Why ‘100 Years [to Live]’ = The Philosopher’s Song
‘Death may be the greatest of all human blessings’ — Socrates
I. Philosophy — the Music of ‘Why’
Plato once called philosophy the highest music. Yet Beethoven was of the view — music is “a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.”
Perhaps when played at the highest level, music is what wisdom sounds like and the lyrics are philosophy. And there’s no better example of this trinity — music, wisdom and philosophy — than The Philosopher’s Song, 100 Years.
Years ago a buddy of mine, Antony, asked about my love for Sophia. “You know,” he said, “they say, um, ‘Philosophy bakes no bread.’ ”
I nodded. “True, you don’t need philosophy to survive, but without philosophy — you’ll never know why you even care to survive.” I winked. “As Nietzsche once put it:
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
“Care to elaborate?” he asked.
I flashed a smile. “Notice the following theme: she laughed because … he’s in a good mood because … I’m talking to you because …”
He waved me on.
