There are ages of philosophy, and there are ages of charlatans. Ages of religion, and ages of parlour tricks. History moves in a spiral, in which, we witness an expanding loop. And in the public consciousness, such a loop produces an axis across it, wherein a pendulation forms between charlatans and philosophers.
The purpose of a philosopher is primarily not to be correct, to develop some sort of resonating coherence is the objective, but it is not what frames the attempt. The attempt rather is formed by the most critical virtue: Sincerity. To in some sense be beholden to one’s convictions, and to embody them in an authentic sense.
This is why philosophers produce in their audience a newfound consciousness. Charlatans on the other hand do the opposite, and serve to offer cheap comforts to the desperately helpless. Whether it is through the use of smoke and mirrors, or self help books and seminars. It is built on an impossible promise, whether such a promise is to speak to the dead, or indeed some kind of secret to success.
Moreover it is a deliberation that reverses the process of philosophy. A philosopher looks at the a priori, a charlatan looks at the a posteriori. That is why one breaks the overton that is produced by common doctrine, and the other reinforces it with conjecture and false promises, intended to deliver us from our disposable income.
The only future we can find is buried in the past, we are not the product of some ideal realm, wherein conjurers may pull a rabbit from a hat, rather our true invention comes from the components at our disposal. You do not tap a village with a magic wand, and in such a way produce a city.
Rather, the city is the village, and the village is the hamlet, and the hamlet is the fief, and the fief is the longhouse, and the longhouse is the commune, and the commune is the clearance, and the clearance is the forest, and the forest are the mushrooms, and the mushrooms are the algae, and the algae are the elements, and the elements are the stars.
Each one before the other. As a radiant glint in the sky washed our barren rock with newfound potential, as molecules and energy and matter and chemicals, as agents and reagents crashed down upon us, and in its extraordinary wake, the miracle of life began.
And it is precisely so that the flint is joined to its grip, as the cable is joined to its socket, each one a process predicated upon the other, with careful deliberation.
And yet we are faced with an obstacle, as every effort to produce, in and of itself, permits new form. It creates new potential, and new possibility. As we may manipulate matter and energy in new ways to the point of where we wield powers great enough to destroy ourselves.
This is when science becomes philosophy, and where examination becomes imagination. And right now we live with a dangerous common doctrine, wherein instead of asking “Why?” we foolishly ask “Why not?”
A dangerous morality wherein, without some kind of formal objection, all is permitted. A morality without purpose or objective, a morality of whim and impulse. A morality of wanton barbarism.
And it is precisely in this barbarism where charlatans prosper. All they must do is think of more and more elaborate ways of saying “Why not?” Freedom has become the new opium of the masses. But not the freedom to live, exist, enjoy and prosper, but rather the freedom to wage war, to exploit, to enslave, to steal and to plunder.
Charlatans produce volumes upon volumes of self-help literature for the huddled masses, with reiterations such as “Unlock your true potential.”, “Find your inner productivity.”, “Develop your personal value.”, “Actualise your true success.”, “Visualise your accomplishment” and “Arbeit Macht Frei.”
Work, obey, appease authority, figure out new and exciting ways to to find joy and fulfilment in the pathetic existence of subjugation under capitalism. A slave doctrine based on the a posteriori. Wherein success, productivity, potential and similar notions are taken for granted, and are beyond question. Where it is as natural as that adage from the Chinese Court: The sun always rises in the east.
The rich will always be rich, the poor will always be poor. Obey the rich, and receive your reward.
But I ask, where is that court today? Where are those monarchs who stood at dawn once dusk arrived? As the global domination of empires and colonial powers is slowly being fractured under the rebellion of nations. As Latin America, little by little, is breaking off from their dynasties of plantation owners and puppet dictators.
As Africa, little by little, is breaking off from their foreign debt and apartheid aristocrats.
As China, little by little, is dissolving NATO’s Pax Britannia, wherein they rule the waves, holding humanity hostage by blockade and famine.
In our age, we do not witness the sun rising in the east, but rather, it would seem, the sun is setting on the west.
The contradictions grow unbearable for the Charlatans, who are fighting an uphill battle, attempting to maintain morale among shackled slaves in a sinking ship, who are slowly coming to the conclusion that their only recourse is to break the chains.
These are the times ahead of us, the times of philosophers.
