What is a Philosopher?

As far as I saw there wasn't a topic about this yet, and even if there has been perhaps its time that it is brought out for revaluation.

The question is "What is a Philosopher?"
I think this goes without saying, but it might be interesting to address other subtopics that are connected to it.

To me, a Philosopher is one who attempts to understand the world, or at least understand what he/she can about the world and his/her place in it. The philosopher pursues this goal without looking for a solution or an end, only to constantly look and attempt to understand.To me, the Philosopher himself/herself does not completely settle down.

Anyone can ask a question - a philosopher ask a follow up question and compares the two answers.

Thats a simple response. But does it go further than that? A philosopher doesn't just ask another question right? He/She looks into the question as well.

Anyone can ask a follow up question, but does it make them a philosopher?

Is philosopher just a person who practices philosophy? So when that person is not practicing philosophy is he no longer a philosopher?

What happens after the person compares the two answers?

I think I read something of Plato's(I'll post the name when I remember!)that talks about what Socrates defined as a philosopher and what they serve in heaven. An interesting read.


I define a philosopher one who questions both sides of the subject. They are typically the observer, then they make themselves known once they understand the topic at hand. Of course, you can go Socrates and start questioning their ideas, attempting to debunk them(for whatever reason)or just to better understand the subject.


There is a subject my friend got me into known as Phenomenology. It focuses on the things Philosophy stands for. Philosophy questions ideas, principles and beliefs while Phenominalogy is the STUDY of said ideas, principles and beliefs. Phenomenology isn't a thing, but rather the STUDY of things. Phenomenology is the study of philosphy, in a sense. Phenomenology is basically thinking outside the box of philosphy...or rather having a better understanding of philosophy, whatever floats your boat.

Just putting that out there

The Prime:

And after reading what you wrote -- which is veerryy
veerryy inteerreesstting, I think I will gather some information, like a squirrel, and read up about Phenomenology.

Question -- is this the "study of phenomenon" or

the system of Husserl and his followers stressing the description of phenomena (I looked it up on dictionary.com -- do you think I would know that) hee hee.

Are they one and the same.

Thanks
Peace,wtm

What is a Philosopher?

Philosophy; Love of 'Ego'.
To consider oneself 'knowledgable' or 'wise' is egoic image.
So, from this Perspective, a 'philosopher' is an ego wanker.
The evidence from which such a Perspective can be rationally supported, is abundant.

Phenominalogy is the STUDY of said ideas, principles and beliefs. Phenomenology isn't a thing, but rather the STUDY of things.

Sooo, phenomenology, like physics, is the study of 'appearances'...

[Scott]

Though the discussion can go much deeper than what the dictionary has to say. I think it is still helpful to check the dictionary definition:

The dictionary I checked defines a philosopher as a student of or specialist in philosophy. That raises the question, what is philosophy? Here are definitions of philosophy from the dictionary I checked that I believe are most appropriate to the context of this discussion:

1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual means and moral self-discipline.
2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.
3. The critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs.

So a philosopher is a person who does any of those three things.

Thanks,
Scott

Something is known only by comparison, and defined by its relationship to a category that applies to all philosophers. By comparison: A theologian seeks for spiritiual truth by intuition and belief. A scientist seeks for sensual truth by observation and experimentation. Between them is there synthesis, the philosopher. He seeks for rational truth by logic and reason. The theologian studies the soul of man; the philosopher studies the mind, and the scientist studies the body. The theologian studies God; the philosopher studies man; science studies nature. To sum : Philosophy is the rational study of ideas; of human truth, values, and wisdom.

A philosopher is one whom, in the great mystery, argues that he knows that one secret no one else understands. The only problem with this, of course, is that all other philosopher's know the secret as well, but its not the same secret.

More specifically,the branches of RATIONAL PHILOSOPHY are:METAPHYSICS, the study of ultimate reality. COSMOLOGY: the study of the ultimate beginning. THEOLOGY, rational study of the Ultimate Creator. PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, rational study of nature. TELEOLOGY, study of purpose in life. ONTOLOGY, study of being and man.AXIOLOGY,study of values. EPISTEMOLOGY, study of knowledge. ETHICS, rational study of behavior. AESTHETICS, study of art and beauty. LOGIC, study of thinking. LINGUISTICS, stduy of words. POLITICS, study of ideal government. PHILOSOPHY OF LIVING, Ideal way of living,psychology.

A Philosophers task is not only about giving answers, but also in asking the questions that are sometimes not even worth questioning. A philosopher starts from a personal problem or question, and then gives it an answer that would be accepted universally.

in which case, patty, all Philosophers have failed? There are no universal truths that we are aware of.

The word "philosophy" comes from the two Greek words "philos," meaning "love," and "sophia," meaning "wisdom." It literally means "love of wisdom."

I find this interesting, because it doesn't necessarily imply that you have to HAVE wisdom, or even strive for it - all you've got to do is love it!

That said, I think the only sorts of people who generally get called/call themselves philosophers are those who do strive for wisdom.

Hmm, I'm already getting myself into a complicated position here. Socrates claimed that the only sort of wisdom he possessed was knowing that he knew nothing. But doesn't "having wisdom" imply knowing something?

Wait a minute... maybe "knowledge" and "wisdom" aren't synonymous.

Any thoughts?

'Wisdom' is a word that doesn't have a related verb that all English speakers commonly use. 'Knowledge' itself is not usually used in everyday talk, but the verb 'know' is very commonly used. The result of this discrepancy seems to be that 'wisdom' is a word of praise rather than description.


When philosophers have thought about what people often mean by 'wisdom' when they are describing, the word 'wisdom' seems to signify good judgement, good prediction, and a measure of morality, as well as prudence and knowledge.


With certain words, the meanings become clearer by using a thesaurus instead of a dictionary and I think that 'wisdom' is that sort of word.