What does it mean to be human? What makes us different? Why are we here?
These are questions that have caused strife and discontent between humans for as long as we have existed. Religion often explains these in its own way, but some people are less friendly to religious positions because religion often tries to use itself to prove itself. Philosophy tries to answer these questions as well, but philosophy is hard so it has become increasingly unpopular in modernity. How many people are familiar with even rudimentary philosophical principles? I went to a public school in Alabama and I was never really exposed to anything philosophical in classes, and I was never inclined to pursue those questions on my own until I was a sophomore in college here at JSU. Since I have only been interested in the field for a few months I am obviously not well educated on these topics, but these are questions I feel we must be aware of and understand the implications of in order to be truly human. Naturally, that leads to the question of how we become more able to establish these principles of humanity and how we need to participate in society.
Society as a whole is lacking in philosophical knowledge, but I definitely suggest reading if you are inclined to try to get more familiar with these concepts. And you don't have to read long dry philosophical texts, but at least being familiar with their concepts is a good idea. Reading exposes you to opinions and situations you may never be exposed to in your lifetime, and those pseudo-experiences need to be taken as having potential to make you grow. Reading Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Kant, Aquinas, and Descartes are not for everyone. But even Rowling, Green, Tolkien, and King will all give you more ability to judge how humanity as a whole operates and create some reasons as for why you hold your opinion.
But overall the most important thing I have learned in my classes dealing with philosophy is that you cannot be scared to be wrong. Answer questions in class, if you're wrong at least you were the one who tried to answer, which is definitely worth something. Without a will to discuss your opinion, the entire conversation can't happen and then no one really knows what they think. You learn how you justify your positions on the questions I have been asking by defending your position. Be open to friendly debate, and I think we would grow as a community instead of the increasing divisions which are places on us by various institutions.
