Philosophy

Other than the fact that it is your job, why do you practice philosophy now? Bob West

Comments

I wouldn't say I "practice" philosophy. It's not a religion, or a regimen, or a set exercises. I pursued my interests in philosophy because I loved the questions, the answers, and the arguments. The questions seemed fundamental, ones on which the intelligibility or proper interpretation of other disciplines turned and yet ones which other disciplines wouldn't touch. Nothing was off limits in philosophy, including the nature of philosophy itself, and I liked that. And I loved the answers that people gave -- not because I thought they were right, but because they were ingenious, comprehensive, perverse, frightening, beautiful. And finally, one didn't have to respect a view because of its popularity or its pedigree or what-have-you: all that counted were the arguments in its favor. Philosophy's playing field is as level as they come -- and I liked that too. But that's just me: please the response to Question 755.

I actually think that the idea that one "practices" philosophy is an intriguing one. While I agree with Alex that one doesn't practice philosophy as one might practice religion or playing piano, there is certainly a habit of the mind that one has, as a philosopher, that is nurtured by thinking hard about things as part of the daily-ness of one's life, fine-tuning one's arguments and turns of phrase so as to articulate ones position as clearly and eloquently as one possibly can. In this sense, the practicing of philosophy may be a bit like practicing a martial art -- learning techniques of defense and offense while remaining centered, focused, and comfortable standing your ground simply on the strength, beauty, and elegance of your argument/move, but flexible enough to concede in the face of a stronger, more beautiful, more persuasive move! But now I believe I have exhausted the analogy!

One more thought: I see in the practicing of philosophy an exercise in freedom at the most fundamental level (and it is this that Alex alludes to as well). No topic is off-limits in philosophy, no issue is emphatically settled, and no person is barred from contributing to the discussion. To be sure, the arguments must be coherent and the persons need to be rational, but even these things, what makes an argument a good one or a person rational, are open to scrutiny!

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