Join us in Auerbach Hall Room 320 or online this Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., for our next meeting of the Philosophy Club as Philosopher Brian Skelly reads and leads discussion on “The Commoditization of Discourse—Sound-Bytes for Sale, Government as Free Market."
Questions? Contact Brian Skelly at bskelly@hartford.edu or 413.273.2273.
Most of us have heard about the “invisible hand” of Adam Smith. It is a force that somehow manages to maximize the collective economic good even while each player—whether an individual or a group—competes in the marketplace for its own self-interest in the buying and selling of commodities. Somehow it is the tug-of-war balance between the many self-interested players that produces optimum results as long as we don’t interfere with the “natural” processes of the market, for example, by excessive government regulation.
We do have our disagreements about which regulations are vital and which are not for a successful market, and this may change with the times. Yet, it does seem clear enough that Smith had a point. For example, we don’t expect market prices to be set by moral argument except perhaps in the direst of cases. To be sure, the effects upon each of us separately of moral arguments may add to the spin and trajectory of our own market activities, thus affecting the market indirectly. But we certainly do not expect such facts about the market as price, quality, and quantity in general to be determined in the same way that we seek to determine other matters in the moral realm; that is, by truth-oriented discourse.
In the meantime, it has been an unsettled matter—and in the past century more decidedly so—where the political realm stands between the market value and truth value. For the longest time, it has seemed to be teetering between the two. The general rule had been that campaigns would be run as advertisement campaigns with little to do with truth, but that later on, the business of governing would go back to being a matter of conscience. Nonetheless, little by little, governing itself became more and more subsidiary to campaigning. To a large extent this process has now been completed, to the point at which discourse has become entirely commoditized, with nothing being said except for its market value, truth no longer being of any consideration. Instead, personhood itself has been branded. The truth ever being spoken would be utterly accidental. It is the cash value of speech that is now king. Say what sells you, what gets you into power, then once power is gained, act to retain it. Speech is all slogan, all sales pitch. Elections are actually won this way. (Complete Document attached)
The University of Hartford Philosophy Club has an informal, jovial atmosphere. It is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group.
Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses.
Come and go as you wish. Bring friends. Suggest topics and activities. Take over the club! It belongs to you! Just show up!