hey everyone so my name is Aaron and I’m here to invite you to do some philosophy
here to invite you to do some philosophy
here to invite you to do some philosophy with me and usually when I say I’m a
with me and usually when I say I’m a
with me and usually when I say I’m a philosopher to people on planes that
philosopher to people on planes that
philosopher to people on planes that leads to the magazine goes up and
leads to the magazine goes up and
leads to the magazine goes up and headphones goes on kind of response so
headphones goes on kind of response so
headphones goes on kind of response so we’ll see if I can do little better with
we’ll see if I can do little better with
we’ll see if I can do little better with you all
you all
you all so philosophy can be understood as a
so philosophy can be understood as a
so philosophy can be understood as a bunch of different things I’m gonna give
bunch of different things I’m gonna give
bunch of different things I’m gonna give you two options one philosophy is a
you two options one philosophy is a
you two options one philosophy is a professional discourse it’s the thing
professional discourse it’s the thing
professional discourse it’s the thing that other people do you know people
that other people do you know people
that other people do you know people like me who have PhDs in philosophy who
like me who have PhDs in philosophy who
like me who have PhDs in philosophy who write books with titles that no one then
write books with titles that no one then
write books with titles that no one then wants to buy or we can understand
wants to buy or we can understand
wants to buy or we can understand philosophy as a way of life this is the
philosophy as a way of life this is the
philosophy as a way of life this is the way the ancient Greeks understood it and
way the ancient Greeks understood it and
way the ancient Greeks understood it and philosophy is something then that we all
philosophy is something then that we all
philosophy is something then that we all can do but instead of having to choose
can do but instead of having to choose
can do but instead of having to choose today I don’t want to cause you any
today I don’t want to cause you any
today I don’t want to cause you any stress you’re both right so philosophy
stress you’re both right so philosophy
stress you’re both right so philosophy the way I understand it is basically
the way I understand it is basically
the way I understand it is basically just people who put question marks where
just people who put question marks where
just people who put question marks where everybody else puts periods now that
everybody else puts periods now that
everybody else puts periods now that could be something we do as
could be something we do as
could be something we do as professionals like me so I put
professionals like me so I put
professionals like me so I put professional question marks behind all
professional question marks behind all
professional question marks behind all kinds of very wordy questions that have
kinds of very wordy questions that have
kinds of very wordy questions that have a lot of ontological and
a lot of ontological and
a lot of ontological and phenomenological sorts of phrases but
phenomenological sorts of phrases but
phenomenological sorts of phrases but what really matters about philosophy is
what really matters about philosophy is
what really matters about philosophy is that we all recognize what happens in
that we all recognize what happens in
that we all recognize what happens in life if we start putting squiggly lines
life if we start putting squiggly lines
life if we start putting squiggly lines instead of just dots and so let’s ask
instead of just dots and so let’s ask
instead of just dots and so let’s ask some questions together and see what
some questions together and see what
some questions together and see what happens now not all questions are
happens now not all questions are
happens now not all questions are equally valuable so if you say what kind
equally valuable so if you say what kind
equally valuable so if you say what kind of coffee do I like to drink I find that
of coffee do I like to drink I find that
of coffee do I like to drink I find that a stupid question because I don’t like
a stupid question because I don’t like
a stupid question because I don’t like coffee so let’s find a little bit better
coffee so let’s find a little bit better
coffee so let’s find a little bit better question how about what’s the meaning of
question how about what’s the meaning of
question how about what’s the meaning of life good question
life good question
life good question not yet no response none at all why
not yet no response none at all why
not yet no response none at all why because this question is the kind of
because this question is the kind of
because this question is the kind of thing that Monty Python makes a lot of
thing that Monty Python makes a lot of
thing that Monty Python makes a lot of money joking about right so let’s try to
money joking about right so let’s try to
money joking about right so let’s try to avoid things like that and instead ask a
avoid things like that and instead ask a
avoid things like that and instead ask a question that has a little bit more
question that has a little bit more
question that has a little bit more focused relevance to us so how about
focused relevance to us so how about
focused relevance to us so how about let’s tighten things up what makes life
let’s tighten things up what makes life
let’s tighten things up what makes life worth living a little better well still
worth living a little better well still
worth living a little better well still kind of abstract not sure what life
kind of abstract not sure what life
kind of abstract not sure what life means whose life the life of my dog what
means whose life the life of my dog what
means whose life the life of my dog what what life we’re talking about
what life we’re talking about
what life we’re talking about so I think we make things practical we
so I think we make things practical we
so I think we make things practical we make them personal so let’s make
make them personal so let’s make
make them personal so let’s make something personal what do you desire
something personal what do you desire
something personal what do you desire most in life here I’m trying to switch
most in life here I’m trying to switch
most in life here I’m trying to switch the question and make it more like a st.
