Magisterial Lectures | Antonette Palma-Angeles PhD - Doing Philosophy

Summary

In this philosophical lecture, the speaker explores the relationship between life and philosophy through Gabriel Marcel's concepts of primary and secondary reflection. They argue that philosophy doesn't merely explain life but helps to constitute it, using the metaphor of making a baguette to illustrate the idea that life is about experience and not just explanation. The lecture delves into the process of self-discovery through reflection, emphasizing the importance of relationships and communal experiences in truly understanding one's identity. It concludes with the notion that existence is an exclamatory awareness, discoverable through reflection and interaction with others.

Takeaways

• 📚 Philosophy is not about explaining life but about helping to constitute it, as suggested by Maurice Blondell.
• 🥖 An analogy of making a baguette is used to illustrate that life, like a baguette, is more than the sum of its parts and is experienced through the process.
• 🌼 Primary reflection involves breaking down an experience to understand its components, but it is insufficient to capture the essence of what makes something what it is.
• 🔍 Secondary reflection attempts to reassemble the dissected parts to understand the object or experience within a broader context.
• 🤔 The question 'who am I?' is explored through both primary and secondary reflection, emphasizing that identity is not solely defined by categorization.
• 📉 Primary reflection dissects experiences into categories, but these categories often apply to many others and are not unique to the individual.
• 🔑 Secondary reflection reveals that the 'I' or self is discovered through relationships and experiences with others, not just through self-referential categories.
• 💡 Existence is described as an exclamatory awareness, which is heightened during intense experiences and interactions with others.
• 🧘‍♂️ The 'I' or subject emerges in experiences and relationships, suggesting that the self is a mystery that can only be lived and discovered.
• 🌟 The importance of reflection in living life is emphasized, as it allows for a deeper understanding and thriving in one's existence.
• 📖 The lecture concludes by encouraging students to reflect, dwell, and engage in relationships to truly prosper and understand their identity.

Q & A

What is the main topic of today's lecture?

The main topic is the concept of philosophizing in Tagalog, using Gabriel Marcel's primary and secondary reflection.

What does Maurice Blondell's quote imply about the relationship between philosophy and life?

The quote suggests that philosophy does not merely explain life but actively helps to constitute it.

What is the analogy used to explain the limitations of explaining life through description alone?

The analogy of making a baguette is used to illustrate that experiencing life is more than just understanding its ingredients and instructions.

What is the term used to describe everyday mundane experiences in philosophy?

The term used is 'kotidium' or 'ordinarium', which refers to the everyday ordinary experiences of life.

What are primary and secondary reflections according to Gabriel Marcel?

Primary reflection dissolves the unity of an experience to dissect it, while secondary reflection attempts to put it back together within a larger context.

How does the lecturer illustrate the concept of primary reflection?

The lecturer uses the example of dissecting the concept of 'who am I' into categories like name, education, religion, etc., which are not unique to oneself.

What is the limitation of primary reflection when trying to define one's identity?

The limitation is that primary reflection breaks down identity into categories that can also apply to many other people, failing to capture the uniqueness of an individual.

What does the lecturer suggest as the way to truly understand oneself beyond categories?

The lecturer suggests that understanding oneself beyond categories can only be achieved through secondary reflection, which involves relating to others and experiencing life's moments.

What is the 'I' that emerges in experiences according to the lecturer?

The 'I' that emerges in experiences is the subjective 'I', which is not captured by concepts and categories but is lived and discovered in relationships with others.

What is the final message of the lecture regarding the pursuit of understanding oneself and life?

The final message is that to truly live and understand life, one must learn to stop, reflect, and dwell, recognizing that the 'I' is a mystery to be discovered through relationships and experiences.