Introduction to Philosophy lecture 6

Today we discussed Richard Rorty's Love and Money including along the way a summary of the Four Loves by C. S. Lewis, and a summary of Leibniz'view of the universe as the Best of all Possible Worlds. (This included a bit regarding Voltaire's Candide - we watched a bit of Kristen Chenowith singing the aria Glitter and be Gay from Bernstein's American musical based on Candide - and note that Dr Pangloss is - everyone knows - meant as Leibniz.) In defense of Leibniz' argument I suggest the position of Brian Greene describing this universe as the only one in the multiverse that can support planets, suns, and life, as essentially what Leibniz would mean as well. So God loves the world and us making everything possible but not in the sense that everyone has everything they would like = which is impossible even for God. Going back to Rorty the amazing point he makes which he admits is depressing but none the less what we have to get used to, is the realization that technology is not going to overcome the Malthusian theory that plague, famine, war, and so on, are all part of God's nature and so we should give up on "The South" by which Rorty means the southern hemisphere - but including places like India where families follow the Weberian argument that they need at least eight children to have at least two boys to carry on the family. Depressing. So what about happiness and love? Does love require money? My quiz question is what is your happiest memory? And others I mentioned along the way to depression included Thomas Piketty, Thomas Malthus, and who else? Malcolm Gladwell, the Beatles, and someone mentioned The News. Oh, and I totally forgot to turn on the camera today. Hence my attempt at a more encompassing summary of what I brought up in class.