the question and make it more like a st.
the question and make it more like a st. Agustin question our identity is
Agustin question our identity is
Agustin question our identity is constituted by the object of our desire
constituted by the object of our desire
constituted by the object of our desire so let’s think about what we desire in
so let’s think about what we desire in
so let’s think about what we desire in order to think about who we are so that
order to think about who we are so that
order to think about who we are so that we can hopefully put some question marks
we can hopefully put some question marks
we can hopefully put some question marks in really important places let’s see how
in really important places let’s see how
in really important places let’s see how it happened there are two common answers
it happened there are two common answers
it happened there are two common answers to this question what do you desire most
to this question what do you desire most
to this question what do you desire most in life at least as given by my students
in life at least as given by my students
in life at least as given by my students in intro to philosophy
in intro to philosophy
in intro to philosophy I have asked hundreds of them this
I have asked hundreds of them this
I have asked hundreds of them this question I only ever get variations of
question I only ever get variations of
question I only ever get variations of two answers the first and by far most
two answers the first and by far most
two answers the first and by far most prominent is they desire success not a
prominent is they desire success not a
prominent is they desire success not a bad answer who doesn’t want to be
bad answer who doesn’t want to be
bad answer who doesn’t want to be successful right well second answer
successful right well second answer
successful right well second answer happiness happiness also seems like a
happiness happiness also seems like a
happiness happiness also seems like a really smart thing a little bit more
really smart thing a little bit more
really smart thing a little bit more introspective and reflective people who
introspective and reflective people who
introspective and reflective people who write happiness always feel
write happiness always feel
write happiness always feel self-righteous that they wrote happiness
self-righteous that they wrote happiness
self-righteous that they wrote happiness and not success when they hear sort of
and not success when they hear sort of
and not success when they hear sort of how this breaks out but here’s the thing
how this breaks out but here’s the thing
how this breaks out but here’s the thing both of these have some problems when we
both of these have some problems when we
both of these have some problems when we seek success it turns out that we fear
seek success it turns out that we fear
seek success it turns out that we fear failure when we seek happiness it turns
failure when we seek happiness it turns
failure when we seek happiness it turns out that we fear a kind of loneliness
out that we fear a kind of loneliness
out that we fear a kind of loneliness but what’s interesting about this is
but what’s interesting about this is
but what’s interesting about this is success though a noble thing my talk is
success though a noble thing my talk is
success though a noble thing my talk is not hey don’t seek success but don’t
not hey don’t seek success but don’t
not hey don’t seek success but don’t seek success as your ultimate end why
seek success as your ultimate end why
seek success as your ultimate end why not because if you succeed success as
not because if you succeed success as
not because if you succeed success as your ultimate end you’re always ever
your ultimate end you’re always ever
your ultimate end you’re always ever making sense of your life relative to
making sense of your life relative to
making sense of your life relative to some external that you achieve rather
some external that you achieve rather
some external that you achieve rather than reflecting on who it is and why you
than reflecting on who it is and why you
than reflecting on who it is and why you live it in the first place
live it in the first place
live it in the first place happiness again a lot better maybe but
happiness again a lot better maybe but
happiness again a lot better maybe but happiness today tends to look an awful
happiness today tends to look an awful
happiness today tends to look an awful lot like how can I just be in a
lot like how can I just be in a
lot like how can I just be in a particular state of mind that you may
particular state of mind that you may
particular state of mind that you may not be in so I think the problem with
not be in so I think the problem with
not be in so I think the problem with happiness is we confuse it with a
happiness is we confuse it with a
happiness is we confuse it with a psychological state rather than a
psychological state rather than a
psychological state rather than a general orientation towards well-being
general orientation towards well-being
general orientation towards well-being so I’m gonna suggest that we seek
so I’m gonna suggest that we seek
so I’m gonna suggest that we seek something else as our ultimate end I’m
something else as our ultimate end I’m
something else as our ultimate end I’m gonna throw out faithfulness as an idea
gonna throw out faithfulness as an idea
gonna throw out faithfulness as an idea maybe we should seek faithfulness now
maybe we should seek faithfulness now
maybe we should seek faithfulness now look by faithfulness I am NOT talking
