The other day I asked a reader how he would characterize the Epicurus Blog. His answer was:

“Humane”

I was delighted. We live in a world that has become ever more polarized between a tiny, rich and grasping minority and a huge lumpenproletariat (of which I count myself a member) whose rights are being whittled away before our eyes. A corrupt media sits on its hands and so-called “liberal democratic” politicians (Labour, Democrats) seem to have nothing to say. If Hilary Clinton is “coronated” as Presidential candidate, this will only confirm the bankruptcy of the Left.

Therefore, we have to make philosophy practical, and that means doing what little we can to stand up for actual people (remember them?), and particularly the poor and under-represented. The study of philosophy in universities is nowadays characterized, not as philosophy itself, but as the history of philosophy. The last bit of philosophy thought up by philosophers was “deconstructionism”, which ranks alongside the income of top bankers as being disaster for humanity. Philosophy has to be practical, not academic. Regrettably, this has recently translated into defensive warnings on this blog about the self-interested manoeuvres of our masters.

Some ten years ago I was taken to task for interpreting Epucureanism in too political a manner. Touche. But what is philosophy useful for but for finding eays to live together in happiness, harmony and peace – and putting the greedy and ruthless back in their boxes? The world returning to a hi-tech version of medieval while good men and women fiddle on their Facebook pages.

“Humane”? I like it.