In this YouTube video titled “Stephen Fry: Greek Myths Can Teach Us All About Ourselves 🔱,” Stephen Fry shares personal anecdotes about his fascination with Greek mythology and the importance of language, paintings, and human curiosity. Fry discusses his experience refusing painkillers due to fear of addiction after breaking his leg and how it led him to explore the concept of painkillers and Greek myths. He introduces the Greek myth “Mythos” or “Methos,” emphasizing its significance in both English literature and illustrations. Fry also explores the origin of Greek gods as personifications of natural phenomena and how the simple, undeveloped stories in Greek mythology served as a primitive version of computer gaming. Fry shares his childhood memories of discovering his love for words and languages, particularly Greek, and the impact it had on his life. The conversation then shifts to the extraordinary knowledge possessed by individuals like taxi drivers and the importance of recognizing their expertise. Fry also discusses the tale of Prometheus and its relevance to artificial intelligence, including the concept of self-awareness and the question of what sets humans apart from animals. Fry challenges the notion of humans being distinct from animals and encourages embracing the present moment. The conversation ends with Fry sharing an anecdote about taking author Kingsley Amis out for a drink to encourage him to write another book.
In this YouTube video “Stephen Fry on the Value of Philosophical Enquiry,” Emanuel Kalplaki emphasizes the significance of philosophy in modern society, touching upon various sectors such as learning, leadership, politics, and technology. philosophy, as per Fry, consists of four main branches: logic, ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Logic serves as the foundation for evaluating thoughts and ideas and is crucial for the functioning of computers and artificial intelligence. Ethics becomes increasingly important in the context of advanced scientific research and technology. Epistemology delves into the nature of knowledge, while metaphysics explores fundamental questions about reality and consciousness. Fry implores individuals to approach philosophy with an open mind and praises its relevance and demand in today’s world. He points to the growing presence of philosophers in companies like those in Silicon Valley and biotech as evidence.