look by faithfulness I am NOT talking
look by faithfulness I am NOT talking about any religious disposition I’m
about any religious disposition I’m
about any religious disposition I’m talking about living into what you
talking about living into what you
talking about living into what you throwing yourself into something on
throwing yourself into something on
throwing yourself into something on purpose and this definition of faith
purpose and this definition of faith
purpose and this definition of faith then is simply the idea that we risk our
then is simply the idea that we risk our
then is simply the idea that we risk our lives in a direction that we do things
lives in a direction that we do things
lives in a direction that we do things on purpose for reasons and we recognize
on purpose for reasons and we recognize
on purpose for reasons and we recognize that none of it is ultimately safe so
that none of it is ultimately safe so
that none of it is ultimately safe so what direction is worth the risk it’s
what direction is worth the risk it’s
what direction is worth the risk it’s not going to involve skydiving for me
not going to involve skydiving for me
not going to involve skydiving for me nor is it going to involve law school
nor is it going to involve law school
nor is it going to involve law school right we all make decisions about what
right we all make decisions about what
right we all make decisions about what direction is worth of the risk so here’s
direction is worth of the risk so here’s
direction is worth of the risk so here’s a really cool truth when you seek to be
a really cool truth when you seek to be
a really cool truth when you seek to be faithful you’re likely to get success
faithful you’re likely to get success
faithful you’re likely to get success thrown in because you care about
thrown in because you care about
thrown in because you care about excellence relative to what you think
excellence relative to what you think
excellence relative to what you think matters but when you seek success you’re
matters but when you seek success you’re
matters but when you seek success you’re likely not even to be successful at what
likely not even to be successful at what
likely not even to be successful at what you thought mattered because you aren’t
you thought mattered because you aren’t
you thought mattered because you aren’t actively reflecting and living into that
actively reflecting and living into that
actively reflecting and living into that decision so here’s another cool truth
decision so here’s another cool truth
decision so here’s another cool truth there’s a distinction between jealousy
there’s a distinction between jealousy
there’s a distinction between jealousy and admiration if we seek success as our
and admiration if we seek success as our
and admiration if we seek success as our ultimate end we’re likely to understand
ultimate end we’re likely to understand
ultimate end we’re likely to understand our lives relative to jealousy I want
our lives relative to jealousy I want
our lives relative to jealousy I want what they have I want that car that job
what they have I want that car that job
what they have I want that car that job that 401k that portfolio right that
that 401k that portfolio right that
that 401k that portfolio right that recognition I’m jealous of them so I’m
recognition I’m jealous of them so I’m
recognition I’m jealous of them so I’m not striving to be like someone I’m
not striving to be like someone I’m
not striving to be like someone I’m striving to have what they have
striving to have what they have
striving to have what they have they are irrelevant there’s no character
they are irrelevant there’s no character
they are irrelevant there’s no character emulation if we seek faithfulness my
emulation if we seek faithfulness my
emulation if we seek faithfulness my hunch is that we will cultivate and
hunch is that we will cultivate and
hunch is that we will cultivate and invite admiration whereby people matter
invite admiration whereby people matter
invite admiration whereby people matter not just for what they’ve done but for
not just for what they’ve done but for
not just for what they’ve done but for being the kind of person who would do it
being the kind of person who would do it
being the kind of person who would do it think about mother Teresa in Martin
think about mother Teresa in Martin
think about mother Teresa in Martin Luther K Martin Luther King so mother
Luther K Martin Luther King so mother
Luther K Martin Luther King so mother Teresa was actually the inspiration for
Teresa was actually the inspiration for
Teresa was actually the inspiration for this talk she actually says were called
this talk she actually says were called
this talk she actually says were called upon not to be successful but to be
upon not to be successful but to be
upon not to be successful but to be faithful and Martin Luther King imagine
faithful and Martin Luther King imagine
faithful and Martin Luther King imagine this if you said oh well he was sought
this if you said oh well he was sought
this if you said oh well he was sought out to be successful at instantiating
out to be successful at instantiating
out to be successful at instantiating racial justice but he didn’t quite pull
racial justice but he didn’t quite pull
racial justice but he didn’t quite pull it off so we would say his life was a
it off so we would say his life was a
it off so we would say his life was a failure what a really bad assessments of
failure what a really bad assessments of
failure what a really bad assessments of him right instead and this is on the
