Mind Massage

"Mind massage" is the term that Zach used to describe a philosophical discussion we had one day.

Zach had attended a weekly "cafe philo" that I conduct (discussed in another section below).

The topic for this one was "do you know what you think you know?"

After the session, Zach remarked to me he had really enjoyed the discussion and that it had felt like a mind massage.

So what is this thinking thing that I like to do ?

I don't know.

But I know that "mind massage" is a good description for it.

I like to question what we think we know, and I like to try find answers to the questions.

Some might call it philosophy, but I like to think of it as a bit more practical. Practical philosophy if you will. It's an exercise, a practice which might - or might not - lead to a level of skill.

I guess I see this reflective thinking as a kind of mental yoga designed to stretch sclerotic neurons.

And I while I have probably been doing this all my life, I have become a little more focused on it in recent years.

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Are those who speak for the "common good" right?

In 2014, I completed a Masters in Arts in philosophy.

My thesis paper was entitled "In defence of doubt" and focused on posing a challenge to social marketers and public health agencies who claim that they operate for "the greater good."

In the paper, I focus on the public health crisis around obesity, and the question of the ethicality of public programmes that may combat obesity, but limit the moral agency of individuals.

In the first instance, I highlight that the problem of public obesity is a complex problem. While the media and popular opinion readily point a finger at the offending parties (e.g., "Big Food"), the problem is actually systemic which is to say that it is an unfortunate and unintended consequence of a complex system that has done much to provide an abundance of food to people at remarkably cheap prices.

Of course there are some marketers that cheat and callowly exploit the weaknesses of their customers.

I do not characterise these operators as "evil", but rather, as reckless, thoughtless, and inconsiderate. They emerge inevitably because there are virtually always some humans who some of the time will seek to help themselves, even if it contributes to the unhappiness of others.

I resist the label of "evil" because as we have seen in the obesity crisis, when a food marketer does try to promote moderation, they are often pilloried for doing "too little too late" or for subversively seeking to promote even further sales.

It is the righteousness of the media, popular opinion, social marketers and public health advocates that I challenge.

How do they know that what they are doing is right?

And perhaps here, you can see the link to the cafe philo session that Zach attended: "Do you know what you think you know?"

So, my paper focused on the alleged "good" that the social marketers and health policy advocates promote.

Social marketers and public health agencies are certainly not opposed to marketing. They eagerly use marketing to promote the public good.

They even engage in more nefarious marketing practices to reach their ends.

Just one example is the use of "puffery" which in marketing, refers to exaggerated claims that no-one is likely to challenge. A laundry detergent that is "whiter than white." Or Crown Lager, "Australia's Finest".

The term "obesity epidemic" was coined by the World Health Organization in a 2000 report entitled "Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic."

"Obesity epidemic" is puffery. Obesity is not a contagious disease! (It is also noteworthy albeit a little pedantic that WHO chose to use "epidemic" which is generally understood to mean widespread disease whereas the correct term is "pandemic." But either way, obesity is not an infectious disease).

Prospective Studies Collaboration (2009)

There are other more technical issues such as not giving the whole picture. Of course the whole situation is more complex, but then, real world truth is complex.

For instance, while we may all have BMI of ~20 in our heads as the ideal (18.5-25 is labelled "normal"), it is better to be overweight (25-30) than underweight.
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(As an aside, it may be noted by the more technical readers that the link between BMI and mortality is based on observational rather than experimental data. And as students of statistics are repeatedly told and repeatedly ignore: "correlation does not equal causation").

The issue is that social marketers and and public health agencies believe that their ends are good. But does this justify any means? Are they allowed to use puffery, incomplete information, and even deception to achieve their ends?

Much of this hinges around the ends. Is obesity the big problem that we are told it is?

In 2018, over 5 million children under the age of five died worldwide. Many of them from under-nutrition. Obesity may be harmful, but it takes a few years off the longevity of those who have lived way more than five years.

Not surprisingly perhaps, few of my social marketing or public health friends are very interested in this argument. And this itself perhaps highlights how difficult it is to tackle angry, polarised polemics. 
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See how this links to the many other angry, polarised arguments that there are in the world?

<20 p="">Constructive debate needs open minds, and someone who "knows" is not very open. Uncertainty is not a very popular position.

<20 p="">And so we see the trouble of polemics. Neither side will admit they are "wrong"! Not in terms of their knowledge, nor in terms of their morality (which is typically justified by their beliefs about what is true).

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The Symposium - drinking & thinking

In 2017, I took up an opportunity to lead a discussion group, a cafe philo called The Symposium.

The word 'symposium' means a drinks party that typically followed a meal in ancient Greece. The Symposium is therefore, a perfect word for a thinking and drinking event.

And cafe philo (short for cafe philosophique) is a term that describes philosophical discussion groups that started in Paris in 1992.

The Symposium (on the Gold Coast) was begun by a young philosopher at Bond University. As he pulled back (to focus on his studies), I continued with weekly discussions on what I like to think of as "practical philosophy".

The venue is a surf life saving club in North Kirra on the southern end of the Gold Coast. We regularly see 10 or more people show up to discuss a wide range of topics.

Ongoing meetings and topics are now announced at Mewe.com and also at cafesphilo.org.

If you are ever in town on a Friday, feel free to come along and join the discussion.

And in case you were wondering, we mostly drink coffee.

And sometimes hang out afterwards for a beer or wine for ongoing discussions.

And therefore, we abide by the worldwide public health recommendations to "think before you drink".

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Delivering Socrates to Sartre in Hong Kong

In early 2019, on fairly short notice, I was asked if I would be available to cover for someone from Macquarie University by teaching a intensive, two-weekend course covering Western philosophy (ancient Greece to existentialism).

Hell yeah!

I stayed in Wan Chai for the first weekend, and then moved myself out to Banyan Bay (Yung Shue Wan) on the northern end of Lamma Island which is reached by a 20 minute ferry from Central.

I spoke of this place in a post in 2017 about the various wilderness sites of Hong Kong. I still highly recommend Lamma Island. Twenty minutes from Central, no cars, and away from the crowded busyness of HK.

The students appreciated the cafe philo type atmosphere where we discussed various questions, and how other philosophers had sought to address those questions. We even shared a little glass of wine or sparkling elderberry to lubricate our loquaciousness!

I hope to go again in 2020 - but that depends on whether Macquarie University will approve travel to Hong Kong in view of the recent protests and civil unrest there.

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But wait, there's more

If you got to this point, you might have half a mind to explore a blog that expands on these and related philosophical questions: www.halfamind2.com.