By: Evan Lester
For my philosophy final
report, I am going to do a spin-off of YouTube’s series of Epic Rap Battles ofHistory!! Instead, my blog is going to be called the Epic Philosophy Battles of
History! Sorry, there will be no rapping involved! I have to give credit to Dr.
Oliver (from his suggestion on the CoPhilosophy Blog) and Logan Whiles (from
his Deadliest Philosopher blog for his midterm report) for inspiring me to do
this. I will be comparing two philosophers in a situation where they will show
their thoughts on a particular topic during the situation. This will also be a
three part series.
Background:
SigmundFreud was a psychologist who lived in Vienna, Austria from 1856 to 1939. While
working with younger patients as a psychologist, he focused on the idea that
there was something driving their behaviors. These people, according to Freud,
were unaware that these influences were causing their behavior. As a result,
Freud believed that a person’s problem had to be from a horrible memory or a
desire for something or someone. Therefore, Sigmund Freud thought that the
third great revolution in human thought following Charles Darwin’s theory of
evolution and the Copernican revolution was his discovery of the unconscious.
However, there was a philosopher that did not like the
idea of the unconscious. This philosopher was Karl Popper who was also born in
Vienna, Austria, and lived from 1902 to 1994. Popper was a big supporter of the
scientific method. Although, Popper mainly focused on how the hypothesis was
tested. He believed that a hypothesis should be tested in order to be proven
false. Popper believed that this would get people that much closer to the
truth. If a hypothesis withstands a falsifiable test, then people know that it
might be true but there is still uncertainty, which means more falsifiable
tests need to occur.
Operation:
Sigmund Freud is beginning to test a man named Alfred to see if there are any
unconscious drives that are causing him to act in a particular way.
Alfred:
Well, I have been doing one thing in particular a lot lately. I have been
finding myself doing a lot of studying for different tests that are 2 months
away. I can’t seem to pry myself off the books. I mean, I try to, but I find
myself coming right back to studying. For example, I went to try to watch
television the other day, but I felt this panicky feeling that told me that I
needed to be studying. It is so weird! I feel like there is something wrong
with me but I have no clue what it is. That is why I came to you Mr. Freud. I
need help bad. I can’t continue to do this all of the time. I am going to go
bald or even have gray hairs again! The hair growth product is not working
anymore!!!
Freud:
All right now son, calm down for me. It seems to me that this feeling of
needing to study constantly is being driven by something. So, tell me Alfred,
do you ever feel the need to go do something else like playing Xbox or watching
baseball games at your high school.
Alfred:
Unfortunately, I do not feel like I can make myself at all. I mean that all
sounds fun, but there is something in me that is keeping me away from enjoying
life. Please help me! Please!
Freud:
All right, please be calm. I am here for you! Okay, well now that you have
described to me that you have a sudden urge to continue to study is telling me
something. I believe that you are being driven by an unconscious force that we
psychologists like to call Pluto mania.
Alfred:
What is that?
Freud:
This is the unconscious idea that is behind your studying addiction. Your study
habits are the result of the unconscious drive to go to Pluto. You continue to
study in order to hopefully travel to Pluto to see your reflection in the vast
ice that is on that dwarf planet.
Alfred:
Oh thank you Mr. Freud! That must be it! You are an amazing psychologist!
Popper:
Freud, how many times have I told you that your answers to someone’s problems
are ridiculous! How in the world can you come up with the idea that he has the
unconscious desire to go to Pluto from studying all of the time? Or how can you
even tell people that they are driven by this unconscious desire or memory?
Freud:
That is just how it is. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen a snake, umbrella, or
sword in your dreams! You would be lying to me if you said you haven’t seen
them. Everything you do is influenced by
some unconscious desire, especially with the previously mentioned items.
Popper:
You are ridiculous! There is no way to test if this is false or not. I think it
is great that you are trying to help a young man in need of advice, but you
cannot give him a conclusion that he wants to go to Pluto. You have to try to
test different theories that are not only acceptable to mankind, but also
theories that can actually be proven to be false. If you say that someone is
influenced by an unconscious factor, then how are you going to test it? The
answer is you cannot test it. If you cannot test your hypothesis that someone
is driven by unconscious factors, then you cannot tell if your hypothesis is
false. If you are able to falsify your theory about what his symptoms or
influences might be, then you will be that much closer to figuring out the
truth.
Freud:
Oh, I see where you are coming from.
Popper:
You do?!
Freud:
Yes! Since you deny the fact that the unconscious affects people, you must have
the unconscious desire to ride on a shooting star!
Popper:
Wow! I cannot believe that you did not listen to what I have been saying!
Freud:
I think you need to jump on the next shooting star to cool you down!
Popper:
I am just going to leave now……
(Exit Popper)
Alfred:
Man, I am so confused…………..
(End Scene)
This
is an example of how Popper believed Freud was wrong with his ideas about the
unconscious. Popper thought Freud could not make the assumption that there were
unconscious influences that were affecting someone since those influences could
not be tested to be false. If I had to choose a winner in this situation, I
would have to choose Karl Popper. I don’t really agree with Sigmund Freud and
his theories about the unconscious. For example, his classic Freudian symbols
are not really reasonable to me. I do not see how anyone can make a connection
to a desire just by seeing a snake, umbrella, or sword in a dream. I am a major
scientific person, and I believe that you have to test if a theory is true or
false in order to come to a conclusion. For example, if someone goes to a
doctor to find out why he or she is sneezing so much, the doctor will run
several tests and come up with the best solution. By doing this, the doctor is
able to test what is and is not wrong with the person. Looks like someone has
the upper hand in my battle….
Karl Popper!
Word Count: 1,331 Words
And he did it without a poker!
ReplyDeleteYes, he sure did!!
DeleteGreat post, Evan!
ReplyDeleteI like how you've formatted these — very entertaining and informative!
Can't wait to see who battles it out next!
Thanks Keaton! I hope you enjoy the next two as much as I had writing them! My last two posts have been posted so please let me know what you think!
DeleteNice post Evan! I think you approached this from an interesting angle! I like how you set it up, went into the battle, then concluded it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Yusra! I tried to take a fun way of looking about how different philosophers would respond in a certain situation! I think it is best to try to get the message of what exactly the philosophers stand for then make sure you understand what I am explaining in the situation in the conclusion. Let me know what you think in the other 2 I have posted!
Delete