Is philosophy basically an in-depth way of saying "I don't know"?

Question

We always end up at an impasse -- of course, people have a fetish for clear yes/no answers which CLEARLY don't exist for our more complicated questions -- so humanity theorizes and theorizes, and conclude with either "I don't know" or "I know everything." I would say that we know some things, but the worth of what we know is nothing...

I don't know (there I said it) what do you think? Are there any out there that can add some thoughts for a pondering Philosophy college student?

I'm basically talking metaphysics, by the way...

"Socratic Approach" -- Socrates also claimed to "Know Nothing" and thats what made him, according to the Oracle, the "wisest of men."

Answer 1

it is just u who do not know the rest of us know good enough.

Answer 2

Do not say I don't know, the answer will not come to you. You are effectively blocking the incoming information.

To be open to an answer always the thought is "I will get back to you", this leaves it open for the answer to be realised, and given.

All answers are there for the understanding.

A question comes in, feel it, feel into the question, the mind is still, this is a discipline to learn, the mind is stilled, and in pops the answer.

The universe is full of "the knowledge", science would effect more if they would adopt a "passive receptor" understanding, instead of racking through the mind. The mind is not a store house of real information. Real information is outside the mind as such. When the outer becomes the inner, and the inner (heart) becomes the outer (what is given out) the world will be at peace.
Much to be learned from gnostic - Emerald Tablet, if you put in the "effort" and the effort is "never mind".
The mind is an activity, you will not be finding profound answers from the mind.

Great question.

Answer 3

You are a student of philosophy and ask such a question? Perhaps you select another subject to study. Hopefully most people giving such a response to a question are telling the truth, there is no shame attached to that. There are many questions that are complex in structure and a lot of listeners may be confused, there is something called, ' A debate,' that can be put good use in such a situation. Further, I doubt than any ancient Greek thinker won any accolades for saying "I don't know."

Answer 4

lol, no, i wouldn't say that it's an "in-depth way of saying i don't know."

for me, personally it's more of a way educating one's self, those around them & helping people communicate by establishing certain perimeters. but then again, i tend to take a Socratic approach.

by stating an opinion & challenging someone else on it, you open up a dialogue. it can be on something as huge the meaning of existence or as minor as the color green.

i think there is a huge gap between our individual understanding of the world as compared to someone else's & through debate and arguements, we can lessen it to a degree by seeing & attempting to understand someone else's philosophy.

there are thing we don't know & never will, but everytime we debate or ask, we learn a little bit more & can hopefully pass that knowledge on to someone else. that's pretty much the point of philsophy in my mind, at least.

~~~ morgannia

{{{edit}} ok, perhaps i should have said Socratic method or questioning - asking questions & eliminating assumptions that contradict. the best person to point out one's fallacies is someone else & vice-versa, which you can only learn though discussion & debate.

Answer 5

no because of that I do not know the thoughts of the Universal Cosmic though process start thinking about the answer to the questions and then magic is created in the search for beauty, Love and truth :))))If you search long enough the truth always comes out so you start with wonder and as you claim not knowing but if you are true in your search you will find out the truth :))))

Answer 6

Saying "I don't know", can be taken two ways. Some people see it as a dead end and just stop there. Others see it as the beginning of a quest. After all, what is the first step to learning anything? Admitting that you don't know!

Answer 7

Je n'ai ce pas?

Sandy :O)

Answer 8

I don't know.

Answer 9

yes...I mean no... idk