Can Philosophers be Helpful in the Age of the Internet?

Free Webinar: Can Philosophers be Helpful in the Age of the Internet?, Wednesday, December 16, at 9 PM CET (Berlin) / 8PM GMT (London) / 3PM EST (New York) /7AM AEDT (Sydney), in cooperation with Berlin Practical Philosophy International Forum e.V.

 

At first sight, philosophers are not needed on the Internet. There is no philosopher, however wise, who possesses more knowledge than the Internet sources. Anyone, a student or not, interested in philosophical topics can, if s/he wants, find out almost everything in Wikipedia and totally everything elsewhere. Such a information seeker does not have to attend university courses to have access to philosophical themes s/he is interested in and can find any piece of information within minutes on the Internet, practically for free.

However, if we reduce philosophizing to mere getting information, we deprive it of its most essential feature which is: reflection stimulated by conversation; the confrontation of arguments thanks to which the participants make their opinions more profound and socially more valid. If we, then, reduce the teaching/learning of philosophy to possessing the material that can be had by these most modern means of communication, the sense of doing diminishes.

Fortunately, many people understand it. We have many presentations, lectures, and discussions available on the Internet. The texts available on millions of websites (including philosophical blogs) is just a part of the story; videos on You tube that show lectures and discussions as well as philosophical coaching by Skype thanks to which a factual conversation is possible, is another. There is much more thanks to which you can see the richness of the philosophical culture, and I will say much more on this during my webinar (45 minutes) on Wednesday, December 16, at 9 PM CET (Berlin) / 8PM GMT (London) / 3PM EST (New York) /7AM AEDT (Sydney).

Le me know if you have any expectations before: in what areas of life philosophers can be helpful; do you have any experience on doing philosophy by the Internet; others

Chris Skowronski, PhD