Why Philosophy? By Lou Marinoff

H

Hume

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First of all, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” There are many ways of loving, and many aspects of wisdom to love.

Some philosophers love logic, critical thinking, or scientific reasoning: what we call formal or “exact” philosophy. Others love philosophy of language, or knowledge, or mind, or AI. Many love value-laden aspects such as philosophy of ethics, law, society, and politics. Others love Continental philosophy, or Indian Philosophy, or Chinese Philosophy.

In addition to philosophy’s intrinsic interests, we can, and do, philosophize about any and every discipline taught in the academy, including Art, Music, and History.

To me, philosophy means conducting a rational inquiry into any matter of interest. Philosophical questioning has no limits, no taboos, and no unthinkable thoughts.

dailynous.com

Why Philosophy? Lou Marinoff - Daily Nous

Lou Marinoff is interviewed by Céline Leboeuf. Why Philosophy? Lou Marinoff interviewed by Céline Leboeuf What is philosophy to you? First of all, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” There are many ways of loving, and many aspects of wisdom to love. Some philosophers love logic, critical...
dailynous.com dailynous.com
 
To determine if Lou Marinoff’s interview by Céline Leboeuf, published on March 05, 2025, at Daily Nous (https://dailynous.com/2025/03/05/why-philosophy-lou-marinoff/), could be described as propaganda, we need to consider what propaganda entails and how it applies here. Propaganda is typically understood as information—often biased, exaggerated, or selectively presented—intended to persuade or manipulate an audience toward a specific viewpoint or agenda, usually bypassing critical reasoning.

Based on the interview, Marinoff, a philosopher known for promoting philosophy’s practical applications (e.g., through works like Plato, Not Prozac!), is interviewed about his views on philosophy’s meaning and utility. He defines philosophy as the "love of wisdom," exploring its diverse branches—logic, ethics, metaphysics, etc.—and emphasizes its role in asking questions rather than just providing answers. He also discusses his work with the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA), which trains philosophers to apply their skills practically, and highlights his public outreach via books and a journal. The interview appears to be a reflective piece on his career and philosophy’s relevance, conducted by Céline Leboeuf, a fellow philosopher.

Could this be propaganda? On one hand, Marinoff has a clear agenda: advocating for philosophical practice as a valuable, even transformative tool for everyday life. His career rests on pushing this idea, and the interview serves as a platform to promote it—potentially to sell books, attract clients, or bolster APPA’s influence. If he overstates philosophy’s benefits, omits its limitations, or cherry-picks examples to sway readers without encouraging skepticism, it might lean toward propaganda. His past framing (e.g., in Plato, Not Prozac!) has been criticized by some academics for oversimplifying complex issues or rivaling traditional psychology, which could suggest a persuasive slant over balanced inquiry.

On the other hand, the interview’s context—a philosophy-focused site like Daily Nous, aimed at an audience already inclined to value philosophical discussion—suggests it’s more of an insider conversation than a broad manipulative campaign. Marinoff’s emphasis on questioning aligns with philosophy’s core, not propaganda’s tendency to dictate conclusions. Leboeuf, as an interviewer, likely aims to explore rather than propagandize, though her framing could subtly favor Marinoff’s perspective.

So, it’s not inherently propaganda—it’s an exposition of Marinoff’s views, with a promotional undertone. But if it heavily skews toward uncritical praise, suppresses counterpoints (e.g., philosophy’s practical limits or APPA’s controversies), or pushes an agenda over open dialogue, it could edge into that territory. Given Marinoff’s track record and the setting, it’s probably more advocacy than propaganda, though the line’s blurry.



@Grok
 
No surprise the biggest asshole troll is spending whole day copying pictures and AI output.
 
Hume said:
First of all, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” There are many ways of loving, and many aspects of wisdom to love.

Some philosophers love logic, critical thinking, or scientific reasoning: what we call formal or “exact” philosophy. Others love philosophy of language, or knowledge, or mind, or AI. Many love value-laden aspects such as philosophy of ethics, law, society, and politics. Others love Continental philosophy, or Indian Philosophy, or Chinese Philosophy.

In addition to philosophy’s intrinsic interests, we can, and do, philosophize about any and every discipline taught in the academy, including Art, Music, and History.

To me, philosophy means conducting a rational inquiry into any matter of interest. Philosophical questioning has no limits, no taboos, and no unthinkable thoughts.

dailynous.com

Why Philosophy? Lou Marinoff - Daily Nous

Lou Marinoff is interviewed by Céline Leboeuf. Why Philosophy? Lou Marinoff interviewed by Céline Leboeuf What is philosophy to you? First of all, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” There are many ways of loving, and many aspects of wisdom to love. Some philosophers love logic, critical...
dailynous.com dailynous.com
Click to expand...
Trying to redefine 'philosophy' won't work, Hugo.
 
This guy has the right idea. Go to the pub, have a few pints, then start pontificating on meaningless philosophical stuff...

www.philosophyforlife.org

Paul Doran on Philosophy in Pubs — Philosophy for Life

aul Doran is one of the founders of Philosophy in Pubs (PIPs) , which is the biggest network of community philosophy groups in the UK, with around 40 PIPs across the UK, including 14 in Merseyside, where PIPs began. Here he talks about how PIPs started, how to run a PIPs group, and how he sees
www.philosophyforlife.org www.philosophyforlife.org
 
T. A. Gardner said:
This guy has the right idea. Go to the pub, have a few pints, then start pontificating on meaningless philosophical stuff...

www.philosophyforlife.org

Paul Doran on Philosophy in Pubs — Philosophy for Life

aul Doran is one of the founders of Philosophy in Pubs (PIPs) , which is the biggest network of community philosophy groups in the UK, with around 40 PIPs across the UK, including 14 in Merseyside, where PIPs began. Here he talks about how PIPs started, how to run a PIPs group, and how he sees
www.philosophyforlife.org www.philosophyforlife.org
Click to expand...
Dumb people think they know all there is to know^^
 
Hume said:
so...you're drunk
Click to expand...
c028e1821f75227bbbaf6a7b458b460a.jpg
 
T. A. Gardner said:
This guy has the right idea. Go to the pub, have a few pints, then start pontificating on meaningless philosophical stuff...

www.philosophyforlife.org

Paul Doran on Philosophy in Pubs — Philosophy for Life

aul Doran is one of the founders of Philosophy in Pubs (PIPs) , which is the biggest network of community philosophy groups in the UK, with around 40 PIPs across the UK, including 14 in Merseyside, where PIPs began. Here he talks about how PIPs started, how to run a PIPs group, and how he sees
www.philosophyforlife.org www.philosophyforlife.org
Click to expand...
What makes you think it's meaningless?
 
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