Our Damaged Culture Needs Philosophers But Sadly We Don't Appreciate PhilosophersBy JES TIROLColumnist of the Bohol Chronicle ProemPhilosophy is the inquiry into the most comprehensive principles of reality in general. Philosophers are those who engaged in the search of these principles of reality.
After finishing two (2) Ph.D. degrees, I feel I have already studied so many philosophers and their philosophies. However, it is sad to note that not one of these philosophers is a Filipino.
Our Damaged CultureOur present culture is already mishmash. It is an un-definable mixture of our pre-Spanish culture, Chinese culture, American culture, and many western cultures that were inculcated in our educational system.
Sadly enough, no Filipino philosopher has succeeded in unifying all these cultures into one coherent philosophy.
For example, our pre-Spanish society was paternalistic. The leaders were viewed as a father figure who will take care of his children. The American influence says that political leaders (Governor; Mayor, etc.) are servants of the people.
Nowadays we have political leaders who do not know what role to take. Will they be father figures that commands or servants that obey.
Have you ever heard or read about a Filipino philosopher who tried to rationalize this situation?
Need of PhilosophersPhilosophers are people who tries to understand the basic principles why certain culture behave the way they are. In other countries, they try to study the philosophies enunciated by philosophers. They may not like the philosopher but certainly his philosophy is being discussed.
The Philippines today needs philosophers. We need people who can tell us why were behave this way and how to straighten it. We do not lack brilliance of mind. We only lack the appreciation of the works of philosophers.
Philosopher TasioThe topic of this article is not new. Dr. Jose Rizal in his novel Noli Me Tangere already mention in Chapter 25 about Philosopher Tasio. To avoid persecution, Philosopher Tasio wrote in Tagalog using the hieroglyphics of the Egyptians so that the powers that be could not understand his viewpoints.
The Spanish administration during Dr. Rizal's time disliked philosophers. This dislike is carried even up to today. If we meet or hear someone with different viewpoints we call him Pilosopo (Philosopher) with connotation of being unwelcome.
If we do not appreciate philosophers, then who will try to rationalize our confused culture? Our philosophers will always be like Philosopher Tasio, writing in non-understandable script in order not to be persecuted and despised.
One of the best Sugboanon Bisaya philosophers that I have read was Bishop Fernando Boiser of the Aglipayan Church. He wrote in Sugboanon Bisaya prior to World War II and mostly in abstruse Bisayan poems. But who among the readers have read the writings of Bishop Boiser? I even doubt if you can still understand his bisayà .
CommentWe know that the Boholanos and the Filipinos have already a damaged culture. If we continue to lack philosophers because we despise them, then we will continue to be a basket case in Asia. To my mind, the many western philosophies that we study will not fit our culture. We don't even study Chinese philosophy that is nearer to our own culture. We need to have our own.
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