How would you know that one's philosophy is the best of all those which have ever been taught in the world?

Question

Thanks to all your answers. Have a great day!

Answer 1

This question sounds like coming from a philosopher who is looking for satisfaction by getting confirmed by people telling him that of course his/hers philosophy is the best. But joking apart: This question comes from a field which is bound to the intellect and sees 'philosophy' as a mean to get satisfaction, self confirmation and security out of one's intellectual manifestations.
True and real 'philosophy' comes out of one's personal growing process and must not necessarily be pronounced or expressed through concepts, which then can be used by other people, giving them some arguments to add to their worldview, satisfying the need for a 'higher sense' beside their established dominating materialistic worldview. There is no 'best philosophy'. The best is what serves you best and this can be any of the many existing which are 'taught' as concepts: Sophisticated philosophical concepts, the best on the market!
The only one that is real, and this without doubt is the 'best', comes out of one's advanced life experience as a conclusion of the wisdom one has gained.
BeiYin

Answer 2

Whatever has been taught are concepts coming out of the life experience of somebody who had the capacity to bring it into words, that can be understood and be integrated into ones own already established world view. In so far functioning as a frame or trap, giving a kind of intellectual security, but keeping the person stuck and limited, mostly not open for any new influence. Not to go into such trap, one only can avoid any kind of philosophy, so better not reading any book. The best book without doubt is the 'book of life'. The philosophy one will gain and develop must not be written down, manifesting ones intellectual property. Ones philosophy can be best lived and nothing else. One will become the bright shining sun, warming all around... Then there can't exist any question what philosophy is the best, because there is no separation when living it...
InkyPinkie

Answer 3

Hi Third P.

There is no way to know that one's philosophy is the best of all those who have ever been taught in the world.

For example, I may be a very intelligent person, one who has studied philosophy for many years & has formed my own ideas about what is the best philosophy. I, therefore, believe that MY philosophy is the best of everyone's.

It is only my opinion. It is not a fact.

There are many different philosophers, each who think that their philosophy is the correct way of thinking. Again, it is only opinion, regardless of how esteemed that person may be.

Philosophy is not hard science, does not have solid facts upon which things can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. Philosophy is thought, ideas, beliefs — opinions.

Opinion, when it is compared to fact, is usually seen as less valid and based on observations and information gathered in a "non-scientific" way. Opinion is a conclusion or judgment held with confidence but falling short of positive knowledge. Opinion is the systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause, i.e., philosophy.

However, at risk of clouding the answer, I will admit that there are certain views that seem to be believed "across the board," believed by many different philosophers. Most do believe in living a peaceful life, filled with virtue of some type. There does seem to be that commonality; but still, each philosopher has his/her own views as to how to get there.

Therefore, you see that no matter how each of us may believe in a certain philosophy, without a doubt, it is still our own opinion. There is no scientific way to prove that one philosophy is better than another. It is simply what we believe, even if we would defend that belief to the death.

So, there is no way to know that one's philosophy is the best of all those who have ever been taught in the world.

Peace.

Answer 4

We stand at a unique point.....we have before us in this age of technology the ability to read, comprehend, learn, absorb all the history that mankind has ever left a trace of--this means you, me, the little guy....all of us as long as we can find a way to read it, never in history has this been so, only the privileged where allowed such insight, and even now the greatest philosophies have all the minds of the past, all evidence of their words so as they may draw upon. Think just a moment, you have more knowledge here 2007 than Plato did......in all his words and wisdom.

Yes, we have the words of the dead philosophers, the teachings of the greatest and most admired people on the Earth for all time, (we have also some not so great teachings). But we have the ability to get as much information on every form of philosophy that is in print, almost every-word that has ever been said. We have all philosophies translated into English or whatever language we want, if not we can find someone to do it or some computer program.

So, when we look back...and mind you it is all looking back, one must take into consideration if the philosophy that they are looking for is the best for the world, then what has that philosophy done, for the GREATEST NUMBER OF HUMAN on this Earth???? Not necessarily the way in which a philosophy was presented, but the way in which it allowed the greater body to live, express themselves and function as individuals. That which has given to this day the dignity and fullness of mankind's life on our Earth.

Of course, as civilization grow in knowledge and example, the concept of which is best will keep moving....

Remember, that wisdom is not bestowed upon those that have the sole ability in their station in life to understand philosophy or the process of reason, logic and action. Every human on the face of this Earth has the same ability, it is whether or not those of us that can avail ourselves of this unique circumstance and move forward with it, or those that don't have such, or lead by those with purity in their hearts.

