What do you exactly call philosophy?

[William]

Originally Posted by Rose

The author Isaac Asimov said, “To not write would be to die.” Does anyone else feel ‘driven’ to have knowledge and wisdom and know the truth? Does some of what we speak of actually go beyond philosophy?

Hello Rose,

Knowledge is what will lead us to wisdom that will teach us what is good and evil and from that we embark on a path to truth as we learn how God fits in to our existence, IMO. Philosophy is trying to determine how we can understand that we cannot understand and that in and of itself is "God" as we effort to figure it "all" out. We just haven't been around long enough. That's what eternity is all about. We will know as we go. We are just a little impatient is all.

William

[zefloid13]

I believe philosophy may be defined as the investigation and analysis of questions most fundamental to the human race that are bound never to receive concrete answers.

Philosophy thus serves not to provide solutions, but to continuously refine our methods of inquiry. Consequently, it seems pointless to people who want definite responses now. In terms of education, philosophy serves as an excellent stepping stone toward specialization, as it is arguably the most demanding and productive path for students (I plan to double in it with political science), fine-tuning their skills in argument and analysis.

Not to mention, it is absolutely fascinating...

Sorry, I tend to bounce off tangent...

[BMW]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fight the Power

I like philosophy because I am obsessed with what is right.

Nice answer. In which sense, right?

[jgweed]

"Philosophy thus serves not to provide solutions, but to continuously refine our methods of inquiry. Consequently, it seems pointless to people who want definite responses now."

Well put. I would also suggest that philosophy also finds questions where other disciplines, or common opinion, see none. Both in its questioning and its subsequent inquiry, philosophy is able to view a problem from different perspectives and to ask further questions that clarify the problem and our viewing of it in a meditative way that allows it to emerge into consciousness.

[MJA]

Originally Posted by Rose

The author Isaac Asimov said, “To not write would be to die.” Does anyone else feel ‘driven’ to have knowledge and wisdom and know the truth? Does some of what we speak of actually go beyond philosophy?

I found myself driven out of necessity some years ago; I had to know the truth, the truth of myself. By looking in the book of nature not only did I discover nature's truth but equally the truth in me. I found the absolute certainty I was looking for. The certainty or truth that nature and I are equally One or the same.

There is no beyond truth Rose, truth simply is.

Now I am a philosopher, a lover of truth, a lover of nature as myself, and share that love or philosophy so that others might see it too.
It takes an open mind, one like Decartes Method. A process of letting go of the untruths you've been wrongfully taught. By this simplification or cleansing method, One can see the truth for simply what it is. Letting go of theories and faiths uncovers the light of truth in us all. But even the great mind of Decartes allowed his own thoughts or mind to get in the way. Oops!
The Way, The Truth, is much more simple than thought.
There is freedom beyond the untrue walls or thoughts that divide us, the freedom or unity of the whole infinite universe.
Imagine that, setting the universe free, setting yourself free!
Try this:
Observe nature without measure or judgement and you might get lucky and see it too.
I cannot take you there, but I can point The Way.

=
MJA

[MJA]

And Buddha thought much the same:

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

And Einstein:

A man should look for what is, and not what he thinks should be.

And Martin Luther King Jr.:

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

And Lau Tzu:

He who loves the world as his body may be trusted with the empire.

And Gandhi:

Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.

And Jefferson:

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

And John Lennon:

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only One
I hope someday you'll join us
And together we will live as One.

And Whitman:

In short, that thinker or analyser or overlooker who by the insurutable combination of train'd wisdom and natural intuition most fully accepts in perfect faith the moral unity and sanity of the creatice scheme, in history, science, and all life and time, present and future, is both the truest cosmical devotee or religioso, and the profoundest philosopher.

And Rousseau:

Nature never decieves us, it is we who deceive ourselves.

And Antoine de Saint Exupery:

Perfection is not when there is more to add, but when there is no more to take away.

And Elton John:

Harmony

And Thoreau:

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.

And me again:

Dancing with God takes practice but its truly heavenly.

=
MJA

[JoseyDaisyChains]

Philosophy is interesting to us because you begin to see the world a lot more clear than everyone else, our conceptual schemes do not limit our imaginations like they often do to so many other folk. Socrates i thought summed up philosophy for me when he said 'the unexamined life is not worth living'. As philosophers we are constantly searching for more answers to understand the world around us instead of conforming to certain beliefs without any primary knowledge. most people would go mad if they didnt conform to an idea because our minds seem to need the simplist answer to be satisfied otherwise we would over load. some people would rather not take the risk of overloading and prefer to be as simple as possible... could that be the way to happiness? ignorance? sometimes i wonder if life would be much easier if i wasnt so inquizative however i dont have a choice because like many philosophers we are just born with this thirst to know and if i try to be simple minded i feel worse than ever!

[sarek]

Originally Posted by Rose

The author Isaac Asimov said, “To not write would be to die.” Does anyone else feel ‘driven’ to have knowledge and wisdom and know the truth? Does some of what we speak of actually go beyond philosophy?

Yes, I personally feel that urge to think. It is also a sense of dissatisfaction with the many things I do not know yet, and with the views I have not yet discussed.
Many years ago one of the biggest and earliest surprises of my young life was that people around me did not share that urge. I really thought everyone was like me.

Philosophy is not a job description, it is an attitude. It is that sense of wonder. The everlasting questions of how and why.

It's nice of you could make a living out of it, but not necessary. I don't think there is such a beast as an 'amateur' philosopher. Neither does it have to do with how many books you have read.

You have the mind of the philosopher or you don't.

[BMW]

Originally Posted by sarek

Yes, I personally feel that urge to think. It is also a sense of dissatisfaction with the many things I do not know yet, and with the views I have not yet discussed.

Why do you think you feel that urge? Don't you have ever wondered if every urge a living being can feel comes from the same place -the trend to keep alive?

Originally Posted by sarek

Many years ago one of the biggest and earliest surprises of my young life was that people around me did not share that urge. I really thought everyone was like me.

Philosophy is not a job description, it is an attitude. It is that sense of wonder. The everlasting questions of how and why.

(...)

Originally Posted by sarek

You have the mind of the philosopher or you don't.

Do you mean that in your opinion some humans are philosophers and some are not, or that you think it depends on wether you have or not some mental configuration -that everyone could reach if his/her experience did lead to it?

[sarek]

Originally Posted by BMW

Why do you think you feel that urge? Don't you have ever wondered if every urge a living being can feel comes from the same place -the trend to keep alive?

Yes I do. Evolutionary programming may well play a part in it. The ability to think very far ahead, even about matters not immediately applicable in the here and now may still be beneficial to the survival of the species. It may not be beneficial however to turn every individual into a philosopher because that kind of attitude may not be beneficial for the survival of said individual.

(...)

Originally Posted by BMW

Do you mean that in your opinion some humans are philosophers and some are not, or that you think it depends on wether you have or not some mental configuration -that everyone could reach if his/her experience did lead to it?

All it takes is the willingness to keep asking question. I just notice that many people rarely ask those questions. Is that unwillingness or inability? I can't tell. Does nature or nurture make you a philosopher? Maybe a little of each.