Monty Python's Flying Circus "The Philosophy Song" Reviewed

The problem with philosophy is the same as the problem with mathematics, when you’re young you almost don’t have to learn it, it comes with the original package: one plus one plus one is three or do unto others, what is good? This is good.

But mathematics soon leaves the world of humans and so does philosophy, it is a small step for college kids but a giant leap for headaches from the Ten Commandments to Heidegger (or simple addition and quantum physics) and so anyway, there is a point where we go from knowing to studying the common good. Philosophy became a bit of a drag.

The antidote is Monty Python’s Eric Idle, is “The Philosophy Song” where again the comedy troupe (Oxford and Cambridge graduates all) take aim in a parody of Philosophical thinking. Or maybe not even that. What does it tell us about anything at all if the great philosophers of our time are positioned as a bunch of drunks? Well, it tells us that philosophy is ripe for a good sneer. Just their names are pompous enough to be amusing.

Idle, who has a way with a catchy song, makes a tuneful  teacher in Australia (“Michael Baldwin, Bruce…”) where drinking is the national past time. Giving the choice between Sartre and Idle. go with Idle.

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