him right instead and this is on the
him right instead and this is on the Martin Luther King memorial and says
Martin Luther King memorial and says
Martin Luther King memorial and says look I was a drum major for justice
look I was a drum major for justice
look I was a drum major for justice peace and righteousness in other words I
peace and righteousness in other words I
peace and righteousness in other words I lived my life striving for this yes we
lived my life striving for this yes we
lived my life striving for this yes we want to be successful but success and
want to be successful but success and
want to be successful but success and failure are not defining why I get out
failure are not defining why I get out
failure are not defining why I get out of bed and
of bed and
of bed and I do what I do so here’s the big idea
I do what I do so here’s the big idea
I do what I do so here’s the big idea we’re sharing
we’re sharing
we’re sharing right Ted’s about ideas we’re sharing
right Ted’s about ideas we’re sharing
right Ted’s about ideas we’re sharing here’s an idea I think each shared more
here’s an idea I think each shared more
here’s an idea I think each shared more often in our culture that says success
often in our culture that says success
often in our culture that says success success success seeking success actually
success success seeking success actually
success success seeking success actually makes you more likely to fail at doing
makes you more likely to fail at doing
makes you more likely to fail at doing what matters this is true not only for
what matters this is true not only for
what matters this is true not only for individuals but for institutions for
individuals but for institutions for
individuals but for institutions for groups for communities I am a specialist
groups for communities I am a specialist
groups for communities I am a specialist in philosophy of religion so I’m going
in philosophy of religion so I’m going
in philosophy of religion so I’m going to talk a little bit about
to talk a little bit about
to talk a little bit about Christianity’s what I work on I’m a
Christianity’s what I work on I’m a
Christianity’s what I work on I’m a specialist in political philosophy so
specialist in political philosophy so
specialist in political philosophy so let’s talk about democracy and I also
let’s talk about democracy and I also
let’s talk about democracy and I also happen to teach at a university so let’s
happen to teach at a university so let’s
happen to teach at a university so let’s talk about college education these three
talk about college education these three
talk about college education these three instances where if we seek success as
instances where if we seek success as
instances where if we seek success as our ultimate aim we’re likely not even
our ultimate aim we’re likely not even
our ultimate aim we’re likely not even to be good at being Christians being
to be good at being Christians being
to be good at being Christians being Democrats and being University educators
Democrats and being University educators
Democrats and being University educators how about Christianity first so three
how about Christianity first so three
how about Christianity first so three people that I have been influenced by
people that I have been influenced by
people that I have been influenced by Soren Kierkegaard Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Soren Kierkegaard Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Soren Kierkegaard Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Ann Lamont they all wrote in
and Ann Lamont they all wrote in
and Ann Lamont they all wrote in different time periods they all have
different time periods they all have
different time periods they all have different stories but three ideas they
different stories but three ideas they
different stories but three ideas they give us is that Christianity is
give us is that Christianity is
give us is that Christianity is fundamentally about modeling ourselves
fundamentally about modeling ourselves
fundamentally about modeling ourselves on a narrative of the divine as humbled
on a narrative of the divine as humbled
on a narrative of the divine as humbled as self emptied so character Gard says
as self emptied so character Gard says
as self emptied so character Gard says that when Christianity gets power and
that when Christianity gets power and
that when Christianity gets power and becomes a political might becomes
becomes a political might becomes
becomes a political might becomes Christendom what does it need it needs
Christendom what does it need it needs
Christendom what does it need it needs somebody to bring Christianity back to
somebody to bring Christianity back to
somebody to bring Christianity back to it because now it’s become triumphant
it because now it’s become triumphant
it because now it’s become triumphant Dietrich Bonhoeffer loses his life he
Dietrich Bonhoeffer loses his life he
Dietrich Bonhoeffer loses his life he gets murdered by the National Socialists
gets murdered by the National Socialists
gets murdered by the National Socialists or the end of World War two he
or the end of World War two he
or the end of World War two he differentiates between costly grace and
differentiates between costly grace and
differentiates between costly grace and cheap grace and he says cheap grace is
cheap grace and he says cheap grace is
cheap grace and he says cheap grace is the kind of thing that can become
the kind of thing that can become
the kind of thing that can become commodified and sold costly grace is the
