The mise en scène of philosophy, as depicted by Norman Melchert, is a “great conversation” in which we interact not only with each other, but with the great thinkers of history who have also interacted with each other in the search for truth via an ongoing exchange of ideas and arguments about humanity’s deepest and most importunate concerns. I see the pursuit of philosophy as one’s personal quest for truth couched in the language of a pilgrimage which will continue for the remainder of one’s life. The seeker of truth engages in the great conversation during the course of their journey, administering critical thinking as one encounters the truth claims posited by the remarkable (and not so remarkable) intellectuals of both past and present.
Month: October 2018
The Heresy of Socrates
Socrates as presented in Plato’s Dialogues bred much enmity among the self-proclaimed “experts” he questioned due to their embarrassment and humiliation after the Socratic Method – the technique of “question and answer, questioning the answers, questioning those questions, question some more, repeat as necessary” – revealed their ignorance of the subject about which they claimed to have knowledge. This ultimately led to his death. Erroneous accusations of corrupting the youth and advocating religious heresies were made against Socrates and he was brought to trial. The jury of 501 Athenians found Socrates guilty and sentenced him to death by hemlock.
Rules of Engagement
There are certain “rules of engagement” I do my best to follow when I am having a conversation, particularly with people who believe something I don’t. Keep in mind these are my own personal guidelines, and while I think they are good guidelines, I do not believe they represent everything that can be said about how to engage with other people in conversation. These rules serve as a solid starting point from which productive discussion in both business and personal relationships can exist:
What is Philosophy?
“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.”
— Socrates [Theaetetus, 155d]
A friend of mine who knows I have a degree in philosophy once asked me: “Can you tell me, in one sentence, what philosophy is?” I answered, “Philosophy is the attempt to ask questions about the nature of everything in the pursuit of truth.” I then realized, regardless of how accurate my answer is, it won’t help someone not familiar with philosophy understand what the discipline is. I also considered the fact that several other definitions of “philosophy” can be given that are as accurate, if not more so, than my own. Continue reading “What is Philosophy?”
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