PHILOSOPHY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

PHILOSOPHY.

BY EDNA GXIAH AM MACKT.

We have been deliberately misled by tradition and history to believe that philosophy is the perquisite of men. " Aristotle.'"' Plato, Socrates—a dozen masculine names come to mind, the owners of which have been lauded S'or centuries as very wise men and gre£it philosophers, but what, about their wives, mothers and sisters? We hear nothing whatever about them. Did it not take a larger portion of practical philosophy on ihe part of the ■womenfolk to put up with the whims, vagaries and shortcomings of these sc■called philosophers, so that their light might shine undimnied before the world ? Ib seems to me that there is too much 'Raid about the .candle and not enough iabout tho candlestick. -As for old Socrates, I am constrained ito think- that his wife, Xantippe, was a greater philosopher than he was himself. He committed suicide by drinking a hemJock potion, and it stands to reason that af his philosophy had been what it was cracked up to be, he would have saved himself from such ft pass. Xantippe, no Idoubt, rose above the trials and vexations of her married life as well as her sordid jand spectacular widowhood sufficiently to 4ake to herself a second husband—at least I desire to think that she did, for it would.prove beyond a doubt that women iknow more of real philosophy than they fere' given credit for. Classical gossip relates that Xantippe (indulged in nagging. It may have been iquite an unselfish gesture after all, in that St entailed much physical and mental fctrain on her part and did her husband fen untold amount of good: Some flowers must be crushed to release the perfunje and some natures be prodded to achieve success. Thus it was with Socrates. lie began loitering on the street corners and haranguing the crowd because his wife would not let him be la7.y fet home. The world would never have heard of him if he had not been pushed off the couch and had his. pipe taken away from him! You see, Xantippe had a purpose all along. ' ' Joking aside, I am sure that the highest and most practical philosophy is 'to be found among women. Theory they discard at once if it does not help them in their everyday life. What are the laws of relativity,, equilibrium, cause and effect, if they cannot be' brought to bear on the feeding, clothing, and training of children, the keeping of houses, the management of husbands ? If you want a lesson in good, sound philosophy, and not just aerated nonsense, lgo to the mother of a large family. She deserves her Ph.D. above all other aspirants. I defy any man. even a rein-" carnation of Diogenes, Aristotle of Plato, to preserve a serene mind, a loving heart and a cheerful disposition under tho circumstances that confront most women. Diogenes would not have had the time to go careering around the country with his tub and lantern if ho had to bring up a large family on a mere pittance per week. From girlhood to old age, every woman is trained to philosophy. It is her only defence, her only means of happiness. It 5s expected of her. it is her business, her profession. "For centuries she lias been kept down, carrying the burdens of the race, physically, mentally and in every other way. Gradually, she has evolved a philosophy of her own, which will overcome her defamers and bring her into acknowledged power and authority.