commodified and sold costly grace is the
commodified and sold costly grace is the kind of thing that invites us ever
kind of thing that invites us ever
kind of thing that invites us ever forward recognizing it’s not about what
forward recognizing it’s not about what
forward recognizing it’s not about what we do but about that for which we do
we do but about that for which we do
we do but about that for which we do what we do and and Lamont says there’s
what we do and and Lamont says there’s
what we do and and Lamont says there’s three prayers she likes I pray these a
three prayers she likes I pray these a
three prayers she likes I pray these a bunch help thanked and Wow notice we
bunch help thanked and Wow notice we
bunch help thanked and Wow notice we start recognizing our insufficiency then
start recognizing our insufficiency then
start recognizing our insufficiency then we move to a mode of gratitude as a way
we move to a mode of gratitude as a way
we move to a mode of gratitude as a way of life and we end in wonder philosophy
of life and we end in wonder philosophy
of life and we end in wonder philosophy began in wonder and part of what I’m
began in wonder and part of what I’m
began in wonder and part of what I’m suggesting is religious existence ends
suggesting is religious existence ends
suggesting is religious existence ends in that same sense of wonder this is a
in that same sense of wonder this is a
in that same sense of wonder this is a far stretch from those conceptions of
far stretch from those conceptions of
far stretch from those conceptions of Christianity that model themselves on
Christianity that model themselves on
Christianity that model themselves on corporate success
corporate success
corporate success audience numbers material wealth and
audience numbers material wealth and
audience numbers material wealth and priding themselves on the ability to be
priding themselves on the ability to be
priding themselves on the ability to be better than others rather than loving
better than others rather than loving
better than others rather than loving God we love our own churches rather than
God we love our own churches rather than
God we love our own churches rather than loving the costly grace we love the fact
loving the costly grace we love the fact
loving the costly grace we love the fact that it can be mass-produced when we
that it can be mass-produced when we
that it can be mass-produced when we seek success we fail to be what we
seek success we fail to be what we
seek success we fail to be what we should have been what about democracy
should have been what about democracy
should have been what about democracy now here I’m not talking about
now here I’m not talking about
now here I’m not talking about conservative Democrat the mops I’m
conservative Democrat the mops I’m
conservative Democrat the mops I’m talking about democracy as a mode of
talking about democracy as a mode of
talking about democracy as a mode of human existence in social life that says
human existence in social life that says
human existence in social life that says at the end of the day all of us are
at the end of the day all of us are
at the end of the day all of us are engaged with each other relative to a
engaged with each other relative to a
engaged with each other relative to a commitment to the Equality of critique
commitment to the Equality of critique
commitment to the Equality of critique every voice is equally able to offer
every voice is equally able to offer
every voice is equally able to offer critique and offer praise that’s what
critique and offer praise that’s what
critique and offer praise that’s what democracy is about it’s about equality
democracy is about it’s about equality
democracy is about it’s about equality and Liberty to say your voice matters
and Liberty to say your voice matters
and Liberty to say your voice matters just as much as my own so when we think
just as much as my own so when we think
just as much as my own so when we think about faithfulness to democracy
about faithfulness to democracy
about faithfulness to democracy here’s two good models Jacques Derrida
here’s two good models Jacques Derrida
here’s two good models Jacques Derrida says that democracy is only ever just
says that democracy is only ever just
says that democracy is only ever just when it’s not Democratic enough yet
when it’s not Democratic enough yet
when it’s not Democratic enough yet notice we’re striving toward it’s not
notice we’re striving toward it’s not
notice we’re striving toward it’s not about pulling it off we have done it we
about pulling it off we have done it we
about pulling it off we have done it we are the greatest nation you end up
are the greatest nation you end up
are the greatest nation you end up saying we are great because we recognize
saying we are great because we recognize
saying we are great because we recognize there is a long way left to go we are
there is a long way left to go we are
there is a long way left to go we are most democratic when we recognize we are
most democratic when we recognize we are
most democratic when we recognize we are not yet democracy instantiated we’re on
not yet democracy instantiated we’re on
not yet democracy instantiated we’re on the way
the way
the way similarly Jean Tom wolf says democracy
similarly Jean Tom wolf says democracy
similarly Jean Tom wolf says democracy works best when we recognize it as
works best when we recognize it as
works best when we recognize it as agonistic conflictual we need those with
agonistic conflictual we need those with
