Following up on the exhilirating topic “Is Philosophy Bullshit” I’d like to explore more fully this idea of selling Philosophy. Because if philosophy is NOT bullshit, it’s severely underutilized and underappreciated. Most of us question life, reality when we’re young but lose the zest for it as we grow and conform. In our faith-based culture philosophy is the enemy and it shouldn’t be. We all know that philosophy can actually serve to make us MORE spiritual. Acquinas was a philosopher who appreciated Aristotle. Why should Bush be any different? We can ALL benefit from that “Plato’s Cave” moment. Yes it may be futile, but defeatist attitudes are not allowed in the boardroom of a Madison Avenue Ad Agency. Welcome all, you great minds, to the blue sky session. A creative brainstorm. I want ideas, strategies, media approaches, guerilla marketing, logo ideas, celebrity endorsements, merchandising. To cite a cliché, think out of the box. Let’s move some units of Philo and make the world Love Philosophy like we do. In this thread, I am the Exec. Creative Director and the ultimate authority. I will not shoot you down, but I reserve the right to if you’re fucking wrong. Keep it simple. Keep it fast. Keep it furious. Keep it positive. And keep it coming.
Okay you spineless suckups. I’ll start. This is, by the way, not just for creatives. I’m not asking for witty headlines alone. Account Executives, media directors, recpetionists, guys in the mail room, we want to hear from you. We need marketing ideas, thoughts, suggestions, demographics, psychographics in addition to catchy slogans. Point out challenges. Observations. Anything will suffice as long as it’s on the subject of selling Philosophy.
G.,
“We can ALL benefit from that “Plato’s Cave” moment.”
So are you saying we need prettier cave-shadows? Socrates was killed for that kinda shit.
How about
[size=150]Hemlock. It goes down s m o o t h[/size]
Dunamis
I’m saying that if you want to be in this meeting then be positive. I don’t want to get in a debate about whether we can ever actually get out of the cave. The sales message is an invitation to a process. An opening and closing. Even if this means switching out old shadows for new ones. Nobody’s going to get killed. I promise.
Oh, you edited. Hemlock goes down smooth. Funny, but stupid. Hemlock kills. Perhaps a better line would be Got Hemlock? Show various celebrities with a hemlock tea moustache. Nice Dunamis. This is called brainstorming. Go with it.
Gamer,
“Oh, you edited. Hemlock goes down smooth. Funny, but stupid. Hemlock kills.”
I guess you never read the Phaedo, or does the tag have to have anything to do with the message at all? The point is, philosophically it is supposed to go down smooth. Anyways. I’ll just leave your thread there for you to post multiple times on. 
Dunamis
Primadonna. You’re fired. And not because focusing on Hemlock would be poison to our campaign, being a ridiculous way to sell Philosophy – linking suicide or death to the campaign is not the way to lure people into philosophical inquiry. You’re fired because what was once an observant calling out of my over-clever nonsense has become indiscriminate and mean-spirited. As an actual philosopher, I think you’re more of a client than an agency guy, and as such, you’re banned from the meeting. This is not a stage for my ideas. I’m genuinely interested in what you all have to say…if you agree “rational inquiry” is undersold.
Philosophy - science without the laboratory work, literature without the pretentious rhetoric, love without the woman
gamer
How can the world love philosophy if it has lost its heart? I would suggest reading the following book for inspiration. It isn’t about selling philosophy but making it meaningful for the cry that already exists for it. As it is now, it is like having sex with a frigid woman. It looks good at the beginning with the curves in the right places but something is lacking to remain excited about other than the satisfaction of ones imaginary self importance. Try “The Heart of Philosophy” Prof. Needdleman is Professor o fPhilosophy at San Francisco State University
amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de … 6?v=glance
Here’s a review. Take from it what you will:
Reviews
Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Philosophy is alive!, January 20, 1998
Reviewer: A reader
Jacob Needleman is not a bureaucratic philosopher. His teachings are about an intense search for a meaningful life. In this book he talks about some intense experiences in his own life and also with students and their parents. He also presents a very personal overview of occidental philosophy.
