Why Philosophy? Migdalia Arcila-Valenzuela

Philosophy, the Discipline of Disobedience

What is philosophy to you? 

The Colombian philosopher Fernando González once said that philosophy consists in “living as an enemy” (vivir a la enemiga), and I couldn’t agree more with his dictum. Vivir a la enemiga means to live in a constant state of criticism, it means being willing to look directly, and with the most rigorous gaze, at questions that might be not only difficult but often uncomfortable. For me, there is an inherent rebellious nature in philosophy that makes it the discipline of disobedience, which is not to say the discipline of disorder since a serious commitment to questioning everything and everyone also requires a commitment to rigor, attention to detail, and intellectual honesty.

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How were you first introduced to philosophy? 

My interest in philosophy started in high school, when I read for the first time Immanuel Kant’s short essay What is Enlightenment? I ended up grappling with Kant after I had a bad knee injury that made it impossible for me to go to my ballet classes for three months. Since I had some free time after school, I decided to join a reading group organized by my philosophy teacher. I remember how puzzled I was then by the fact that after two hours of active discussion, we still had questions. This possibility of opening endless conversations was what struck me as unique about philosophy.

How do you practice philosophy today? 

As a graduate student, I spend my days trying to learn the intricacies of philosophy as a professional discipline. Unlike my first encounter with philosophy, which was all about asking endless questions, I think that a big part of embracing this discipline as a profession is trying to come up with answers to some of those questions. Then, writing, as a way to articulate answers and possible solutions to philosophical puzzles, is a big part of my day.

Why is philosophy important to you? 

Philosophy has given me the luxury to pause and think. Having the possibility to think things through instead of just rushing through life is a huge privilege. So, philosophy is important to me because it gives me the time and tools to consider things carefully. Investing that time and applying those tools comes with the responsibility of understanding the questions and issues that matter the most.

What books, podcasts, or other media would you recommend to anyone interested in philosophy? 

I recommend Aimé Césaire’s Discourse on Colonialism since it is an excellent example of what I have in mind when I say that the tools of philosophy should be applied to questions of great relevance, and it is beautifully written! Also, I recommend Frist Dream (Primero Sueño) by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Actually, I recommend all of Sor Juana’s work, but in particular, this poem is an amazing exploration of the intricacies of epistemology.

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Migdalia Arcila-Valenzuela is a graduate student in the Sage School of Philosophy at Cornell University. Before coming to the United States, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Literature from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia. Later, she achieved a Master’s in Philosophy from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Her primary research areas are moral psychology, Latin American philosophy, and social epistemology. She has published, both in English and Spanish, on topics related to epistemic injustice and oppression. Some of her other academic interests include the history of medicine and the history and philosophy of psychology.

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