Exotic Journeys: A Tourist's Guide to Philosophy
brought to you by Ron Yezzi
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
Minnesota State University, Mankato
© Copyright 1993, 2015, 2020 by Ron Yezzi
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Perhaps philosophers don’t belong in this world, because they’re either confused or dissatisfied with what is. And it’s their privilege to create their own world. (In a sense, they are at the human limits of "playing God.") Philosophers hope to take the world, as it is, into proper account. But they also are looking for what ought to be.
All of us create our own worlds in living. It’s just that philosophers search for foundations more than most people; so their creations are special.
I take satisfaction in having had a career with virtually complete freedom to create my own world. So far that world resides in some seven texts and other writings I’ve worked out over the years. The creation isn’t finished yet. And I don’t suppose that others will see or agree with the world exactly as I create it. But I like to think that my world is a good approximation both to what is, what ought to be, and how we can know what is and what ought to be. At any rate, the whole process is one great and exciting ride for me!
Travel along and consider the views.
Ron Yezzi
What would I say to someone who wanted to know, in a few minutes, what I learned from philosophy ? That's hard to do. But I would want to leave them with something worth walking away with in a brief encounter. Click on the link for points I would make in providing brief answers to three basic questions:
1. What Is? - Metaphysics
2. What Ought to Be? - Ethics
3. How Can We Know What Is and What Ought to Be? - Logic (Epistemology)
This is an opportunity to provide more explanation and justification for my positions. The Eight Basic Philosophical issues are God, Free Will and Determinism, The Good Life, Knowing the Good Life, Human Nature, Individuals and Society, Mind and Matter, and The Nature of Knowledge. More Specific Ethical Issues includes a journey from the origin of values to what I take to be an objective basic ethical principle. It also includes some value inventories, The Texts link includes Practical Logic and also Logical Methods and Standard Scientific Explanation. The Op Eds links deal with a number of popular issues in the news over a long stretch of time. They provide a lot of easier reading--although I like to think that everything I write is understandable without a large amount of philosophical background.
I present some glimpses of my personal life.
Acknowledgements