How can I become a reasonably good Philosopher?

Answer 1

Learn how to think rationally. (Most people think they can, but not a lot actually do.)

Educate yourself in and be very aware of the various forms of logical fallacies, both in others' arguments and, just as importantly, in your own. (See links below.)

Read a variety of the "classics." Nietzsche, Plato, Hume, Daniel Dennett are some good starting points.

Learn to let go of dogmas and beliefs. Train yourself to be able to look at issues objectively and without personal bias. Not only is there more than one side to an issue, usually there are more than two sides. Avoid black-&-white, "us vs. them" thinking.

Don't take a position on an issue and then try to rationalize it. Use reason and evidence to lead you to the best position.

Question your premises and starting assumptions.

Being open-minded does not mean turning off your bogosity filter.

Refrain from using appeals to authority.

Be well-read in a variety of topics. You'd be surprised how much a few books can stretch your views. Don't limit your reading to one point of view on a topic.

Remember that no matter how much you want or believe something to be true, logic and evidence trump belief every time. Don't be afraid to change your view or belief if another point of view has a more sound argument for it.

Talking philosophy with others should be viewed as an exchange of ideas rather than a contest of wits. Which is not to say that you aren't allowed to vivisect their arguments until they plea for mercy. :-)

Learn to be able to see the Big Picture. How does this issue relate to other issues? What external factors affect this issue? How does this issue look from the viewpoint of _____? Where does this issue fit in in the big scheme of things? What IS the big scheme of things?

Study up on epistemology: how we know what we know. So many people confuse personal belief with reality because they don't seriously question _why_ they believe what they believe.

Finally, remember that philosophy is an exercise in thinking, not in self-confirmation. The brain is like a muscle: use it hard and often and it will grow strong; use it weakly and it will atrophy.

Answer 2

Hello:

There has been some good advice so far and I apologize for restating what is already been said...

Well for starters I would say not to be afraid of any new ideas...no matter how insane or strange. Do not be afraid of questioning anything.

I liked the notion of looking into logic...basically when you are looking at the world you want to make sure that you are using sound reason or else the answers you come up with may be gibberish.

Recapitulation: this means that once you have thought of something, don't be afraid to think of it again. maybe new information or experience has changed the way you think about in some way.

"Thinking outside the box" This is by far the best skill I have developed. It seems like people are more or less on the same page on most things...and this isn't a bad thing because they reason why we do a lot of things is because its the best way...An example I saw earlier today...I was in a shopping center and it has a lot of stores and a badly designed road system (too much traffic, no space for it). It was pretty backed up, now on the way in I waited in the line like everyone else, however on the way out I just drove a little out of my way (about 3x as far) but if I waited I would have been there at least 4x as long. This isn't a great example of thinking outside the box, but on the same hand I didn't see anyone else going around (the part of the center I cut through had almost no traffic) so something occurred to me that did not to other folks and it made my life easier.

TO recap:

1) don't be afraid of new ideas and the stranger the better (when you examine then you can always dismiss them if they are not sound). 2) Make sure you are being honest with yourself and that your reasoning is with sound reasoning. 3) Once you have come to a conclusion...you are not done. Sooner or later you should reexamine that idea...in particular is some does not "sit right" with the answer. 4) Do not be afraid to think differently. Pretend you are from the future, pretend you are from the past. Pretend you a Jesus...what would Jesus really thing about glo sticks (I think he would find them wasteful but still kinda neat).

I would say check out Plato's dialogs with Socrates for examples of this kind of reasoning and how annoying it can be to others (which is awesome).

I hope this helps.

Rev Phil

Answer 3

Begin by going to the library and finding the series of books called the "Great Books of the Western World." Then read everything in Volumes II and III. These are the essential 103 subjects written about by almost all philosophers. The chapters are short, understandable, and the references lead to the longer versions in the rest of the books.
Then, decide which branch of philosophy you wish to concentrate on, and study it. But do not neglect the other studies, they are all related. And by all means, have a deep and clear understanding of epistemology, even if you wish to go into aesthetics or ethics, etc.

Answer 4

Either take a logic course in college or read texts/books to understand and build your logic and avoid fallacies. This would be the first step. Go through newspaper articles and find the flaws in their logic (the fallacies).

Then read all the major works of philosophy. Your studies in logic will assist you in making better arguments and becoming a better philosopher.

Answer 5

Develop your inner sense, your instrumentality of awareness, and champion your inner child.

Wisdom, wise dominion, and the love of truth, also are cultivatable.

Cultivating three nested spheres: "Love God completely; love colleague as Self; and love as Christ Jesus, Truth, loves" is also quite helpful. Asking daily and before retiring nightly for God to make you a better person, guide, guard, and instruct your soul, is also extremely efficacious.

See "The Beautiful Story of a Master," Louise-Marie Frenette, and "A Philosophy of Universality," "To Live Within," Lizelle Reymond, "Watch Your Dreams," "Psychoenergetic Science," Dr. William Tiller, http://www.tiller.org and "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, for some lines promoting such inner progress.

And, reading with Emersonian awareness for the main ideas in Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Leibniz, Descartes, Kant, Husserl, Whitehead, and suchlike is recommended :)

best regards,

j.

Answer 6

depends on what it means to you...but just start asking 'why' all the time...there is a short poem called Philosopher...it goes
I?
Why?
:)

Answer 7

Read Plato - The Republic, most insightful book i ever read. Very deep.

Answer 8

Open your mind to everything. Remove what isn't reasonable to your mind. Share what is left in your words to others.

Answer 9

If you know how to LISTEN and UNDERSTAND........
Not necessarily to give words of advise and opinion but just how to realize the depth of oneself......

Answer 10

Aspire to be a great one.