Philosophers in meme and analogy of shouting “McDonald’s” explained

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😎 Explain this meme about philosophers mentioning as many of the faces you recognize as possible

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🤖 This meme plays on a humorous scenario involving children who want to go to McDonald’s and the varied philosophical or ideological responses that different historical figures might have to such a request.

From the top left and moving in a clockwise direction, here are the figures I recognize:

1. Hegel (German philosopher)
2. Immanuel Kant (German philosopher)
3. Søren Kierkegaard (Danish philosopher)
4. Epicurus (Ancient Greek philosopher)
5. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (again, possibly a mistake in the meme)
6. Jean-Paul Sartre (French philosopher)
7. Baruch Spinoza (Dutch philosopher)
8. John Stuart Mill (British philosopher)
9. Socrates (Ancient Greek philosopher)
10. Niccolò Machiavelli (Italian Renaissance diplomat and philosopher)
11. Friedrich Nietzsche (German philosopher)
12. Karl Marx (German philosopher and economist)
13. Michel Foucault (French philosopher)
14. Voltaire (French Enlightenment writer and philosopher)
15. Jean-Paul Sartre (again, indicating a humorous inconsistency)

The “Children yelling: MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS!” suggests a universal and timeless plea of children wanting fast food. The varied responses are anachronistically attributed to the figures:

– “We have food at home” might align with the practical or ethical stances of philosophers who emphasized frugality, self-denial, or critique of excess.
– “Pulls into the drive through as children cheer” and then “Orders a single black coffee and leaves” is a twist, showing the figure as teasing the children or exhibiting a very ascetic personal choice, diverging from consumerist indulgence.

Each of these responses reflects a humorous take on how each philosopher’s well-known views could be comically applied to a mundane situation like children wanting to eat at McDonald’s.
😎 What about those who also yell MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS!
🤖 The individuals at the bottom of the meme who are also yelling “MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS! MCDONALDS!” are likely intended to represent philosophers or thinkers who might be seen as embracing or endorsing popular or pleasurable experiences without the restraint or critique that the others are imagined to express. However, without clear identification of these individuals, it’s a bit challenging to provide a precise interpretation of each one’s inclusion. They seem to be placed in that position to humorously suggest that even among thinkers known for their intellectual contributions, there are those who would unabashedly join in on a childlike enthusiasm for something as simple and universally craved as fast food, possibly reflecting a more hedonistic or populist philosophy.
😎 I can identify the one on the bottom right corner as Albert Camus, and the immediately left of Camus as Jean-Paul Sartre. Identify the others in the area and explain the philosophical analogy of also shouting McDonald’s, McDonald’s, McDonald’s

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🤖 In the bottom right corner, as you correctly identified, is Albert Camus. To the left of Camus is Jean-Paul Sartre. These philosophers are associated with existentialism, a philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and choice. The joke here could be that existentialists, who focus on the individual’s ability to define their own life, might be inclined to also “choose” McDonald’s, representing the freedom to embrace popular culture or simple pleasures without overthinking.

Other figures in that row include:

– Friedrich Nietzsche (to the left of Sartre): Known for his radical critiques of traditional European morality and religion, as well as for the idea of “life-affirmation,” which could be humorously extended to choosing something enjoyable like McDonald’s.
– Karl Marx (next to Nietzsche): While Marx critiqued capitalist structures, the inclusion here might play on a more human side, humorously suggesting that despite his critiques, there’s a universal appeal to fast food that transcends economic systems.
– Socrates (next to Marx): Often seen as the father of Western philosophy, Socrates is known for his Socratic method of questioning. His inclusion in the group shouting for McDonald’s might be humorous because it’s contrary to what we’d expect from such a foundational figure in philosophy, known for his focus on virtue and questioning societal norms.
– Voltaire (next to Socrates): A prominent figure of the French Enlightenment, Voltaire was a critic of the Catholic Church and a proponent of freedom of speech, religion, and trade. His advocacy for personal liberty could be humorously interpreted as supporting the freedom to indulge in McDonald’s if one so desires.

The humorous analogy here is twisting each philosopher’s complex ideas into a light-hearted commentary on everyday choices, like the decision to eat at a fast-food restaurant. It’s a playful way of making these historical figures relatable and placing them in a modern context.

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