Many philosophy teachers of our days are more concerned about formalities and structures of thought. Past philosophies are studied as dead bodies: cut into pieces, dissolved with chemicals, watched through microscopes.
I have already used this book in philosophy seminars for management students, at the University of Campinas, here in Brasil (there is a Portuguese translation). The response was enthusiastic!
Someoneatthedoor, that’s intriguing. It opens up the door for wouldbe intellectuals who have no formal training. You’re right. It’s not rocket science, it’s an accessible skill. Anybody can be a philosopher. Just like anyone can be a pickup basketball player. You really don’t need a technical background, a math background or a literary background to dive right in. Rationality is hardwired in most of us, but it’s just dormant or encumbered sometimes. Anyway, getting into philosophy is easy. Easy is good. The movement you need is on your shoulder.
Nick_A Thanks for the research material, I’ll get my assistant on that right away. I’m trying to steer us to a broader market though. If philosophy buffs feel disenchanted after a certain point, that’s not my concern. I want Joe America to start questioning just a few of the basic assumptions. Real ground level stuff. Ultimately what the client’s after is a simple, introductory criteria for belief, and a pull away from fanatacism of any kind. How can we make philosophy chic to the zeitgeist?
I think it’s undersold for a reason, though. It’s nebulous. In order to succeed in selling a product, you have to be able to differentiate it from the alternatives and clearly show how it is better. With philosophy, you have a shape-shifting platypus that excels at evading definition. For the average consumer, philosophy is associated with doubt and uncertainty, and philosophers are saboteurs out to annihilate their peace of mind and defecate on their whole way of life. How do you make something like that sound appealing?
Perhaps I am too much of a pessimist. So what would work best? Maybe contextualizing. So for your average Coors-swilling woodland game hunter, consider this on a poster featuring a nice 12-point buck: “If a deer falls in the woods, and you’re passed out and smell like piss, does it make a sound?” Does that sound offensive? If so, consider that the defining characteristic of the target audience is that they don’t like to think about things too hard. Philosophy makes them question their most fundamental assumptions, and that is a big no-no. And I don’t blame them. I was a lot happier before I started asking questions about causality and the nature of certainty.
Maybe you need testimonials. “Hello, my name is Scott, and I was once a closed-minded simpleton, content with my limited perspective on reality. Then, a friend turned me on to Philosophy. At first I was skeptical (pun intended!) but after using it twice a day for three weeks, I am now much less certain about the meaning of my life and I’m having less sex than ever before…”
Seriously, I think Ayn Rand’s West Point address is a good starting point. Her subjectivity and arrogance aside, she lays out the practical applications of philosophy quite effectively. Perhaps that film “Crazy People” is also a good start; truth in advertising is the last thing anyone expects, so it’s harder for them to dismiss it out of hand.
El Nuncio…
Shape-shifting platypus that IS the definition. Doubt and uncertainty – the ultimate Extreme Sport. I’m not sure philosophers are perceived as saboteurs…just guys with white beards and togas, or harmless jews or hippies talking shmack. If philosophy is challenging then the challenge is to make it look more accessible. It doesn’t have to explode your world, and I really don’t think people think it will. If they did, kids would be doing philosophy instead of drugs and firecrackers, don’t you think?
The aveage Coors-swilling woodland game hunter is probably already philosophical. I’m talking about average America…but I see your point.
Philosophy shows you how your fundamental assumptions might be wrong, but to put a good spin on that would be to equate it with self-help, which is a category embraced by the populace. But it’s the no-bullshit kind of self-help, or at least that’s a position statement.
In terms of tesimonials, it’s worked before…but I sense you’re being wry here and I don’t like it. Either help or shut up. Philosophers might have more sex. Even orgies. Philosophers have had orgies you know. What about that?
Ayn Rand…good call. “Philosophy: Who Needs It?” Lot of good ideas there. but hers was an out and out assault on religion, too extreme. A little philosophy is fine, we’re not selling fanaticism here. Just a little self-knowledge.
