Humpty Joins Weasels: Toad Hall to Fall?

Newfoundlander Rick Mercer ranting about government mendacity.

Are you fed up with the rise of disinformation? Believe weasel words and Humpty Dumptyisms belched out by government and corporations smother truth like a miasma?  Then pull Philosophy off its pedestal and make it personal. Draw a line in the sand and listen to some modern philosophers.

Alain de Botton's practical The Consolations of Philosophy¹ illuminates our path to consolation by pairing some of the greats with a common problem. He puts it all into context through his wonderful examples of a man desperately in need of advice -- himself.

Courtesy GoodReads

Think for yourself and ignore the ill-informed critic (Socrates) and take pleasure in simple things (Epicurus). Drop that misguided sense of justice; the universe doesn't operate on moral grounds (Seneca) and allow Montagne's help your loneliness. Don't equate love with happiness (Schopenhauer), but strive to find joy (Nietzsche).

"When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less." Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass)

Tongue-tied when asked a deliberately confusing question? Why not do the unexpected and give a frank answer? It's easy, watch de Botton:

Not the answers you'd expect from a Philosopher.

Offering pertinent advice in an easy-to-read format, Consolations provides much more than an enjoyable introduction to Western philosophy. I would have preferred colour to the black-and-white pictures studded throughout my paperback's text, but you can't have everything. As Consolations reminds us, the grass is always more verdant on the other side of the fence:

"If Alain de Botton weren’t a friend of mine, I think I would probably hate him. In fact, I know I would hate him because even when he wasn’t as disgustingly famous and successful as he is now, I found myself loathing his guts on principle." James Delingpole (Spectator)

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Courtesy GoodReads

Business School taught me you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Higher education is too late in the continuum for instilling ethics. However, it can teach pragmatism, the logistics of putting ideals into action.

In the Agora of difference between theory and practice, I struck gold with philosopher Martin Cohen's 101 Ethical Dilemmas. These pertinent predicaments are not trick questions, and Cohen's topical remarks comprise a significant portion of the book.  Given the situation, the pros and the cons, you make the final decision. Here's to hoping yours pass the smell test.

"[A] chatty, jokey journey through philosophical dilemmas ancient and modern: from magic rings and frog kings to designer babies and the photocopier's dilemma." Fred Pearce (New Statesman)

Back in the barnyard, moo-ve on to Julian Baggini's The Pig that Wants to Be Eaten: 100 Experiments for the Armchair Philosopher. Inside, you may be lured by its user-friendly look. A 101 Ethical Dilemmas Lite. If Pig were truly a downmarket book, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe² reference would have been nixed. Don't be fooled, the quandaries and discussions aren't shallow. As a bonus, Baggini provides some background sources for his dilemmas.

This animal has class. Watch him expound on vegetarian cruelty:

Meeting the meat at the upscale restaurant. Want casual? Try the
 Big Bang Burger Bar. From The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe (1981).

Courtesy Good Reads

"Baggini offers us a tempting smorgasbord of some of the most baffling, weird and occasionally downright creepy scenarios ever envisaged." Stephen Law (Guardian)

Perfect for the smallest room in the house's bookshelf, neither volume is a cover-to-cover read. Since you're expected to learn as you go along, it's best to stick to the beginning at first. Find the subject a bit daunting? Go for Pig. Otherwise, 101's a more effective use of your money.

Fed up with advice from the feedlot? Try Dilemmas: What Would You Do? A highly portable little tome of the short and sweet, string a few together and everything turns complex. Thought-provoking questions. There's no guidance to help in assessing the situation. You're on your own here.

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Action-oriented? Pick up the the standard in the fight against disinformation and fight fire with fire now! Give your elected representatives a taste of their own obfuscation. Make liberal use of weasel words, Humpty Dumptyisms, buzzwords and fallacious thinking. Better yet, buttonhole any fool on the campaign trail to waste some of their time.

Buttonholed in a bookshop, Rex Murphy's more than happy to let Canada's youth in on the secret of responsible citizenship:

Political pundit Rex Murphy on the current leadership vacuum and thinking for yourself

It's high time loins were girded and the creep of categorical inaccuracy stopped in its tracks. Give Humpty another shove off that wall. Are you with me?

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Notes

¹ The Consolation of Philosophy title was already taken by Boethius.
² Second of the The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe series. And no, that's not a sci-fi pig.
³ " 'Queensland Health has advertised for a Patient Support Officer. Sounds like a counsellor, social worker, advocate, etc. It is in fact a cleaner.' (thanks to Tim Goodwin)" from Weasel Words' Advertising Crimes page.

 See my Taking Back Toad Hall post for information on Toad Hall and tips on how to fight fire with fire.

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Books mentioned

• The Consolations of Philosophy (de Botton's modern spin)
• The Consolation of Philosophy (Boethius' original)
• 101 Ethical Dilemmas
• The Pig that Wants to Be Eaten: 100 Experiments for the Armchair Philosopher
• Restaurant at the End of the Universe
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe (omnibus edition)
• Dilemmas: What Would You Do?