I did! I chose to study Philosophy as my first degree when I was 18 years old. After following developments as a hobby during my working life I went back and took a Master's degree in Philosophy when I retired. It helps a lot to have the training for the discipline and to know that most of your "original" thoughts have been had by other people generations ago.
On Dec 15, 4:24 am, adrian <[email protected]> wrote: > HHm, > Philosophy, together with shamanism and Hayoka comedians, is a calling. One > does not elect or study > to become a philosopher. It's all about how our environment affects us. And > of course there's not a > thing around but has its bias = individuality = specialty. Contradict me if > you can. Comedians > expose us to social fictions and philosophers comment on how they're made to > work. > > adrian > > > > Ebed wrote: > > I think we could argue that philosophy is of first importance, period. > > This is true whether we are talking about an individual, a sub- > > culture, a culture, or the masses in general. It's not sufficient to > > speak of the "current state" of philosophy without taking a look at > > the history of thought that got us here. > > > If we look at said history, we find patterns which affect our thinking > > whether we realize it or not. We need to realize that "thought," used > > here in a broad stroke definition, since Plato (and arguably for all > > human history) has always originated from philosophers. It's paramount > > to remember that even though there is now a "school" named Philosophy, > > philosophers have always existed as the "thinkers." So thoughts, > > ideas, theories, originate from the thinkers, but never stay here. The > > general rule is that ideas are transmitted from Philosophy down > > through the other medias. It goes something like Philosophy, Art, > > Music, Pop Culture. This last part is the "masses." Remember that the > > transmission takes years. A good example of this, is the transmission > > of Existentialism. (Again, in generalized terms). > > > Forgive me for my convulsion. I lack the eloquence other posters seem > > to brim with. My point is simply that nothing is more practical than > > philosophy. If I, or you, or anybody, leaves their thoughts > > unexamined, I, you, they will by extension use only the logic and > > reason that their culture gives them. In Western Culture, that means > > that a person thinking with unexamined thoughts, will be using they > > logic and reasoning (or lack of) of the philosophers that came 60-100 > > years before them. And in 30-60 years, the masses will be thinking > > using the logic and reasoning of current philosophers. So on a very > > personal, real level, Philosophy is practical. > > > There is one other thing I'd like to submit to your critique. I think > > we do ourselves a disservice when we don't talk about presuppositions. > > We all have them, and yet so often we don't deal with them properly, > > and tragically sometimes continue thinking as if they weren't there to > > begin with. This becomes especially important when we wish to discuss > > the practicality of either a philosophy, or Philosophy in general. > > Remember that no matter how removed Philosophy as an institution seems > > to be, it can never escape being personally relevant and practical, > > because in practice it's always done by an individual (or group of > > individuals). > > > More to say, but we can save that for another discussion. > > > On Nov 4, 12:01 am, Greg <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hello Chazwin > >> thanks a lot for the great enlightement. your post is great, awesome. > >> It offered me a perspective that I did not have about philosophy. Yes > >> I have my reservations > >> about the current state of philosophy, but your point of view is > >> instructive, it has helped me get a broader view on the subject. I > >> still have questions on why the relevance of philosophy to the masses, > >> since by nature it excludes the majority through the use of vague and > >> idealistic themes and the like. > > >> My heart goes out to you on your current situation, Your great > >> attitude and positive perspective to such an experience leaves me to > >> one conclusion. > >> You are a great men. I trust in all confidence that you will get > >> through this. I have an uncle who was diagnised with cancer, and he is > >> a survivor. One thing I noticed about him that I have noticed also in > >> you that was critical to him going through the whole ordeal was his > >> great attitude and realism. > > >> Be blessed and stay blessed. > > >> Regards > > >> Greg- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Epistemology" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/epistemology?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
