How do we become a philosopher?

Answer 1

A philosopher is one who loves wisdom. Socrates began with the dictum written above the Oracle of Delphi, "ΓΝΩΣΕΙ ΣΕΑΥΤΟΝ", Know Thyself. He next proceeded to actively question the so-called philosophers and poets of his world, finding they knew no more than he did which, according to him, was nothing. The beginning of philosophy is in questioning dogma, the things we accept as certainties. This is the accepted method of both skeptics and cynics to becoming a philosopher. Both realists and idealists may quibble over this, but the roots of both are there. Cleanthes and Parmenides both began with the idea of one, Cleanthes as a whole integer which one might count, Parmenides as the all which defied counting. Herakleitos differed with Parmenides in maintaining change as the only constant. Pythagoras took a mystical view. Philosophy has a history and a breadth. If you would be a philosopher you must come to understand this. Simply to have an opinion is not philosophy. The Vedas, the Tao, the Analects, the Dhammapada, the Bible, the Qu'ran and other writings of wisdom through the ages must be open to your examination and questions. This is philosophy.

[I took a look at it (the link to Wyatt) and if you really want to become a philosopher, by all means don't start with that tripe!]

Answer 2

I assume you haven't taken an introductory course in philosophy, or you wouldn't have asked this.
The "link" was wonderfully amusing. It appears to be written as a satire, describing PHILOSOPHISM--false or faulty philosophy, sophistry; a philosophic proposition intended to deceive. You can see that it's the antithesis of a philosopher.
To philosophize is to deal philosophically with abstract matter; to think or reason like a philosopher; to search into the REASON & nature of; to investigate phenomena & assign RATIONAL causes for its existence. The very basics to "becoming" a philosopher are LOGICAL REASONING.
An introductory course, the methodology of philosophy, will improve your ability to philosophize. You can then, if you wish, study great philosophers in history & problems that have occupied the interest of prominent modern or ancient philosophers. This would be rather complex unless you had first learned the the fundamental LOGIC of thinking & reasoning, which also helps in daily life to exclude assumptions, subjectivity, & loss of focus.
Thank you, mathew for a very entertaining "article!"

Answer 3

In fact what a good philosopher needs is the ability to ask questions and try to answer them, just like you do right now.

Answer 4

A philosopher is above all else an artist of Living as a rational, creative, and thinking being. To become a philosopher, one must practice the skillful performance of the same kinds of activities that a philosopher does to develop one's capacities for creative and logical thinking, and for the free development of one's knowledge. The ultimate task of the philosopher is to expand one's own mental life and the freedom of one's consciousness by developing in great detail one's own worldview. This can be accomplished by performing the following individual practices, which facilitate the further development of one's capacities to think independently, open-mindedly and broadmindedly, and experience cognitive pleasures including complex intellectual and creative pleasures.
(1) Observe and examine the world and all things in it.
(2) Consider and evaluate the opinions of others and one's own opinions; learn to learn and to unlearn when necessary.
(3) Reason logically with precision to evaluate all details from the most general to the most particular ones.
(4) Creatively reason to examine the conceptual and causal relationships among things.
(5) Search for answers to complex problems and aim to develop the most broadminded yet precise answers that one can.
(6) Investigate questions to develop the largest and most broadminded yet precise questions that one can.
(7) Exercise one's hypothetical and theoretical imagination; develop interpretive and definitional hypotheses and test them with logical, thorough, and informed evaluations.
(8) Evaluate information in the ways that facilitate the development of the most informed interpretations and conclusions that one can; be prepared to change one's previous conclusions, if necessary, based on new information or information that one did not previously consider.
(9) Persuasively argue for one's positions; aim for the development of arguments that are optimally adequate, rationally acceptable, and accurate.
(10) Creatively apply experiential and academic knowledge about all aspects of natural, mental, and social life to informatively define one's concepts, choose one's values, develop one's ideas, and conceptions of the nature of things including, but not limited to, the good, justice, truth, art, knowledge, the mind, the body, time and space and so forth.
All the practices of the philosopher are related to each other, and the philosopher develops appreciation of the inter-relatedness of everything.

Answer 5

Just ask Christopher Scott Wyatt.

"Becoming a philosopher is simple. The following suggestions should help anyone become a leading philosopher. We also provide tips on how to succeed as a philosopher in academic settings versus success in general society.

Believe your life represents all experiences.
Decide what human nature is.
Select a purpose of life. "



http://www.tameri.com/csw/words/essays/20030302.html

Answer 6

i'm not a philosopher, but you can try this:
first step: evaluate the things or believes you find most accurate in your mind. why do they seem to be so right to you? is the taylor-made answer that was given to you (through your past knowledge - education, family, society, experience, etc) good enough for you??

when you finish, ask me for the next step :)

Answer 7

Philosophy generally comes from an advanced human mind. If one wants to be a philosopher then one must feel the self, feel the reality that one lives in, and then attempt to explain or examine it.

Answer 8

I would study the work of previous philosophers. Just see what happens. I don't think the name or title of philosopher is important. If you enjoy it, that's what counts.

Answer 9

It is in the innate order in humans to seek competency and a seeker for competency is a philosopher.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

The Erikson life-stage virtues, in the order of the stages in which they may be acquired, are:

hope
will
purpose
competence
fidelity
love (in intimate relationships, work and family)
caring
wisdom

Answer 10

Simply start questioning the things that you think or believe you know for certain. After all, a man is on the road to wisdom once he realizes that his opinions are just opinions.