The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Discuss any topics related to metaphysics (the philosophical study of the principles of reality) or epistemology (the philosophical study of knowledge) in this forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
Alaric177
New Trial Member
Posts: 13
Joined: August 9th, 2019, 1:00 pm

The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by Alaric177 »

I am (regrettably) someone who generally finds philosophical problems frustrating rather than exciting. While I can appreciate the sense of importance that might come with the idea that the whole universe exists in one's own head, I'm generally less happy about the way that most problems seems to dissolve into shades of grey whenever one tries to grasp them.

However, it occurred to me recently, that I could always reconcile myself to the fact that the type of philosophical problems that cause us so much head-scratching are an entirely necessary part of existence as a subjective being. An animal can of course go through life without having to worry about whether it has a purpose or not, but ultimately any conscious being is constrained in the same way that we are ('a subjective being can never really remove its own subjectivity'). Perhaps we should see these philosophical 'problems' as less something to be solved and removed from the equation than as an enduring prerequisite for us to exist? Perhaps that says something about our nature . . .we fulfil ourselves by questioning ourselves. . .

>> Note - it also I suppose begs the question of how far philosophy and human psychology can ever really be separated. Can we ever take ourselves out of the equation in such a way that we can meaningfully analyse what is left behind.
User avatar
h_k_s
Posts: 1243
Joined: November 25th, 2018, 12:09 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Aristotle
Location: Rocky Mountains

Re: The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by h_k_s »

Alaric177 wrote: January 9th, 2020, 5:16 pm I am (regrettably) someone who generally finds philosophical problems frustrating rather than exciting. While I can appreciate the sense of importance that might come with the idea that the whole universe exists in one's own head, I'm generally less happy about the way that most problems seems to dissolve into shades of grey whenever one tries to grasp them.

However, it occurred to me recently, that I could always reconcile myself to the fact that the type of philosophical problems that cause us so much head-scratching are an entirely necessary part of existence as a subjective being. An animal can of course go through life without having to worry about whether it has a purpose or not, but ultimately any conscious being is constrained in the same way that we are ('a subjective being can never really remove its own subjectivity'). Perhaps we should see these philosophical 'problems' as less something to be solved and removed from the equation than as an enduring prerequisite for us to exist? Perhaps that says something about our nature . . .we fulfil ourselves by questioning ourselves. . .

>> Note - it also I suppose begs the question of how far philosophy and human psychology can ever really be separated. Can we ever take ourselves out of the equation in such a way that we can meaningfully analyse what is left behind.
I feel like you definitely should stop using the phrase "... the fact that …" because I'm convinced you haven't studied formal evidence and therefore do not have any real idea what a "fact" really is.
User avatar
Ren
New Trial Member
Posts: 2
Joined: January 10th, 2020, 2:41 pm

Re: The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by Ren »



After you will spend time with the philosophy you will realise how little you know... The tremendous power of knowing [in the beginning] will disappear like a cloud of smoke. Philosophy is here to teach you thinking, not to reply to the first sentence which you remember from books.
User avatar
Hereandnow
Posts: 2837
Joined: July 11th, 2012, 9:16 pm
Favorite Philosopher: the moon and the stars

Re: The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by Hereandnow »

Alaric177
I am (regrettably) someone who generally finds philosophical problems frustrating rather than exciting. While I can appreciate the sense of importance that might come with the idea that the whole universe exists in one's own head, I'm generally less happy about the way that most problems seems to dissolve into shades of grey whenever one tries to grasp them.

However, it occurred to me recently, that I could always reconcile myself to the fact that the type of philosophical problems that cause us so much head-scratching are an entirely necessary part of existence as a subjective being. An animal can of course go through life without having to worry about whether it has a purpose or not, but ultimately any conscious being is constrained in the same way that we are ('a subjective being can never really remove its own subjectivity'). Perhaps we should see these philosophical 'problems' as less something to be solved and removed from the equation than as an enduring prerequisite for us to exist? Perhaps that says something about our nature . . .we fulfil ourselves by questioning ourselves. . .

