Welcome to the Philosophical Cafe

It’s raining out.  At least where I am it is.  I sit in front of the computer, gazing out of the window as the raindrops tink against the pane, whilst enjoying a nice hot beverage, and my mind begins to wander.  It does tend to toddle off when left to its own devices and when unsupervised for any length of time, and, given the opportunity to wander about, is always discovering something to occupy itself.

Today is no different.  My mind has sallied forth once more into the breach and found some things to draw its focus. One of which is the notion that many of the so-called philosophical questions are pure rubbish, if one were to truly consider them:

• “If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” – Are you DAFT? If a tree falls, of course it makes a sound.  When you fall down, and no one is around to witness it, do you not make a sound?  Albeit some very creative dialogue most probably ensues.  Let me ask you this, if someone trips on that “invisible speed bump” in the pavement, and they don’t know you saw them stumble, does that make you giggle any less?
• “Why is there air?” - What would you rather breathe?  Methane, perhaps?  Liquid Nitrogen?  Honestly, I don’t care WHY there is air, as long as it is available for breathing.
• “I think therefore, I am.” - I must pose the hypothesis that “I AM” well before this nugget of information crossed my mind.  Or if this statement were to stand on its own merit, what was I before I thought I was? Merely because I am capable of thought is no guarantee that I will exercise that capability, nor is there any guarantee that my exercise will be fruitful by any stretch of the imagination.
• “Everyone is a genius.”- Ride with me during rush hour traffic and see if this is true.  Just pointing out, again, that the capacity to think and ponder is no guarantee that the exercise will be engaged or fruitful.

Please don’t get me wrong, I am not against thinking; I have nothing against philosophy; I bear no ill will towards being contemplative.  In fact, I embrace them all.  Yet if one is to fully exercise one’s mental capabilities, one must be able (and willing) to also consider the idiocies as well.

Okay, time for more coffee, so I’ll bid each of you adieu, and saunter off for now.