Magic Hat #9

In which I ramble over what "rambling" is.

It's been a little over a week since my last post, so here's a new one.

I missed my review on an Affligem Blonde because I drank it all away from a computer. Oh well. Tonight I have lined up a review of the Magic Hat "Not so pale ale" #9 as well as some meta-philosophy. That's right, I'm going to talk about the philosophy of philosophy. Buckle up.

If you're reading this, you're either a friend or facebook acquaintance, lover of beer, or lover of philosophy. Being a lover of beer is fairly self explanatory. Plenty of people like beer. They understand the purpose of beer: to taste good and provide alcoholic inebriation. That is what beer is. The essence of beer. That which is what beer is and will be as some rather obtuse meta-physicist might put. Beer of course has a very real definition related to hop, malt, and grain content; specific range for percent alcoholic content, and of course the brewing process. This all helps define beer physically, but its purpose is left to the general public, not the law. The very thought-processes can help define other physical objects. A classic exercise is to define a chair. What is a chair? Does it necessarily have four legs and a back? Or is it rather defined by its purpose, to hold and individual up at an elevated height when he is in a seated position? What about floor cushions? Stools? Rather large rocks?

What happens when a "chair" has less than the usual four legs? Does it loose any of its "chair-ness" when a leg is subtracted? And if the "chair's" leg is broken, no longer able to support weight. Can it no longer be called a chair? Is it now a lump of material in some form resembling a chair? When is a "chair" really a work of art?

We all have past experiences that deal with chairs, so we all have an idea of what constitutes "chair-ness" (unless you grew up in some chair-depraved commune). The problem arises when we try and compare our own ideas of what "chair-ness" really is. We can't agree!

This ties in neatly with the beer I'm currently sampling. The #9 is difficult to define. Magic Hat claims the beer was brewed in the style of a pale ale, but not quite. It's a round beer, with prominent mouth-feel. An envelope of flavors that begin in the nose transition neatly into a mid-taste climax, then a thoughtful after-taste. Apricots all the way down. And cream. Plently of wheaty-sweetness as well. This is not a pale ale. Not a lager. Not an amber. 5.1% ABV is almost a non-factor in the taste. Lots of sweetness, but you're eased into it. Another great summer night companion, and actually the one I prefer over last week's Summerfest!

Now what about philosophy? How is philosophy like a chair? For starters, that brief exercise we had at attempting to define "chair-ness" is an example of applied philosophy. Personally, philosophy is the very same as meta-cognition. Analyzing how humanity analyzes. Thinking about thought. Exploring the conceptual and learning new ways about interpreting the meta-physical universe (not the physical one, that's called science). Of course, there are many different conflicting definitions and interpretations as to just what philosophy is. Probably a different subtle interpretation of that word as there are humans on the planet! But we can get a general idea of just what philosophy is for.

Philosophy helps give us the reason why. Why what? Why anything. Why "science" is based upon observation, experimentation, interpretation, and explanation. The scientific method was developed out of philosophy. Greek philosophers Thalus, Socrates, and Aristotle are often credited with laying the foundation of and then helping define methods of discovering new universal truths via induction. Various forms of empiricism can be found in ancient Egyptian astronomy and Islamic physics. Of course ancient syllogism was replaced by more formalized logic systems (for homework look up Francis Bacon) but still Bacon can be thought of as a philosopher of science. He wanted to know how best to interpret the data the universe was providing and so devised a logic system.

Philosophy is not just navel-gazing tripe of "who are we," and "why are we here," but a useful tool in improving everyday lives. Modern forms of capitalism are in part derived from the works of philosophers of economics: David Hume, Adam Smith, and Karl Marx among them. They helped to define what economics is. What a market is. What money is. Ethics is another very important branch of philosophy as it helps to define what is right and good. I'll probably address some ethical systems later in this blog so I won't go too in depth now.

I guess then, when you boil everything down, philosophy can be a rather difficult, bothersome, and head-aching means to define. To really make sure what you're sitting on isn't just a form of metal, plastic and fabric, but a chair.

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

"Stranger, here you will do well to tarry; here our highest good is pleasure."

