What's the best criteria in choosing the 'best answer' for a philosophical question?

Answer 1

Unlike Maths and Science, a truly philosophical question doesn't lend itself to right or wrong answers..... therefore it is indeed not so straightforward an issue to choose a Best answer. For instance, this question itself can have many different answers without anyone being able to say if any of them is the RIGHT answer for sure.

I would therefore suggest the following criteria

1. The answer is to the point and neither vague nor too biased/opinionated

2. The answer is reasonably comprehensive covering possible angles raised or touched by the question

3. It strikes a fresh line of thinking or idea.... rather than merely quote established ones, unless of course where the questioner is specifically looking for that to learn what has already been said by established philosophers of the past.

4. A serious, original and insightful approach to the question.

Ultimately, however, we tend to bend towards our own line of thinking and rarely choose the opposing viewpoint unless it is so powerful as to make us rethink our own standpoint. It is therefore very likely that an answerer may not feel quite satisfied with the choice made by the questioner..... yet I believe it is the prerogative of the questioner, and he just needs to be honest to himself rather than trying to satisfy anyone or all answerers.

Answer 2

It really depends on the question at hand, because many questions are answered in many different ways depending on the situation, who is asking the question,and what kind of answer they are expecting. On a final for an advanced philosophical theory class in college, there was but one question, "What is courage," with five blank pages of paper attached to the first. After thinking for about ten minutes on how I should answer this 'complex' question, I thought about the criteria in choosing the best answer. I knew that the situation was a final, so the instructor was looking for something that proves he taught me something that he could be proud of. I also knew that he was a very decorated professor and that he himself had written many things outside of the social philisophical 'box,' and that he gave respect to those that accmpanied him with the out of the norm thoughts. I decided to answer his final question of "What is courage" with a two word answer, "THIS IS." It took me ten minutes and two inches of six pages of paper to answer a question that counted for 50% of my grade. While everyone was scribbling away at pages of nonscencical personal stories that did not matter one bit, I turnd in the answer he was looking for in scoring the only "A" on the final.

The answer to your question is to size up the person who is looking for an answer, know what they need to know and what they do not know, only then can you choose how to answer the question educationally based on knowledge and philisophical intuition. This is what makes a philosopher great and interesting.

Answer 3

Philosophy by the very meaning is the love of wisdom. Therefore to choose according to idea of wisdom being an eternally practicable truth, it would have to be both always true, and leading toward the greater action, showing itself of potency over the temporal alternatives

God bless..

Answer 4

For me? It is the good reasoning. That is, reasoning that follows the principles of rational discussions. As much objectivity as possible and definitely the use of good, strong, and valid arguments.

Answer 5

Effect on the victim the answerer.~~

Answer 6

ask your heart. If the answer strikes your chord, then it's the one. If there are more than one, combine them or rank them.

Answer 7

that's the attractive thing about philosophy, there really aren't any gauges, rules or guidelines....