Human beings are always shrouded by a pall of daunting questions at sometimes the most inconvenient of times, for example trying desperately to sleep, this is one of the things that comes with an overly complex brain. However everyone forms different answers to these deep questions, some don’t form any answers at all- but many find it a solace to hear what others have to say.

Mr J Todd is an ethics teacher, a musician and a uniquely philosophical thinker. 

 

Firstly, there is his mantra for how he lives his life: As Socrates said ‘An unexamined life is not worth living’. Mr Todd described it as needing to know all that you can about existence. Although a treacherous challenge, embracing thought is just what he does- “I believe it’s not just a job, it’s a vocation in that I’ve always wanted to [if possible] have a job which involves me thinking about the nature of things”. 

 

Flawed, protective, complicated: Modern and archaic societies have been created by humans for humans since the dawn of ‘civilised’ thinking. With all this contradiction, contrast and confusion the real question is: is it best to have a society? Have we become so self absorbed that we are unable to fathom a life without luxury? Take our philosopher’s perspective…  We have always had societies to keep ourselves safe as an interconnected species and what is a majorly genetic cannot always be changed by even the most ethically driven individual. Furthering on this, Mr Todd draws to the point of culture. It is common that we as individuals have the tendency to adopt a pessimistic existentialist view, leaving optimism to require seemingly unfathomable levels of bravery in practice. Yet now more than ever is the time to think clearly, as an optimist: having this shield of society, no matter how looming it’s faults may seem, allows for a focus on the true representatives of humans as a collective. The beauty of our creativity. 

With the focus on the good, the admired and the wonderful what is to be made of the needs. The rights. Mr Todd is enlightened to the fact that human rights are another created concept to give all people the platform they need to create. However, he keeps his values strong and believes, like many, knows that if human rights are universal then they should be enforced universally, across all countries. Conversely, as a country that has had the privilege to develop- are we the ones able to dictate the drives of other laws? It is clear that the answer for all should be in the name of the fair and just. Without question rights are a tool, a tool towards equality, propriety. 

 

In conclusion, does the ethics teacher, musician and unique philosophical thinker hold the definite answer to all questions? Philosophy it’s self points to no, but Mr J Todd does provide a guiding light from the realm of examined life. And the darkest tunnels tend to require more than one torch.