>> Note - it also I suppose begs the question of how far philosophy and human psychology can ever really be separated. Can we ever take ourselves out of the equation in such a way that we can meaningfully analyse what is left behind.
I was frustrated trying to walk as an infant, then I got the hang of it, but only after a lot of bad walking. Philosophy is the same way, isn't it? I mean, what are you reading that addresses your frustration?

As you read, you see that there are no solutions, only more problems. They grow as you read, then you abandon those you had because you found out you were missing the point altogether, and these new problems generate yet more problems. BUT: If you persist and continue to read on because you simply have to understand why we are born to suffer and die, or why knowledge claims, all of them, have discursive trails of justification with no end, or why metaphysics cannot be simply dismissed as an exercise in futility; then the world will begin to reveal itself at the level of basic assumptions. This "enduring prerequisite" is only a prerequisite to something, and for us to simply live and breathe and pay taxes, it is not much of a prerequisite. It only becomes so when we choose to look closely at things and try to get behind them.

If you are truly frustrated, then do something about it. Read philosophy. Start with Kant. Difficult? Absolutely. But he started what we call continental philosophy and all that lies therein exist in his shadow. Spend a year on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Read the commentaries online (or ask me to send any of many, many pdf files I have that give clear analytical accounts. I can do this). But it doesn't mean you become a rationalist. Read Kierkegaard who was partly responding to Kant; and so on, and so on.

Or perhaps you just saying you're frustrated.....
User avatar
Hereandnow
Posts: 2837
Joined: July 11th, 2012, 9:16 pm
Favorite Philosopher: the moon and the stars

Re: The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by Hereandnow »

Ren
After you will spend time with the philosophy you will realise how little you know... The tremendous power of knowing [in the beginning] will disappear like a cloud of smoke. Philosophy is here to teach you thinking, not to reply to the first sentence which you remember from books.
You mean how little one knows about philosophy. Your knowledge elsewhere remains unaffected.

So once the cloud dissipates, what is left? I am reminded of Pseudo Dionysius' The Cloud of Unknowing.
User avatar
h_k_s
Posts: 1243
Joined: November 25th, 2018, 12:09 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Aristotle
Location: Rocky Mountains

Re: The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by h_k_s »

Everything has its history, and philosophy has its own too.

We normally divide Philosophy into Western and Eastern.

Western came first, as far as we know, with Hesiod the ancient Greek playwright, and his comment about "moderation in all things" which is quoted by Aristotle but he does not give Hesiod the credit.

Eastern came later, much later, with Confucius in China.

Arab/Islamic philosophy came last of all, and was mostly an imitation of Greek mixed with Islam in the 7th Century forward. It is neither Western nor Eastern, but a separate category called Islamic. And like most things Islamic these days it is mostly frowned upon due to the 72 virgins thingie.

Anyone wanting to understand Modern Philosophy, Post-Modern, and Anti-Post Modern, needs to start with Hesiod and Confucius and move forward from there. It involves a lot of reading, re-reading, thinking, and re-thinking.

The reward is well worth it however because Philosophy will ultimately set your mind free.
User avatar
Pattern-chaser
Premium Member
Posts: 8268
Joined: September 22nd, 2019, 5:17 am
Favorite Philosopher: Cratylus
Location: England

Re: The 'necessity' of philosophical problems

Post by Pattern-chaser »

Alaric177 wrote: January 9th, 2020, 5:16 pm I am (regrettably) someone who generally finds philosophical problems frustrating rather than exciting. While I can appreciate the sense of importance that might come with the idea that the whole universe exists in one's own head, I'm generally less happy about the way that most problems seems to dissolve into shades of grey whenever one tries to grasp them.
I wonder if you are simply expressing your dissatisfaction that the real world is more complicated than you would prefer it to be? That some things aren't black and white, but infinite shades of grey?
Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"
Post Reply

Return to “Epistemology and Metaphysics”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021