"Ok, what does it mean to philosophize", a friend of mine asked me very recently. Initially, I was not very clear with my answers to him, probably because I was consumed with the zeal to quickly defend Philosophy. However, upon careful reflection, I came up with the following answer: I said, " I stand corrected but I think to philosophize implies thinking reasonably with clarity". Now, I expect some fellow philosophers to question my answer to my friend, but until then, that was my sincere answer to him.
We were made to understand that Philosophy involves "thinking". But not all "thinking" is "reasonable". As such, not all "thinking" is Philosophy. Perhaps, that informed my earlier position on what to philosophize means- to think reasonably with clarity. The difference between "reasoning" and "thinking" would stem from the fact that "reasoning" deals with logic, while just "thinking" has an emotional undertone. Hence, for example, someone may just "think" he is in love but when "reasoning" is applied, it could be discovered to be something else entirely. Having established (hopefully) that just "thinking" is different from "thinking reasonably" (reasoning) in a bid to decipher what "philosophizing" means, what is Philosophy?
We do not hope to begin to define Philosophy here, because my definition of philosophy will only be as good as the area I chose to differ from earlier/contemporary philosophers. In essence, philosophers are not even in agreement with what Philosophy is by way of definition. We will look at the etymological meaning and hopefully make someone inferences from there. We are very much aware that there are some graduates and students of philosophy in this forum, but for the sake of others who may have never encountered Philosophy as a discipline we will take this path.
According to Matthew's philosophical framework, our term "Philosophy", finds its place of origin in the language of the ancient Greece. The verb "philein" means "to love", whereas the substantive "sophia" designates that form of knowing - both practical and theoretical - that encompasses "virtue" and the art of "living the good life". The word "Philosophy" is translated as "love of wisdom". Taken for granted that we know what love is, the next natural question will be; "what is wisdom"?. Wisdom can be said to be "the most comprehensive and profound knowledge of things". Pythagoras (an ancient philosopher), according to ancient traditions, thought that no man could possess wisdom. Wisdom was the privileged possession only of God. Therefore, he said, no man could justly call himself "wise". At best, he could only call himself a "lover" or "seeker" of wisdom, that is a philosopher.
Still speaking of wisdom, Heraclitus (an ancient philosopher) says that wisdom did no consist in knowing a multitude of facts, but in having a unified view of reality. Plato (another ancient philosopher) went even further towards a better understanding of what philosophy is. For him, the true philosopher (lover of wisdom) is the "dialectician", the one who apprehends the "essences" of things. This would mean that while everyone (including the philosopher) for instance, know a multitude of facts about the human person, it is only the true "lover of wisdom" - a philosopher who knows or tries to know the essence of Man (which is humanity when it comes to genera or kind of being man is by the way). Putting all this together, we can infer that Philosophy is a universal science that is concerned with the essences of reality (things). Yes, I know a man has a head, for instance, a man also has eyes with ears and mouth, shoulders with hands and chest etc. But above that, what is the essence of man?
Now, what does it mean to philosophize? I think, "to philosophize means to think reasonably and clearly about the essences of things (reality)". What about you? What do you think to philosophize mean?
Send in your comments, contributions and critiques on today's edition of JUST for the Love of Wisdom.
Stay tuned to this blog/page.
Until I come your way again tomorrow, enjoy your blessed day.
Keep thinking reasonably (and acting) just for the love of wisdom.
Coming up next is: HOW CAN WE IDENTIFY AUTHENTIC PHILOSOPHY: marks of authentic Philosophy.
We were made to understand that Philosophy involves "thinking". But not all "thinking" is "reasonable". As such, not all "thinking" is Philosophy. Perhaps, that informed my earlier position on what to philosophize means- to think reasonably with clarity. The difference between "reasoning" and "thinking" would stem from the fact that "reasoning" deals with logic, while just "thinking" has an emotional undertone. Hence, for example, someone may just "think" he is in love but when "reasoning" is applied, it could be discovered to be something else entirely. Having established (hopefully) that just "thinking" is different from "thinking reasonably" (reasoning) in a bid to decipher what "philosophizing" means, what is Philosophy?
We do not hope to begin to define Philosophy here, because my definition of philosophy will only be as good as the area I chose to differ from earlier/contemporary philosophers. In essence, philosophers are not even in agreement with what Philosophy is by way of definition. We will look at the etymological meaning and hopefully make someone inferences from there. We are very much aware that there are some graduates and students of philosophy in this forum, but for the sake of others who may have never encountered Philosophy as a discipline we will take this path.
According to Matthew's philosophical framework, our term "Philosophy", finds its place of origin in the language of the ancient Greece. The verb "philein" means "to love", whereas the substantive "sophia" designates that form of knowing - both practical and theoretical - that encompasses "virtue" and the art of "living the good life". The word "Philosophy" is translated as "love of wisdom". Taken for granted that we know what love is, the next natural question will be; "what is wisdom"?. Wisdom can be said to be "the most comprehensive and profound knowledge of things". Pythagoras (an ancient philosopher), according to ancient traditions, thought that no man could possess wisdom. Wisdom was the privileged possession only of God. Therefore, he said, no man could justly call himself "wise". At best, he could only call himself a "lover" or "seeker" of wisdom, that is a philosopher.
Still speaking of wisdom, Heraclitus (an ancient philosopher) says that wisdom did no consist in knowing a multitude of facts, but in having a unified view of reality. Plato (another ancient philosopher) went even further towards a better understanding of what philosophy is. For him, the true philosopher (lover of wisdom) is the "dialectician", the one who apprehends the "essences" of things. This would mean that while everyone (including the philosopher) for instance, know a multitude of facts about the human person, it is only the true "lover of wisdom" - a philosopher who knows or tries to know the essence of Man (which is humanity when it comes to genera or kind of being man is by the way). Putting all this together, we can infer that Philosophy is a universal science that is concerned with the essences of reality (things). Yes, I know a man has a head, for instance, a man also has eyes with ears and mouth, shoulders with hands and chest etc. But above that, what is the essence of man?
Now, what does it mean to philosophize? I think, "to philosophize means to think reasonably and clearly about the essences of things (reality)". What about you? What do you think to philosophize mean?
Send in your comments, contributions and critiques on today's edition of JUST for the Love of Wisdom.
Stay tuned to this blog/page.
Until I come your way again tomorrow, enjoy your blessed day.
Keep thinking reasonably (and acting) just for the love of wisdom.
Coming up next is: HOW CAN WE IDENTIFY AUTHENTIC PHILOSOPHY: marks of authentic Philosophy.
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