agonistic conflictual we need those with whom we disagree to disagree with us and
whom we disagree to disagree with us and
whom we disagree to disagree with us and do it well
do it well
do it well but when we vilify when we demonize
but when we vilify when we demonize
but when we vilify when we demonize those with whom we disagree as being
those with whom we disagree as being
those with whom we disagree as being irrational or immoral what have we done
irrational or immoral what have we done
irrational or immoral what have we done we’ve sought to win the election while
we’ve sought to win the election while
we’ve sought to win the election while losing the democratic society that we
losing the democratic society that we
losing the democratic society that we claimed to care about hmm finally
claimed to care about hmm finally
claimed to care about hmm finally college education a bunch of in this
college education a bunch of in this
college education a bunch of in this room have gone to college others of you
room have gone to college others of you
room have gone to college others of you are in college some of you like my son
are in college some of you like my son
are in college some of you like my son in the back row or hopefully going to go
in the back row or hopefully going to go
in the back row or hopefully going to go to college at some point here’s the
to college at some point here’s the
to college at some point here’s the thing college at its most basic is the
thing college at its most basic is the
thing college at its most basic is the idea that we can transmit human knowing
idea that we can transmit human knowing
idea that we can transmit human knowing and also that we can create new
and also that we can create new
and also that we can create new knowledge College is not merely a
knowledge College is not merely a
knowledge College is not merely a transmission device it is an invitation
transmission device it is an invitation
transmission device it is an invitation to put question
to put question
to put question marks where others have put periods and
marks where others have put periods and
marks where others have put periods and figured new things out in that since I’m
figured new things out in that since I’m
figured new things out in that since I’m actually worried about a new trend
actually worried about a new trend
actually worried about a new trend towards college success which ends up
towards college success which ends up
towards college success which ends up being we will give you real-world
being we will give you real-world
being we will give you real-world experience and a good return on
experience and a good return on
experience and a good return on investment
investment
investment now notice both are good things we
now notice both are good things we
now notice both are good things we should care about returns on investments
should care about returns on investments
should care about returns on investments because money is finite we should care
because money is finite we should care
because money is finite we should care about having experience in the kinds of
about having experience in the kinds of
about having experience in the kinds of careers we might want to go into because
careers we might want to go into because
careers we might want to go into because we might decide that wasn’t for us all
we might decide that wasn’t for us all
we might decide that wasn’t for us all good
good
good but if that becomes the final end then
but if that becomes the final end then
but if that becomes the final end then notice we care about giving real-world
notice we care about giving real-world
notice we care about giving real-world experience in the sense that we want
experience in the sense that we want
experience in the sense that we want experiences of the world that someone
experiences of the world that someone
experiences of the world that someone else has dictated as real for us but the
else has dictated as real for us but the
else has dictated as real for us but the university its identity is to invite our
university its identity is to invite our
university its identity is to invite our students to figure out what world should
students to figure out what world should
students to figure out what world should be made real similarly if we want the
be made real similarly if we want the
be made real similarly if we want the return on investment we’ve got to
return on investment we’ve got to
return on investment we’ve got to recognize that college is more than just
recognize that college is more than just
recognize that college is more than just dollars and cents and employment
dollars and cents and employment
dollars and cents and employment statistics it’s not just about what
statistics it’s not just about what
statistics it’s not just about what majors lead to high employment
majors lead to high employment
majors lead to high employment what kind of salaries they average but
what kind of salaries they average but
what kind of salaries they average but it’s instead about inviting us all to
it’s instead about inviting us all to
it’s instead about inviting us all to recognize what is worth our investment
recognize what is worth our investment
recognize what is worth our investment of time and energy and emotion and
of time and energy and emotion and
of time and energy and emotion and passion and our own sense of value let’s
passion and our own sense of value let’s
passion and our own sense of value let’s go back to our first question what do
go back to our first question what do
go back to our first question what do you desire most in life my hunch is you
