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Introduction to Philosophy

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The central purpose of philosophy is the achievement and maintenance of mental health, just as the central purpose of medicine is the achievement and maintenance of physical health. The achievement of physical health results in a feeling of well-being, the achievement of mental health result in happiness.

Like medicine, philosophy can recommend actions that can cause temporary discomfort - or even outright pain - and which may seem counter-intuitive. A dentist will tell you to avoid a steady diet of candy, even though it tastes good, for the sake of your long-term health. Any honest philosopher will do the same.

Philosophy is the study of truth, and the central question that any philosophy must first answer is: truth in relation to what?

Rocks exist in reality; 'truth' does not exist in reality, any more than numbers do. Truth is a definition of a relationship between thought and - what?

My approach is to define truth as the relationship between thought and reality - reality being defined as the actions of matter and energy that are external to consciousness. Philosophy is thus a methodology for determining truth, rather than facts or conclusions - just like the scientific method.

Truth comes in two basic flavors. There is sensual truth, which is direct perceptual evidence, i.e. pointing at a rock and saying “that is a rock.” Then there is conceptual truth, which is the statement “all rocks are subject to gravity.” Clearly the latter statement cannot be empirically tested by picking up every rock in the universe and seeing if it falls when you let it go. Sensual truth cannot be argued for; it can only be experienced directly and reported honestly. Conceptual truth, however, involves argument, and the truth of any conceptual argument is measured relative to logic, which are universal principles derived from the nature of empirical reality.

This is how I approach truth in this conversation - there is another approach, however, which a great number of people would prefer that you take, but which I believe will utterly destroy your happiness. That approach is to compare “truth” not with objective reality, or logic, but rather with the subjective opinions of others.

This will make you miserable, since it involves so much self-deception and subjugation. Fidelity to reality is sanity; fidelity to opinion is madness.

Turning our definition of “truth” from the opinions of others to objective reality and rationality is a challenging, exciting and sometimes painful process. It requires the abandoning of many illusions we have been taught. The pain involved is not so much the giving up of the illusions, but rather finally understanding the motives and natures of those who taught us such nonsense.

The rewards, however, are absolutely wonderful. Happiness, pure and simple!