Be Philosophers! UC Berkeley Commencement Speech 2024
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ย. 2024
- I had the incredible honor of delivering the commencement address to UC Berkeley Philosophy department's graduating class of 2024 during this time of momentous social upheaval.
As an alumnus who studied under legendary professor Hubert Dreyfus, a pioneer in applying existential phenomenology to critique technology and "Artificial Intelligence" (AI), it was powerful to return and share reflections with these bright young minds.
In my speech, I recounted how studying the work of Bertrand Russell and other great philosophers at Berkeley changed my life. Bert Dreyfus's courses in existentialism opened my eyes to how philosophy embodies everything from our skills to our cultural practices, inspiring me to switch my major and subsequently use film to explore the human condition.
I shared stories from my philosophical journey putting theory into praxis - from studying flamenco in Spain, to making films examining monogamy and technology through an existential lens, to establishing a philosophy conference in Bombay Beach, on the shore of the Salton Sea. I explained how existential anxiety from the groundlessness of existence can transmute into awe and authenticity.
Referencing the courageous student protests against injustice, militarism, and the violent suppression of Palestinian rights that have rocked campuses, I applauded the graduates for embodying philosophy's highest calling by questioning entrenched power structures and assumptions.
Like the great philosophers before them, they must continue to challenge authority, respond authentically to circumstances, and take pride in being of no "value" to the status quo. Their critical thinking and reevaluation of values is urgently needed.
I ended with an encouragement to creatively marry theory and praxis as modeled by philosophers like Dreyfus and Angela Davis, and to embrace the groundlessness of existence with wonder.
Congratulations UC Berkeley Philosophy class of 2024 - go forth, be philosophers and change the world!
Thank you to Alva Noe for the invitation, to Dulcinee DeGuere for help with editing both the speech and the video, to Patrick House for his deep insights, as well as to Mark Wrathall, Eric Kaplan, Aaron Bornstein and Iain Thomson for their suggestions.
This is the advice I wish I was given as a young person. As a 12th grade teacher, I often think about my parting words to my graduates. How do they maintain their humanness in a society designed to squash it? And as adults, don’t we all feel that on some level? This not only encapsulates what I’ve wanted to say, but also uncovered sentiments I didn’t realize I had. And it’s so eloquently and humbly delivered. 10/5 stars, would watch again.
Thank you so much for this comment.
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So inspiring and witty! An appropriate call to action at a decisive time to be radical while embracing “groundlessness,” an overlooked advantage towards flight and freedom. Congrats to all, and especially the Chair of the Philosophy dept for an astute choice of speaker. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Tao! Your commencement speech is so phenomenal!! It’s inspiring, hilarious, radical, and wise. Exactly the advice that this (and every!) graduating class should hear. Excellent job! 🙌💯🏆
Bravo
Thank you!
Whoever asked Tao R. to give the commencement speech is clearly someone who’s on a defining edge in these current times.
Tao is one of those rare people who is leading the charge in redefining how things can be in this 21st century of re-creating our world.
The Class of 2024 was given not only solutions (Art, and the philosophers perspective) to challenges that will be faced, but also the wisdom that it can, and MUST, be FUN!
Step aside, so-called “influencers” with zero street cred: the authentic inspirers day has come!
I really enjoyed listening to this speech, shows me how far we’ve come. This was no, “go out and be a productive member of society” spiel.. This was a “fuck society, find your own passion” speech. I wish that’s what was shared with me when I graduated 30 years ago. It would have validated my intuition as a young, budding rebel to the norm.
Tao, i’m so moved by your speech… I’ve listened to it three times i& each time by the end, my eyes swell up with tears of what it means to really be a teacher and how you communicate this to the students graduating , what was so freely and generously given to you from Professor Dreyfus… that he kept learning as he was teaching and how important it is to always be questioning. How the whoa to wow is a fine tuning we can all do if we can embrace the unbearable lightness of being., not as a bug, but as a part of being. And how one teacher can change the trajectory of our life forever, how crucial it is to share what we learn in life.
Thank you for sharing your insights and what it means to be a philosopher.
Very Good✨ I, Appreciate . 👏🌹Grateful for this Lecture About Philosophical Advice. Goal's Of Human being✨ Life🌌...
The secret covenant