A “Philos” of We

As it is now, philosophy seems to exist in an isolated sphere, speaking without being heard by anyone but other philosophers. Who but other philosophers knows the details of Kant’s categorical imperative or Kuhn’s depiction of scientific revolutions? Philosophy of science, ethics, aesthetics — even we as philosophers seem to be limited to a mere sliver of knowledge, talking only amongst other specialists and to-be-specialists. We have overlooked another key function of philosophy as well as just acquiring knowledge: bridging gaps beyond itself.

In this essay, I will argue that, by acting as a common language, philosophy will allow us as a global society to build toward a more cohesive and integrated “we.” First, I will assert the need for a “philos” of we by discussing the crises at hand and considering the current state of the world. Next, I will delve deeper into the concept of a “philos” of we and discuss how philosophy can bring it about by serving as a lingua franca that allows for adequate communication. Then, I will explore how exactly we can use philosophy and implement it so that it can play a more central role in our society in a practical sense, addressing possible counterarguments along the way. Finally, I will describe what an ideal world — tied together by a “philos” of we — might look like, expressing how philosophy will ensure, not just a future, but the best future for humanity.

The Need for a “Philos” of We

The root cause of many existential threats is the ever-widening gap between disciplines, individuals, and societies. Like the cosmic acceleration of our physical universe, the universe containing our disciplines continues to expand, pulling them farther and farther away from each other in the process. Individual disciplines climbing higher and higher means little when progress — and by extension, humanity as a whole — remains fractured. Today’s politics and ethics, for example, seem to be playing a constant catch-up game when it comes to new technologies — a prominent contemporary case being artificial intelligence. What happens when we create something that we cannot backtrack from? What is science without the ethics and politics that are meant to guide it? A runaway car, with a blasting engine and no driver. This disconnect between disciplines — and the resulting chaos that ensues — is not limited to science, ethics, and politics; other disciplines, from medicine to art, seem …

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