Matthew McConaughey & Lincoln 3
The Philosopher’s Obstacle
What is the goal of philosophy? Often, it is proposed that philosophy’s contribution to the world is to sharpen the questions we use to purse knowledge. This is valuable. But what is it without a problem to consider?
Here, we see the formation of perhaps the most iconic paradoxes of all: the immovable object against an unstoppable force. Here, we have the bull and a Lincoln. They are matched, one-to-one in their inevitable combat. They look at each other.
The philosopher speaks. Hear him:
“That’s a big bull. I think that’s (ol’ (?)) Osiris. Eighteen-hundred pounds of ‘do whatever the heck I want.’ I can respect that. Take the long way, eh? Thank you, ‘siris.”
How is he able to say “old” and “Osiris” at the same time? “Ol’siris?
Not only is this philosophic because of the western scenery (and therefore a reference to his space-cowboy stoicism in Interstellar), but the music sounds like a Chinese pipa, making it even more philosophical.
This one shows philosophy in action in perhaps its most classic sense. Nothing is happening and yet everything is going on.
Without reason, this philosopher has named the bull Osiris (Naming things is a trope we won’t explore here), the ancient Egyptian god of life, death, and agriculture. The bull, obstructing the philosopher’s path is there to say “life gets like this sometimes, man.” The bull, a stand-in for nature, “the world,” is just there. It is standing in one of the two lanes of the road, effectively (and apparently) blocking the entire path.
So it goes.
The philosopher in his car, is now faced with a decision. What is to be done when the path is closed? The philosopher evokes a full conversation on behalf of the bull. The bull seems to tell him that life doesn’t turn out the way you think it would sometimes, and then the philosopher leaves, having gained the wisdom of the obstacle.
What is the philosopher to do? Like a true pop-stoic, he realizes that he has no control over the “nature of things” and leaves, resolving to enjoy “the long way.” Thankfully, he has a nice car.
More soon,
Trevor