you desire most in life my hunch is you
you desire most in life my hunch is you all will have different kinds of answers
all will have different kinds of answers
all will have different kinds of answers for this and it will be different at
for this and it will be different at
for this and it will be different at different times in our life thank
different times in our life thank
different times in our life thank goodness I don’t desire what I desire
goodness I don’t desire what I desire
goodness I don’t desire what I desire 220 very bad but when we recognize that
220 very bad but when we recognize that
220 very bad but when we recognize that we might want to start thinking about
we might want to start thinking about
we might want to start thinking about desiring faithfulness some really
desiring faithfulness some really
desiring faithfulness some really interesting things follow first when we
interesting things follow first when we
interesting things follow first when we desire faithfulness we take ownership of
desire faithfulness we take ownership of
desire faithfulness we take ownership of the risk and direction of our lives not
the risk and direction of our lives not
the risk and direction of our lives not just our careers in other words we
just our careers in other words we
just our careers in other words we become the kind of people for whom jobs
become the kind of people for whom jobs
become the kind of people for whom jobs matter not the kind of people who are
matter not the kind of people who are
matter not the kind of people who are determined by the mattering of our job
determined by the mattering of our job
determined by the mattering of our job second we desire faithfulness we may
second we desire faithfulness we may
second we desire faithfulness we may find success but we’re not defined by it
find success but we’re not defined by it
find success but we’re not defined by it which means we are also not destroyed by
which means we are also not destroyed by
which means we are also not destroyed by failure but remember it’s not just what
failure but remember it’s not just what
failure but remember it’s not just what does one desire it’s what do you desire
does one desire it’s what do you desire
does one desire it’s what do you desire when we desire faithfulness when you
when we desire faithfulness when you
when we desire faithfulness when you desire faithfulness you are more likely
desire faithfulness you are more likely
desire faithfulness you are more likely to find question-marks themselves as an
to find question-marks themselves as an
to find question-marks themselves as an invitation
invitation
invitation rather than as an obstacle and this is
rather than as an obstacle and this is
rather than as an obstacle and this is really amazing because ultimately our
really amazing because ultimately our
really amazing because ultimately our lives will not be defined by where we
lives will not be defined by where we
lives will not be defined by where we put the question marks but where we
put the question marks but where we
put the question marks but where we decided to put the periods if all we do
decided to put the periods if all we do
decided to put the periods if all we do is live lives where others have handed
is live lives where others have handed
is live lives where others have handed us periods we’ve never actually lived a
us periods we’ve never actually lived a
us periods we’ve never actually lived a life that others might want to consider
life that others might want to consider
life that others might want to consider so at the end of the day if we
so at the end of the day if we
so at the end of the day if we understand philosophy as a way of life
understand philosophy as a way of life
understand philosophy as a way of life we understand faithfulness then as a
we understand faithfulness then as a
we understand faithfulness then as a task for a lifetime we don’t then get
task for a lifetime we don’t then get
task for a lifetime we don’t then get that partnership buy that house achieve
that partnership buy that house achieve
that partnership buy that house achieve that goal succeed in our retirement
that goal succeed in our retirement
that goal succeed in our retirement plans and then get up the next day and
plans and then get up the next day and
plans and then get up the next day and wonder now what we instead recognize
wonder now what we instead recognize
wonder now what we instead recognize that every day is an invitation to
that every day is an invitation to
that every day is an invitation to continue moving forward my wife and I we
continue moving forward my wife and I we
continue moving forward my wife and I we got married said something to each other
got married said something to each other
got married said something to each other in our wedding vows it was a very simple
in our wedding vows it was a very simple
in our wedding vows it was a very simple line but for me it encapsulates
line but for me it encapsulates
line but for me it encapsulates everything I do as a philosopher come
everything I do as a philosopher come
everything I do as a philosopher come let’s walk together and talk along the
let’s walk together and talk along the
let’s walk together and talk along the way it’s the way that matters not just
way it’s the way that matters not just
way it’s the way that matters not just where we end up thank you all so much
where we end up thank you all so much
where we end up thank you all so much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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