Philosophy in Practice
Current mood: Inspired

I stood at the store, about to purchase pants, my money in hand. When I was about to pay, a man on my right who I had not noticed handed me a 50% off coupon. I looked up at him; he was old, with a white beard, a red tuque, and a red and black plaid jacket. He looked like a lumberjack. He was wearing thick black rimmed glasses. He stood taller than 6 feet, and his large stomach made him a towering figure; he towered over the clerk and myself. The woman had already punched in my pants and she was reluctant to do so again, to subtract the 50%. The man insisted that she do it, and that she go get the manager if need be. '

'You don't understand how the younger generation do not have all the money in the world. If we can save him 8 dollars, than let us save him 8 dollars!'' He said, not forcefully, but firmly.

I looked at his hand to see what he was buying, it was a french copy of Nietzche. The written price was 1.49$. Nietzche isn't worth much more than that, I thought. I understood that he was a Philosopher, and that giving me this deal when it would have saved him 74 cents, was a matter of logic; he was going for the greater good. I asked him ''Have you read Plato's dialogues?'' He nodded. The woman finally punched in the 50% and the man started to leave, he walked out the door and I followed him to thank him. The final thing he said to me was:

"Maybe that's what Plato was talking about when he spoke of the Republic; everyone helping each other. (he made a hand gesture implying the higher levels of society down to the lowest) Perhaps you'll be able to do the same for someone else someday."

Then he walked off.

Adam