Does Santa Exist?: A Philosophical Investigation

I am very glad I read this book, and very glad it was written. It is the best I have read so far on its subject.

Kaplan uses the title question to explore the nature of the modern person's relationship with belief, and the possibility of meaning. As more and more materialists (the ones I read and watch on Youtube, at any rate) are forthrightly saying “Existence is meaningless,” – which naturally follows from a strictly materialistic philosophy – some of them must begin to question whether that is a good thing, or even if it is true. Perhaps when the statement works its way from “Existence is meaningless” to “Well, then, I guess this video I made about science and my beliefs is also meaningless and pointless, as am I. It's all just filling up the minutes until death.” then the ensuing confoundment and fear and trembling will prompt honest philosophical inquiry. Kaplan is waiting to assist.

The subject is fascinating but something about his writing style began to grate around chapter 11 or so. It was almost too much. I can't lay my finger on the problem exactly, but there were too many sentences and paragraphs where I–a somewhat intelligent and moderately well-educated person who sometimes reads philosophy–had a difficult time following him. It was not because he is too smart and erudite for me. No, it is his writing.

But then part 5, chapter 13 happened. OH BOY! His discussion of Isaac Luria and the Infinite made it all worth while. I am glad I stuck it out. I hope you will be, too. Kaplan points to a way for a modern materialist to think about the possibility of meaning in existence, and he even provides some nifty clues for a thorough-going theist-who-isn't-exactly-certain-what-theos-actually-means to broaden his way of viewing the question.

I am grateful to Eric Kaplan for this book and to myself for reading it.

And yes, I believe in Santa Claus, of course.