One does not have to know the path, to walk the path.

Morality. Right and Wrong. Ethics.


That's the next chapter in the book I'm currently reviewing, Nigel Warburtons "The basics of  philosophy"

I say "reviewing", what I really mean is reading with a thoughtful mind as a relative novice and forming ideas on this thing called philosophy.

But what is Philosophy? It occurred to me I hadn't really covered that, so here's a potted version.

The word itself, if you're not aware comes from an amalgamation of the greek for love, "philo" and 'Sophos" which is wisdom. so Philosophy is literally a word meaning

"lover of wisdom" 

The word has two contexts in modern language use. It can mean an idea or code that one holds to:

"My friend's philosophy is never to drink whilst driving, as it risks spillage"

or as its the case with Nigel's and my own use of the word, It can refer to a search for the meaning behind certain viewpoints,  using rational, critical, and (crucially), open mined, debate about any given topic.

So, as one might imagine the practice of discussion and arguing one's point is a distinct skill that a philosopher must embrace, hone and polish, as are the mental disciplines of both critical and uncritical rational thought, analysis of the underpinning concepts of a given statement and the presentation of that analysis in the form of arguments.

What Philosophy is perhaps not, at least in my view, is a means to change the other persons mind in a debate as a winner/loser scenario. Although of course one or other of the participants might choose to change their position on a topic as a result of the debate, but that's an effect, not the goal, therefore not quite the same thing.

If knowledge could be said to be the product of observation, then Wisdom could be said to be born of  the thoughtful examination of that which we observe, namely the knowledge we've acquired.

After all, the internet is an abundant seemingly limitless source of knowledge, but it can hardly be said to be wise in this sense.

So, if philosophy's true purpose isn't to "persuade", or "brow beat" or "Win" what could it's purpose be? In my view it's simply this:

To make one think, and in the thinking, navigate your own "Path of Sophos". 

Or then again......