Philosophy 101

"Excuse me, sir. May I help you, sir?" Who in the world are you talking to? Me? Sir? No! That's the way you would address an older gentleman as a sign of respect. Right? However, lately, I've been hearing it all too often. I know it's inevitable, but I certainly do not feel that old. O.k. I am a little slower standing up and take my time getting out of bed in the morning. When I look in the mirror, though, the same guy is still looking back. Maybe there is a touch of grey now and a couple of extra pounds. At the very least, my mind still works the same, if not better!

I know because I can still recall, with some clarity, many of the experiences I had growing up. This is probably true for the majority of us. That is why we are able to reminisce about the "glory days". Many of our thoughts and reactions to things may even be the same as they were back then. While other ideas and responses continue to develop and mature with time. Locke would call this our "continuity of consciousness". Each stage of life has an impact on the person that we ultimately become.

I am no philosophy major, but have recently taken an interest. I believe it has something to do with the reality of getting older, sir. And after some light research, I learned that many philosophers actually question the very doctrine passed down by Sister Mary Rose in grade school! There have been countless theories about how and why we exist that date all the way back to Socrates. We are born. We make a life for ourselves. We die. What is it that determines this chain of events? Then where will we go next?

There is no question in my mind that God exists and does work in "mysterious ways" to guide us through life. However, there are many perceptions of Him in the literature. Some believe we are made in His image. Others say that we are all part of a Greater Being. There are different beliefs about how the Holy Spirit intervenes and the whole influence of Karma. Millions of lives have been lost defending the teachings of both Jesus and Mohammed. And there is no shortage of opinion about life after death.

Philosophers have been applying their logic to these arguments for centuries, hoping to make sense of it all. Trying to decipher the text and read through their thought processes is truly mind-boggling. I believe that some of them may have been experimenting with non-prescription medications at the time. One thing is for sure, no one can ever be certain on this plane of existence. I would bet these "thinkers" are probably having a heated debate right now, though, wherever they have gone. As for me, I will accept that age is relative, and learn to appreciate the respect of a young whipper-snapper.

"Thank you, sir! May I please have another?"

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These links detail some of the interesting history of philosophy that has been passed down from East to West. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Western_philosophy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_eastern_philosophy#Philosophical_and_religious_traditions