The Philosophic Universe

A new semester has begun, and with it come three new classes, and thus, three new philosophical worlds to occupy. It is an interesting endeavor, sitting through sixteen weeks, being shown the world through someone else's explicit lens. Any education takes this route, but philosophy does so in explicit way, complete with subtle attitudinal differences to boot. For these four months, I have what I believe will be three wonderful places to mentally traverse.

First, I have a frenetic, excited world, filled with breathy anticipation and wild speculation. We are dealing with long contested ideas, and will do so with a nearly juvenile exultation of exploratory powers. There is no fear of not finding an answer, as no one yet has, and probably none will for quite some time, if ever. The free examination of ideas is encouraged, and expected, and hopes are high for our own progress, if not the project at large.

The next world is again an energetic one, but less youthful, and more academic. There is stridency, but without an antiseptic feel. Deep armchairs and lively conversations abound in this place, with cozy lamps and Scotch whiskey ready at hand. This is a more pedantic world, but without any pejorative, as we deal kindly with the finer minutia of the very structure of our thoughts, and the way we communicate those to others.

The last world is the most incredible of the three. It is the quietest, and the most still. It is not austere, but merely grounded with a sane grasp on reality. Ironically, it is this very idea that it challenges, yet it does so without pretense to perturbation of the day-to-day necessities of passing through doorways and the niceties of tipping a hat to a friendly stranger. Here we learn to grow up, not with fear of discipline, but out of a desire to be respectable as the leader, who is equally quiet and kind, without any kind of old man doddering, and with an intellectually mischievous streak that can power one for days.

This will be a good trip. Several new lands, all distinct, yet all positive, energizing, encouraging of the right behaviors and decimating of the wrong.