I meant to say philosophy is about more than just reason. — Judaka
"Why we exist" - you're playing with the word "why" there. Science is working on the problem of the antecedent factors that lead to our existence. Now, "why" in any further sense than that, why in the sense of purpose is, in my opinion, not a meaningful question. — Richard Dawkins
For many classical philosophers, nature was understood teleologically, meaning that every type of thing had a definitive purpose which fit within a natural order that was itself understood to have aims. Perhaps starting with Pythagoras or Heraclitus, the cosmos is even said to have reason. Reason, by this account, is not just one characteristic that humans happen to have, and that influences happiness amongst other characteristics. Reason was considered of higher stature than other characteristics of human nature, such as sociability, because it is something humans share with nature itself, linking an apparently immortal part of the human mind with the divine order of the cosmos itself. Within the human mind or soul (psyche), reason was described by Plato as being the natural monarch which should rule over the other parts, such as spiritedness (thumos) and the passions. Aristotle, Plato's student, defined human beings as rational animals, emphasizing reason as a characteristic of human nature. He defined the highest human happiness or well being (eudaimonia) as a life which is lived consistently, excellently and completely in accordance with reason. — Wikipedia, entry on Reason
I disagree, philosophy is not about reason and this fixation on reason causes people to misunderstand themselves. — Judaka
Differentiate philosophy from other branches of thought. -Why is philosophy not science? Why is philosophy not religion? Why is philosophy not myth? — David Mo
To me Philosophy is purely about Describing the world and experience to understand both.
Poets and novelists are much closer to philosophy than this linguistic sophistry.
Phenomenology plus linguistic Inferences is philosophy.
The "proof" for a philosophical assertion is does it describe something you recognise as accurate or plausible? And this judgement is always Subjective.
Finally,we must recognise the prevalence of lying and political agendas in the majority of "classical" philosophers. It's like the idols are still dancing with their clay feet to their emotionally insecure devotees.
Most of TPF philosophy is emotional therapy for insecurity. — Asif
I disagree, philosophy is not about reason and this fixation on reason causes people to misunderstand themselves. Your opinions, preferences, moral views, values, perspectives, your psychology, biology, emotions, desires and all that constitutes the lifeblood of your philosophical views are not ruled by reason. Reason is just a component of some of these things but people do not create philosophy with reason alone. And reason itself can be a characterisation defined by your individual preferences, for truth is a vector for logic to go in many different directions. Depending on how the truth is managed, perceived, what our goals are, what our identity is and the list goes on.
Philosophy is about developing an understanding of really any topic and then using that understanding for really any purpose. Any attempt to dictate how a topic should be understood or what that purpose should be is just more philosophy. — Judaka
The irony is it's obvious to many you cannot discuss with
nuance or outside of your own prejudices. — Asif
The "proof" for a philosophical assertion is does it describe something you recognise as accurate or plausible? And this judgement is always Subjective. — Asif
Philosophy seems to place more value on introspection; understanding the knowledge that we already possess.
Science seems to place more value on discovery; the hope that newly-acquired knowledge will be more useful than the sum of our previous knowledge. — Bird-Up
that you confuse sophistry with philosophy.Philosophy is about developing an understanding of really any topic and then using that understanding for really any purpose. Any attempt to dictate how a topic should be understood or what that purpose should be is just more philosophy. — Judaka
To me Philosophy is purely about Describing the world and experience to understand both. — Asif
The "proof" for a philosophical assertion is does it describe something you recognise as accurate or plausible? And this judgement is always Subjective. — Asif
This standard would appear to make whatever "spontaneous me" comes up with a worthy proposition in philosophy, or, for that matter it doesn't even have to be spontaneous, just what seems right to you, and of course as subjective, it must be right. This seems the very model of a woman to her sister, quoted by Ben Franklin, "I don’t know how it happens, Sister, but I meet with no body but myself, that’s always in the right."The "proof" for a philosophical assertion is does it describe something you recognize as accurate or plausible? And this judgement is always Subjective. — Asif
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