I agree with and relate to so much here as one who has merrily drunk, talked and danced many a night away in convivial company. But aren't you leaving out the new factor of ever present phones that can record every embarrassing transgression? Thankfully none of my escapades went viral past possibly next day gossip among a small group (which can be bad enough!) but nothing like the instant, permanent shame social media allows for. Unfortunately our younger generations have big brother in their pockets and on their minds 24/7.
It’s crazy that the view that drinking alcohol has pros and cons would be so controversial. Surely the panic speaks to just how much grad students — and Millennials in general — are repressing. Like, they can’t give the censor one night off.
Ido Hartogsohn recently wrote a similar piece (sadly it's in Hebrew and behind paywall, so can't link it here) covering an even broader claim - that all youth need to drink some more, since youth today live an over-cautious social lives that lead to loneliness, which has its own, much more insidious effects then moderate alcohol consumption. Alcohol is actually bringing social caution down to the appropriate level to enable bonding and social connections that otherwise would be missed. Putting it differenlt it promotes social exploration over exploitation, in a time when exploitation is the default social norm.
Regarding an alternative to drinking - I once read, can't remember where, that Bridge, and other card games that require couples, were actually designed (or at least made popular) for an easy pretext for social interaction. One could only assume that with modern technology and love of gaming it would be even more possible to create something similar, that provide the pretext sor social exploration without the mind alteration. I think the popularity of "party games", like Jackbox, is in a sense a step in the right direction.
Sports and alcohol. I believe these two things can drive many intellectual endeavours :D I think there is no better way to gather up than team sports like football/soccer, and then there is nothing better than a drink after a good game of soccer. In Vietnam, drink culture is still a big thing
My grad school experience was awesome in part because the Grad Pub was just up the hill from the Philosophy Department. Gathering with fellow students at least weekly (at least twice weekly when the pool league was happening on Wednesday evenings) was a highlight not just for the socializing but because we learned from each other. It was great. And a good beer was a key part of it.
If you enjoyed Slingerland you might also be interested to read Roger Scruton's book 'I drink therefore I am' - it makes some similar points about the more or less unique value of wine over other 'solitary intoxicants' like spirits or drugs. But he also has lots to say on the broader philosophy of intoxication, and has a fun little section on which philosophers to read alongside which wines!
I agree with and relate to so much here as one who has merrily drunk, talked and danced many a night away in convivial company. But aren't you leaving out the new factor of ever present phones that can record every embarrassing transgression? Thankfully none of my escapades went viral past possibly next day gossip among a small group (which can be bad enough!) but nothing like the instant, permanent shame social media allows for. Unfortunately our younger generations have big brother in their pockets and on their minds 24/7.
Very interesting point!
It’s crazy that the view that drinking alcohol has pros and cons would be so controversial. Surely the panic speaks to just how much grad students — and Millennials in general — are repressing. Like, they can’t give the censor one night off.
Ido Hartogsohn recently wrote a similar piece (sadly it's in Hebrew and behind paywall, so can't link it here) covering an even broader claim - that all youth need to drink some more, since youth today live an over-cautious social lives that lead to loneliness, which has its own, much more insidious effects then moderate alcohol consumption. Alcohol is actually bringing social caution down to the appropriate level to enable bonding and social connections that otherwise would be missed. Putting it differenlt it promotes social exploration over exploitation, in a time when exploitation is the default social norm.
Regarding an alternative to drinking - I once read, can't remember where, that Bridge, and other card games that require couples, were actually designed (or at least made popular) for an easy pretext for social interaction. One could only assume that with modern technology and love of gaming it would be even more possible to create something similar, that provide the pretext sor social exploration without the mind alteration. I think the popularity of "party games", like Jackbox, is in a sense a step in the right direction.
Sports and alcohol. I believe these two things can drive many intellectual endeavours :D I think there is no better way to gather up than team sports like football/soccer, and then there is nothing better than a drink after a good game of soccer. In Vietnam, drink culture is still a big thing
My grad school experience was awesome in part because the Grad Pub was just up the hill from the Philosophy Department. Gathering with fellow students at least weekly (at least twice weekly when the pool league was happening on Wednesday evenings) was a highlight not just for the socializing but because we learned from each other. It was great. And a good beer was a key part of it.
I expressed some similar thoughts to yours in a post of mine from a while ago: https://open.substack.com/pub/billvanderburgh/p/beer-and-the-good-life
If you enjoyed Slingerland you might also be interested to read Roger Scruton's book 'I drink therefore I am' - it makes some similar points about the more or less unique value of wine over other 'solitary intoxicants' like spirits or drugs. But he also has lots to say on the broader philosophy of intoxication, and has a fun little section on which philosophers to read alongside which wines!
I get what you’re saying. If alcoholism wasn’t such a terrible problem. I’d say hear hear. Nothing is ever simple.
An even better piece the second time around!
Throwing an open bar might help to strengthen the arguments here?