Answer 5

I do not think the answer to this question that can be discerned solely through the operation of our conscious reasoning abilities. There are some things that can only be known in two other ways: by the impact that the philosophy has on you as a individual person (by our soul innately knowing that it is true) and the impact that this has on the larger world. For an example of this I would point out that it certainly defies logic that a child would be born to poor parents in Bethlehem and would begin to teach in that remote part of the world. That this child would become a man who was known during his lifetime by only a few hundred people. That the truth of his teachings was so powerful that within just a few decades communities of believers existed in every major city in the Mediterranean region. Ultimately these teachings would be believed by billions of people the world over. The answer is that the truth is not logical, it is just true and this truth is known by our soul at its deepest and fundamental level as the truth and this truth is transforms each individual who permits this truth to be known at this deepest part of ourselves. I would also say that a person so transformed manifests this truth in their lives by becoming a person who is kinder, more loving, more joyful, more grateful, happier and acting with mercy toward all mankind.

Answer 6

when you consider philosophy in any depth, one of the things you realize is that there is no such thing as a best philosophy.

first you'd have to understand all the philosophies you are judging, and in doing so you would come across all the arguments in different philosophies concerning the very concept of "best", and after understanding them i'm pretty sure anybody would be stuck on choosing one above all others, especially when you realize that different philosophies will seem the best to different people, so your best is by no means everybody else's best..

Answer 7

I believe that different philosophy favors different type of person but no philosophy favors all. Even if most agree upon something and say that it would be the best philosophy, it does not prove anything. We will never find out the answer because all of us are judges. Even if a lot of people agreed on something, it does not follow that it would be the best. it would still be possible that only one person believe that a certain philosophy is the best but even though the man is correct, because most of us are unaware of the fallacy "Argumentum and Populum" or appeal to people/appeal to popular prejudice, most people never accept an opinion only supported by a single person. This fallacy traps people into only one idea

It is not about one's philosophy. Wit is useless without action. As wise as you are yet you don't put what you believe into action, your philosophy is as useless as a pest.

(thanks for the question, i liked answering it, star for you)

Answer 8

Study the basics of many philosophies (there are books for beginners that tell you in a nutshell the fundamentals of major philosophers). Then,pick one(s) that sound right to you and try applying them to your life. Does that philosophy bring you happiness? Success? Do you flourish when following the principles of that philosophy?

" Your only choice, [says philosopher Ayn Rand], is whether your principles are true or false, rational or irrational, consistent or contradictory. The only way to know which they are is to integrate your principles.

What integrates them? Philosophy. A philosophic system is an integrated view of existence. As a human being, you have no choice about the fact that you need a philosophy. Your only choice is whether you define your philosophy by a conscious, rational, disciplined process of thought and scrupulously logical deliberation — or let your subconscious accumulate a junk heap of unwarranted conclusions, false generalizations, undefined contradictions, undigested slogans, unidentified wishes, doubts and fears, thrown together by chance, but integrated by your subconscious into a kind of mongrel philosophy and fused into a single, solid weight: self-doubt, like a ball and chain in the place where your mind's wings should have grown. "

Answer 9

I think to answer this with a poem I wrote when I was posing this question to myself:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vigilance

For years I've been vigilant
noticing when I'm suffering
knowing these are moments
to see my identification.

But what has been fooling me
for so long, are those moments
when I'm not suffering
being happy with my program.

I almost feel angry at those wise ones
who write about noticing one's reactions
that they are like waves on the sea,
to accept - that these too shall pass.

Truly, I can't be angry at anyone
because I know that I've only seen
what I wanted to see. My only concern
was drowning out my misery.

How long should one accept being the
watcher, letting all these emotions
rock one, seemingly out of control
but happy to be able to watch them?

Can one squarely confront the fact
that reactions of happiness
are when one's interpretation of
reality suits one to a tee?

Can one squarely confront the fact
that reactions of misery
are when reality doesn't fit
one's own interpretation?

I am no longer interested in changing
my interpretation, to counteract
my disappointment with reality
knowing now, all serves to confirm.

Being tired of these manipulations
leaves me in an empty field.

Betsy

Answer 10

One is drawn to that philosophy which best accords with one's nature. It does not have to be 'the best' - no one has been able to determine which is 'the best' philosophy for that matter, and even if that were otherwise, it would not make any difference: fishes, birds and primates stick to their own diets, they are not waiting for the nutritionists to declare which is the most wholesome food available on the planet.