-Epicurus

Welcome friends and strangers to my humble corner of the vast Internet. Here you will not find answers to long-sought questions, meaningful resolutions to life's mysteries, or even an educated opinion on many of the philosophies presented. Instead, you will read what I think, not Descartes or Nietzsche or Hegel or even one of the countless Greek philosophers like Socrates, Aristotle, or Plato. Quotations of course will come in handy as they help lend a small air of authority and expertise on whatever subject I'm exploring at the time, but don't expect and in-depth explanation. If you want that you'll need to pick up an actual book. 


So now that I've gone over the "Philosopher" part of this blog's title, I feel the need to address the "Bar-Stool" half.   You see, I enjoy a good drink. Beer to be precise. A finely crafted ale, stout, porter, or pilsner can make any day just that much better. Therefore, on top of whatever philosophical topic I choose to explore, I will be reviewing and describing a beer I'll be drinking at the time (the heading of the particular entry will key you in on what). 


Further, I feel the modern-day philosopher is more often found perched on his bar-stool, bar glass in one hand, and speaking, sometimes with great enthusiasm, to whatever audience he can find. Friends, this is not the "Armchair Philosopher" you have stumbled across. The "Armchair Philosopher" is removed from his surroundings, comforted only by his down cushioning, and himself as his only company. The "Bar-stool" man is passionate about his drink and about his life. He lives and breaths and works as an honest man does. He struggles, he dreams, he weeps, and he rejoices. He too is prone to fits of "navel-gazing," a stereotype that plagues philosophy's image, but he recognizes it for what it is (thanks in part to his inebriation). I am not that man yet, but I hope in time that I may adopt some aspect of that "Bar-Stool Philosopher." I will learn and uncover, and at the same time, enjoy some of life's great pleasures. 


Well, now that's out of the way, I'll just take a brief moment to write about Sierra Nevada's seasonal, the Summerfest. A light, sour pilsner filled with citrus and lemon flavor, I am instantly reminded of a tall glass of lemonade. The beer is named well, for I would never consider a beer with these flavors outside the months of June and July. But now, it works. I find myself enjoying the beer despite myself. Plus, there's a lightning storm going on outside, so I appreciate the slight irony of enjoying this beer despite the weather. It's simple pleasure, one that would never hold up with the burden that comes with colder months: with school work and exams and other responsibilities. 


I'll take this small description of pleasure to lead into a small section on Epicurus, the philosopher I chose to headline my very first post. One of the post-Socratic Greek philosophers, Epicurus was a key figure in the global scientific revolution occurring at the time: helping to establish the foundations of the scientific method and analytic ways of thinking and interpreting the world. He too is sometimes unfairly associated with hedonistic philosophies, of the relentless pursuit of pleasure as the key to a morally "good" life. However, Epicurean philosophy is subtly different, as it dictates the reduction of suffering and pain, and in the absence of suffering, pleasure and peace of mind is found. The utilitarians adapted Epicurus' concept of morality in their ethical system and so preach the maximization of pleasure and minimization of pain as the greatest possible good one can do. 


How does the Summerfest tie into Epicurus' beliefs? It certainly is a small pleasure, brewed with just such a purpose in mind, but it could never be my exclusive drink. Pleasure is only known through suffering. Only experiencing one or the other is to know neither. In fact, the Greeks coined a term for being without either pain or pleasure: ataraxia, a state of perfect lucidity and mental peace. Bollocks I say. To be human is to have mental turmoil and dismay. To experience both pain and pleasure. It's all well and good to pursue a higher ideal, but to do so would remove oneself from the human condition, to experience godliness. To become sacred and blessed and unconcerned with worldly, human things. Why would anyone wish themselves such a fate?


I feel I've rambled on quite enough, and my glass is near empty so now's a perfect time to draw this entry to a close. What I quoted in the opening is true enough, the greatest good I can provide you is but pleasure. Not satisfaction or satiation. Perhaps that will be good enough. Certainly good enough for me, for what higher good can we ask for? What greater good exists for our humble mortal selves? I can't seem to think of any at the moment, so feel free to do so yourselves. Remember, the bar-stool philosopher is not without an audience, and they too are free to think for themselves.