IRL 1 - The Philosophy of Comedy

Socrates. Cicero. Rene Descartes. Something Something Something Voltaire (Francois-Marie Arouet, but honestly, nobody remembers his full name). Immanuel Kant. These are all great names in the history of philosophy, names that changed the way we thought. But these are all old names, ancient. Does that mean that philosophy's... dead?

It can't be dead. Can it?

Hail Friends, this is Drakai of the House of Nidhogg, and today we'll be taking a look at the place of philosophy in modern times.

Before we begin please do note that I am speaking completely as a layperson. My knowledge in philosophy is kinda limited to my high-school classes. But ignorance doesn't stop people. If it did, the world would be a much better place.

So what is the place of philosophy? I mean, what have we left to think about? Surely there are no more original thoughts. Whatever you're thinking right now, somebody thought it already (and probably made a movie about it). Go on, check the Internet. I'll wait.

When we know something, it's not really worth thinking about it, is it? But what is the difference between knowing and thinking? You have to first think in order to later know, right?

All these random things and more are the focus (more or less) of philosophy. To make you question your reality in order to better understand it.

But what if that was just one goal of today's philosophers? Just one facet of a practice changed in the recent centuries. What if the other was... entertainment (also probably making money, but that's a story for another time)?

I think you see where I'm going with this.

So to answer my own question: no. I don't think philosophy is dead. I think it just... changed. Evolved. That's what complex organisms do. In order to fit with the nature of the world they change their own. And that's what philosophy is, that's what history, religion, science are. They're all living, complex organisms that change and adapt over time. But since nature can't help them with that, they have to turn to the next best thing. Us.

Although religion probably doesn't belong here. It's not so much a complex organism as it is that crazy uncle you have who's completely wrong about most everything and yet still thinks that the buses arrive on the opposite bus-stop from the one you're waiting on because they don't like you. And no matter what you say you can't change his mind. Y'know, I really thought it'd take me longer to start bashing on organized religion. So I'll stop here and maybe make a post in the future about that.

In conclusion, stand-up comedians are the philosophers of today. Not all of them, mind you. Some are far too stupid to hold a normal conversation, let alone influence thought processes in people. But some of them out there make you think. And that's exactly what they're supposed to do. Because if you think, you realize that ultimately life is meaningless, death is inevitable, and none of this is worth anything.

Have a nice day everyone. See you Wednesday.