"No philosophy is true that is not based on science." - Albert Einstein
The term philosophy often gets tossed about without understanding what it actually means. Obtuse and dead weight ideologies confuse the original purpose of philosophy. We have made philosophy a dry and uninteresting discussion filled with a new language that uproots our curiosity and plummets us to a state of banal apathy.
But, in the beginning, philosophy was simply science. The very basics of Philosophy is about understanding reality and explaining how to be as happy as possible. It should not be a deadpan and stale discussion. It is the conversation everybody wants to be part of. It's the conversation of our lives and how to improve them. But happiness is elusive for most because life is at its core hard. We are born, we suffer and then we die. What's the point of it all anyway?
WHAT IS REAL AND HOW CAN WE KNOW IT?
They very first question proposed by the ancient thinkers was: "What is real?" This question is posed in the first branch of Philosophy and the very first step for anyone interested in philosophy must ask. There are those who believe in an unseen world that can be believed by faith. But, a new way of thinking called Empiricism was being used by ancient Greek philosophers. Empiricism owns up to the fact that we are easily misled by imaginings and proposes to put to the test our ideas before they assume credibility. Empiricism is at the very foundation of our modern world today.
Ancient Greece was the cradle for both modern day ideas of the universe and philosophy. The ancient Greeks probed mysteries by discovering the tools of rational inquiry. The universe was not just a Maya or dream. It was real and it could be studied! The ancient Greek philosophers were the first scientists. Democritus in 400 BC proposed that nature was comprised of atoms and even Aristotle was a biologist.
Empiricism and Logic answered the first question asked by Philosophy. It seemed such a basic question and is still so important today with so many religions that are basing their way of thinking on another system.
According to modern psychologists, a person who believes in a thing with no evidence is suffering from a delusion. The first step in philosophy is to correct the mind in it's propensity to heed authority and follow the leader. We must ask questions. But, the aspiring philosopher inevitably must ask the next major question proposed by Philosophy: How to achieve happiness?
WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
To Epicurus, happiness was the most essential goal in life. Since we were children, our goal was to be happy. The very purpose and testing grounds of any natural philosophy is to determine it's effectiveness. That is, does it reduce suffering and increase pleasure? Happiness can come from actively being involved in an activity or simply in contemplation. Finding ones bliss requires a fearless mind and a pain-free body. That is why, like a doctor offering you medicine, a philosophy is useful only if it achieves the end goal of giving you happiness.
Science seems to leave us in a cold and meaningless world. A scientist cannot admit to evidence for Karma. No ethereal other world is waiting beyond the grave that we can be certain of. We were born into a world of suffering and then die. What is it all for?
Happiness is systemically a result of the suppression of its evil twin - suffering. To Buddhism, life is like a dream and produces illusions that only meditation could detach you from. Death is also portrayed as some kind of illusion.
On the contrary, the Greek thinkers like Epicurus dismissed ideas that have not passed the tests of sound argument as well as empirical evidence. The real way to get rid of suffering is to eliminate the pains of the body and endeavor for health. Then the mind must be purged of false beliefs as a source of mental conflict. In a state of clear thinking, in the here and now, in a body controlled by temperance and healthy choices, we can achieve HAPPINESS.
No sky god or predetermination of your destiny is at the core of your life - YOU ARE! You are free until you allow others and poisonous ways of living and thinking control you.
Happiness requires you to guard your mind, body and your freedom to choose.
Religion versus Natural Philosophy
Religion derives it's precepts from unfounded claims based on faith. It promotes believing in things "beyond the senses." Natural Philosophy, on the other hand, requires proof of ones claims to be supported in nature. A person must be able to prove a claim by the senses. To think without your senses is simply being "insensible."
Religion prescribes adherence to dogma and promotion of fear that are obstacles to true happiness.
Science, or Natural Philosophy, seeks to understand nature to learn not to fear superstitions and beliefs in spirits and angry gods. True and complete happiness can only be found in the removal of pain in the body and purging the mind of the fear of death and the gods with an understanding of nature.
To learn more about the History of Philosophy, see my blog about Pythagoras.
