Why Philosophy? Eric Kaplan
Philosophy Responds to What Unsettles Us
What is philosophy to you?
An open, questioning response to things in life that unsettle me or make me wonder.
How were you first introduced to philosophy?
My father told me: that science asks the question of what something is, while philosophy asks the question of why it is. Then I came across some philosophy books in the local library. I became a tour guide for the Museum of Philosophy in New York City when I was 15.
How do you practice philosophy today?
I think about questions, do a podcast, and occasionally give talks.
Why is philosophy important to you?
It functions in my life a bit like a religion – it’s where I put big concerns that don’t get completely expressed in my professional and family lives. What does it all mean? Where is it all going? How should I live? How should I treat people? Who am I? Stuff like that.
What books, podcasts, or other media would you recommend to anyone interested in philosophy?
I encourage people not to discard anything as not worthy of philosophical consideration. Even self-help and new age books, inarticulate people, and ideas that seem confused. Even the occult or music or therapy or other ways of relating to people that don’t yet have a name. It’s all on the way to something.
Eric Kaplan is a philosopher and writer. He has written for Futurama, The Flight of the Conchords, The Big Bang Theory, and Young Sheldon, and his stories have appeared in The New York Times. He is also the author of the book Does Santa Exist?: A Philosophical Investigation and the creator with Taylor Carman of the Terrifying Questions podcast.