Dialogue
July 21st, 2020
Starring: Philosopher 1, Philosopher 2
The Philosophers, in togas, are taking a stroll.
PHILOSOPHER 1
Have we begun?
PHILOSOPHER 2
I intend to now.
...
While I was in the bath, a lingering thought of mine formed into a rather intriguing question.
PHILOSOPHER 1
What is the matter of?
PHILOSOPHER 2
One of culture.
Let us imagine there is an individual who is educated, well-read, well-traveled, and has a deep understanding of communities, stories, peoples, and cultures beyond their own.
Would you say that individual is cultured?
PHILOSOPHER 1
Without a doubt they are cultured.
PHILOSOPHER 2
Yes.
Then let us imagine there is another individual who is educated, well-read, well-traveled, and has a deep understanding of the communities, stories, and peoples, and cultures, but only of the cultures they are from. They know nothing of any other.
Would you say that individual is also cultured?
PHILOSOPHER 1
Without a doubt they are also cultured.
PHILOSOPHER 2
Yes.
Now which of the two is of a higher culture?
PHILOSOPHER 1
Ah.
Well I believe it depends on how one defines the concept of cultured.
Are we more inclined to be more cultured if one knows a good deal about many things, or a great deal about few?
PHILOSOPHER 2
So culture is a matter of quality versus quantity?
PHILOSOPHER 1
Certainly in how being cultured is viewed from a societal perspective.
PHILOSOPHER 2
Only a certain echelon of individual is concerned with the concept of being cultured.
Is that what you mean?
PHILOSOPHER 1
It is. To that echelon, it appears to be a common badge of honor to be knowledgeable about worlds beyond one’s own.
PHILOSOPHER 2
And is that enough? To be considered cultured because there is a curiosity, not based on the level of knowledge about it?
PHILOSOPHER 1
Yes.
PHILOSOPHER 2
But what of the echelons who do not have the time or resources to worry about matters of culture, or becoming moreso? Are they not active participants and have a deep understanding of their culture?
PHILOSOPHER 1
They do.
PHILOSOPHER 2
Then perhaps it is a matter of awareness. We define cultured people by their decision to want to become more aware, more cultured.
PHILOSOPHER 1
But does that make them more cultured because they are aware?
PHILOSOPHER 2
That is the popular conclusion, yes.
PHILOSOPHER 1
Perhaps it is the popular conclusion because it is easier to see. But as you asked, are they truly more cultured than those who are less aware of their cultured nature?
PHILOSOPHER 2
Yes, but not because they necessarily are. They are only more cultured because a person cannot be seen as more cultured if they have no desire to be more or less cultured than they are.
PHILOSOPHER 1
Perhaps that is another assumption.
PHILOSOPHER 2
But we cannot assume the opposite.
PHILOSOPHER 1
But who are we then? Do we not consider ourselves well read, well traveled, curious for knowledge, wanting to be cultured ourselves? That conclusion can only be made because we are aware of how cultured we want to be.
PHILOSOPHER 2
Yes. But we have to have an awareness and a knowledge to even consider an alternative perspective to begin with.
PHILOSOPHER 1
I believe these conversations are being had by those who are less cultured and aware. Perhaps they are just not trying to do so, or are aware of it.
PHILOSOPHER 2
But we are not unaware, so we cannot know.
PHILOSOPHER 1
I suppose not.
PHILOSOPHER 2
I suppose so too.
…
PHILOSOPHER 1
Shall we end?
PHILOSOPHER 2
Yes.
That is a difficult one.
PHILOSOPHER 1
It is.
Do you still feel this job is worth doing?
PHILOSOPHER 2
Most days, yes. But sometimes I wonder.
PHILOSOPHER 1
I wonder too.
But wondering is good.
Wondering is very good.