of the cinema I have seen, however, the safe place is eventually breached, and the survivor they have found has already been bitten and "turned" into a zombie.

The more I examine my interest in zombies, I notice that there is an unnerving similarity between these tales of fiction and the way the world is today. You see, the zombie plot is based on the idea that once a human dies, he comes back to life and infects other people by killing them. Thus, creating more zombies and less humans. Now, this is obviously fiction but, I believe that all fiction has a basis in an interpretation of reality. 

I asked you to imagine a world inhabited by mindless creatures, I bet that it was not hard to accomplish. Zombies are everywhere. They drive down the interstate on their cell phones causing car wrecks. They send young men and women across the Atlantic to die in a war. They're in your churches falling asleep, and they're even in your neighborhood Starbucks waiting in line, thinking of nothing, talking to no one.

They want to infect you, too. The zombies I am referring to, have died and given up their dreams and now, they're hungry for yours. Think about it. You may not see it, but thats how the infection gets strong... through ignorance and through apathy. With so people in this world and with so many problems its easy not care about what is happening in the world. But, just like in the zombie story, if you think you're safe you should look behind you.

Don't believe me?