Overall observations are wonderful. Thanks. 
G.,
Either help or shut up.
Nice. This makes good slogan. Direct, straight to the point. I like your work.
Dunamis
Dunamis. That’s out of context. I give him a pile of reactions indicating that I read carefully every word of his post. He makes a joke about philosophers not getting laid which was funny but facetious and steering away from the point and I told him. Get off my back. You’re the one being lazy now.
G.,
Dunamis. That’s out of context.
You don’t get it. Its your style. Toss an insult, end with a compliment. Check out your response to my OP. “Stupid”, etc., like I said, nice.
Dunamis
My point is that it’s a hard sell. Many of the practical benefits are intangibles and the side effects are far worse than bloating, itching, burning of the urinary tract, etc. The honest philosopher is walking on thin ice at all times with the single purpose of finding the weak spots and plunging through into the cold, murky depths. Yes, it is certainly an extreme sport.
The self-help thing is where it’s at, I think. The key is to redefine and re-brand the benefits that are associated with religion, fad diets, positive thinking, etc. Whatever it is about believing in God or Deepak Chopra that makes your life seem better is philosophical in nature. The whole idea of believing in something is philosophical, because it admits of the ability to believe, which goes to free will, determinism, solipsism, etc. Also look at economics. Rich Dad, Poor Dad is economic philosophy. Pragmatism can help one cope with depression and anxiety, or existentialism can make it worse. But, in so doing, it also reaffirms the power of the individual.
Okay, Gamer, here’s what you do.
First you have to take a page from the tobacco industry and get kids hooked when they’re young. Target audience should be teens.
Then you need to glamorize it.
Billboards, magazine ads, etc., everywhere with good stock photography of beautiful, young people sitting and talking, holding those stupid oversized coffee mugs, all looking earnest and quizzical, obviously engaged in fascinating discussions.
Beautiful people, I say. Picture in your mind, in other words, what most of the people here would look like if you met them. Then - go for the exact opposite.
Then, just a simple tag line. Quick and easy and with traction, the kind of thing that’ll stick in somebody’s mind if they see it in a magazine ad, or something they can quickly read on a billboard that they’re passing at 70 miles per hour.
Something like:
[b]Philosophy….
…because maybe there is an answer.[/b]
Where do I send my invoice?
gamer, cheers. i don;t know how is it than most of the time i read something worthwhile here it ends up being either written by you or quoted from you.
but before i start selling out, you have to show me the money.
why should i sell philosophy ? what is there to sell it for ?
superior command of philosophy, in what it was understood to represent a few years back, rethorics and grammar, language and mathematics, logic and physics will make any man you ever meet your lackey and every situation you ever meet a tide to take you wherever you think you’re going. i’m happy with that, and if anyone doesn’t think so, whats it to me to set them straight ?
No invoice, Jerry, you work for me. I have people for that. You do, however, get to keep your job. You’re getting at the crux of it…but you seem to have animosity for our audience. Remember folks, this is a good natured campaign. We believe in it. “Maybe there IS an answer” is a great line for now.
To recap:
Philosophy: The Ultimate Extreme Sport
Philosophy: Self-help for smart people.
Philosophy: Because maybe there IS an answer (w.image campaign)
The idea that philosophy is dangerous is an awesome one. A challenge, like a really hot hot sauce or a really scary movie. “You can’t handle the truth.” Who’s gonna back down to that?
These are some good starts. Still looking for big ideas, guerilla marketing, PR stunts, web tie-ins, market striation. This is only the beginning. I’m not sure how Ben’s gonna pay for all this but we’ll worry about that later.
Zeno, if you have to ask, don’t bother helping. The point is not to debate whether we should sell it. For that please refer to Hermes infamous thread. Thanks, though!
Dunamis, be sure to quote that first line. You still don’t get that I’m mocking an ad exec.
demographics:
sell it to the old, thinking/questioning keeps you young.