A Prison Philosopher: A Personal Essay

Prison is often thought of as hell behind barbed wire, housing the most nefarious of sorts who have thrown away any inkling of wisdom. Nevertheless, a number of reasons can make prison an ideal place to develop an appreciation for, and put into practice, philosophy, the love of wisdom. I offer a rou...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Alexander A. Brown
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/4/492
Description
Summary:Prison is often thought of as hell behind barbed wire, housing the most nefarious of sorts who have thrown away any inkling of wisdom. Nevertheless, a number of reasons can make prison an ideal place to develop an appreciation for, and put into practice, philosophy, the love of wisdom. I offer a rough characterization of the practice of philosophy in the context of prison. The removal of persons from a world that is comparatively unfettered to a place of silence and solitude can lead to wonder and questioning. I then consider how I, as a prison philosopher, develop questions and reflection around various ideas from God, truth, beauty, and love, to death.
ISSN:2077-1444