Why John Hughes is the Greatest Philosopher of the Late 20th Century

First, I’d like to make an observation. How important are philosophers, really? There are some that the “general public” knows about. There are some that have influenced culture, regardless of whether the “general public” realizes it. But, for the most part, philosophers go un-noticed. Even the “great” ones. Shouldn’t the “great” ones be the ones that influence society? Shouldn’t society recognize it?

Let’s put religious leaders aside. Everyone knows that Jesus, the Buddha, Mohammed, Gandhi, and Mother Theresa have had a great influence. Let’s talk about philosophers. Ask the average person on the street about Pascal’s Wager or Cartesian Logic or Plato’s Forms. Some have influenced society without society knowing it. Augustine's view that the earthly body is inherently inferior to the soul has plagued the Christian Church to this day. The Transcendalitsts of New England have been taken the the extreme in an effor to block progress. However, those two are issues for another entry.

In juxtaposition, ask the "general public" about The Force or The Ring or John Cusack holding up a boom box playing a Peter Cetera song.

The members of the Breakfast Club had a great knack for pointing out hypocrisy. They saw how their “elders” and their parents acted hypocritically. Hughes tapped into this, much in the same manner that Salinger had a feel for the youth of his decade. I don’t know if Hughes hung out in soda shops like Salinger did, but, nonetheless, he had a bead on the teenage culture of the time.

His films should have been required viewing for the “adults” of the 1980s. He pointed out their flaws. He pointed out the hypocrisy. Oddly enough, the hypocrites didn’t listen.

When I was growing up, the youth were considered the great “truth detectors.” Kids had an innate sense of fairness that could put adults to shame. Sure, the kids didn’t understand the “intricacies” of adult life, but, like Jesus teaches, one needs to be able to view the world through the eyes of a child.

There’s always been some validity to the children’s cries of hypocrisy. Ask yourself this: although you consider extra-marital sex wrong, you probably consider it “more wrong” for a sixteen-year-old than a thirty-five-year-old. Truth be told, the older person is likely more equipped for the consequences (good and bad) and more likely to be responsible. However, when you’re sixteen, all you see is the hypocrisy. When you have your girlfriend/ boyfriend sleep over, what are you telling your child?

So, what children were taught is that it’s okay to segment your life. To lead double, triple, and quadruple lives. The younger generations have learned that segmentation is okay from the older generations. For example, the kid does well in school, has extra-curricular activities, goes to church (or temple or whatever), and on Friday night has sex with whomever and drinks like a fish. It’s all compatible when it’s all segmented. Hypocrisy has gone by the wayside.

John Hughes pointed this out, but the adults didn’t listen. Instead, the children listened, and they came to this conclusion: “Fuck you, I’m going to do it, too.”

Back in the day, kids used to watch movies to see adults having sex. Now, adults watch movies to see kids having sex.

It is not okay. When one wears more than one mask, that person often becomes confused as to his/ her true self. What role am I playing today? And what message it that sending?

It can be difficult to stay honest with yourself, but if you look at your children, it can be a lot easier.