An Unusual Ad for an Unusual Philosophy Job (updated)
Are you interested in philosophy, gardens, and profit? If so—and if you don’t think Plato is a better philosopher than Aristotle—then read on for details about an exciting opportunity [though be sure to see the update at the end of this post].
A reader sent in a recent advertisement at PhilJobs for a position as Director of Philosophy at Lyceum Gardens, a “for-profit enterprise” with a mission to incentivize people “to build gardens and host discussions for income.”
The ad provides some background:
During the first half of the 19th Century, a Lyceum Movement occurred across the United States, creating approximately 5000 Lyceums from coast to coast. Lyceum-Gardens intends to restart this movement by providing guidance and instructions to those wishing to sit down and discuss the world in reasoned and polite ways. We have conducted over 100 discussions already to very high praise.
Based on its success so far, they say,
we are developing a garden and philosophical guide and will take other steps to advocate for and assist with developing Lyceums of intelligent discussion spaces. Our premise is that everyone is a philosopher, and we only need a receptive forum for people to express themselves away from the satellite-type one-way broadcasts of our digital world. Our discussions provide feedback and questions in real time as opposed to the anonymous environment of our digital world.
What’s the job, though?
This is the start of this organization with very grand expansion plans. Still, for now, anyone involved will be tasked with everything that needs doing from ordering paperclips to writing blogs, organizing and conducting meetings, and many other responsibilities, including travel and raising additional funds for expansion.
It’s a creative idea for a business, and the job sounds like it could be an interesting combination of philosophy and entrepreneurship.
Further, Lyceum Gardens says they’re “flexible about workload, location, and other aspects of the position.”
But there’s one thing they’re not flexible about:
Our approach is based on ARISTOTLE, and an in-depth knowledge of his Organon, Rhetoric, and Ethics is REQUIRED for this position.
And in case that wasn’t sufficiently clear, an addendum was made to the ad:
No Platonists need apply.
You can learn more about the philosophical views of the founders of Lyceum Gardens here.
UPDATE: A philosopher shared with me their interaction with the founder of Lyceum Gardens, Steven Easley. Apparently he seems to strongly identify with Aristotle—perhaps as Aristotle. He expresses very negative opinions about professional philosophers. He reacted obnoxiously when this philosopher talked about their work, and when the philosopher sought to end the interaction, he called them names and made other insulting remarks. Applicants beware!
Doesn’t sound like a very Ideal job.
All gardens are just footwalks to Plato’s
Regarding garden philosophy, surely there’s only one authority.
This is so cracked. The Lyceum was a temple, vs. the groves of Academus. Plato gang rise up.
That is somewhat ironic because Plato encouraged dialogue and the private part of the Academy was his garden and home — while the Aristotle we know did not favor dialogue but the lecture and declarative treatise.
See my article A Short History of Plato’s Academy for the historical data on Plato’s garden and some nice photos of the nearby Academy Park.
Aristotle wrote plenty of dialogues. We’ve just lost them. He even wrote a dialogue (the Protrepticus) defending Academic philosophy against attacks coming from Isocrates’ school.
You really want a teacher who loses his dialogues?
Yes, much more than I want a teacher unaware that any dialogues have been lost…
Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas…
Theophrastus is clearly the man for this job. Solid Aristotelian credentials. Knows a thing or two about plants.
You don’t get an office; only a walking track.
“Our premise is that everyone is a philosopher.” Except Plato.
Think it coincidence that The Onion is grown in a garden?
So do I take this job or the job at Australian Catholic University? Tough decisions…
Hmm a philosopher not open to debate… What a good boss
These kind of folks usually think they are Socrates returned, so, I guess this is a nice change.
Someone send our friend Lloyd Gerson’s book Aristotle and Other Platonists
OMG I might be qualified for this job. I worked as an Aristotelian philosopher of maths, in an Aristotelian school in the philosophy of maths some time after presenting a paper on Aristotle at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and then visiting Aristotle’s birthplace in ancient Stagira to inhale the vibes & swim in the same Aegean sea. Is this Aristotelian enough? It is all true actually. 😉
It gets even weirder if you search for the Lyceum Gardens address on Google maps …
Please refer to the book titled Founding Gardeners, by Andrea Wulf.