Philosophy is perhaps mankind's most ancient, noble and beautiful discipline. For centuries it has shaped lives and civilisations, it has inspired many to die heroically and led others to a new life. Often, however, and since philosophy is such a complex subject, we fail to grasp its full meaning. I am not a philosopher, but I will now attempt to define it as best as I can.
The best starting point is, in my opinion, the etymological roots of the word. As most of us know, philosophy literally means "the love of wisdom." I would add some things to this short definition, and say that philosophy is the love and pursuit of truth and wisdom. Achieving this knowledge and being perseverant to overcome obstacles is not an easy task, and therefore, the philosopher must follow a rigid self-discipline so that he can pursue his goals.
Some say that philosophy is merely an intellectual activity, but I consider that it needs also a bit of inspiration and intuition. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote: "Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison me connaît point," which means "The heart has its reasons that Reason does not know." My professor of philosophy in France told us that to think, we need not only a brain, but a heart too. There are some things that only that spiritual part in our essence can discover, and that is one of the reasons of the greatness of philosophy.
In the end, what we think is translated into what we do. Philosophy, thus, is not only about thoughts, but also about how those thoughts define who we are and how we act. It is about the values that we believe in. It is the truth that determines the path that we follow. It is the light that leads us to knowledge of ourselves, of the depths of our being and of the greatness of the reality that surrounds us.
The best starting point is, in my opinion, the etymological roots of the word. As most of us know, philosophy literally means "the love of wisdom." I would add some things to this short definition, and say that philosophy is the love and pursuit of truth and wisdom. Achieving this knowledge and being perseverant to overcome obstacles is not an easy task, and therefore, the philosopher must follow a rigid self-discipline so that he can pursue his goals.
Some say that philosophy is merely an intellectual activity, but I consider that it needs also a bit of inspiration and intuition. The French philosopher Blaise Pascal once wrote: "Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison me connaît point," which means "The heart has its reasons that Reason does not know." My professor of philosophy in France told us that to think, we need not only a brain, but a heart too. There are some things that only that spiritual part in our essence can discover, and that is one of the reasons of the greatness of philosophy.
In the end, what we think is translated into what we do. Philosophy, thus, is not only about thoughts, but also about how those thoughts define who we are and how we act. It is about the values that we believe in. It is the truth that determines the path that we follow. It is the light that leads us to knowledge of ourselves, of the depths of our being and of the greatness of the reality that surrounds us.
Why is it that every time you are taking a stance on something you either preceed or proceed with "... in my opinion..."? We know it's your opinion. Yet, you tell us it's your opinion in font, weakening your arguement. It reads like you are making a declaration that you want people to hear but not to listen. Don't hunch. Stand straight. Don't wisper. Speak up. Don't give a blank stare and try to convince us. Give us a piercing stare and tell us the truth.
ResponderEliminar