By nature I’m not an introspective person, but have interest in philosophy as it can lead to exploration of different ways to understand the world. But, for me, this is key; understanding the world is of greater consequence than dwelling on myself. I’m convinced by the mental health epidemic we see today that as soon as I make this world all about me, the more miserable I’ll become.
Some great reminders here, Martin. To your point about reading older books, one of the reasons I include Aristotle, Plato, Hegel, and Nietzsche (among others) in my writing is to remind readers that much of what we need and seek to know has long been known. I find deep reassurance in this.
> eg. if you spend all day thinking about philosophy of mind, you might consider learning something about neuroscience.
I’ve been interested in philosophy of mind for years but when I finally got stuck in and started reading it seriously, I felt that everyone had been led astray by Descartes’ ideas from centuries ago. I read Principles of Neural Science next and I often wonder what philosophers of mind would have to say say if they started from Kandel rather than Descartes.
10/10 - the main advice I would give people when studying philosophy is to start very very broad. Read Wikipedia, existential comics, anything that’ll set up the main dynamics and conflicts in your head. Then pick what interests you and read primary texts, but also find real experts in those areas - academics know so so so much and have spent years learning to process those arguments. You will get miles ahead with a tutor.
Your approach to philosophy seems to be the journey is the essence. I agree with you that no human can arrive at the endpoint of anything. That is why I am glad to believe in God who has the capacity to be the endpoint in a gracious and beautiful manner. I know the one who knows. Then we humans can poke around in the small neighborhood we are capable of knowing something about.
This seems a balanced and thoughtful approach. Just don't leave out the possibility of God, and a theistic world view starting with the earliest philosopher like Boethius and Augustine, those of the middle ages like Aquinas or Albert the Great,or more recent philosophers like Jacques Maritain, Edith Stein, or Dietrich von Hildebrand.
> Just don't leave out the possibility of God, and a theistic world view
Even more broadly I'd say, don't fall into the trap of only considering either physical materialism, or the kind of God that Judaism/Christianty/Islam has spent 2000 years arguing for. The space of possibilities for views including some kind of "absolute" is much vaster than that.
Banger post
By nature I’m not an introspective person, but have interest in philosophy as it can lead to exploration of different ways to understand the world. But, for me, this is key; understanding the world is of greater consequence than dwelling on myself. I’m convinced by the mental health epidemic we see today that as soon as I make this world all about me, the more miserable I’ll become.
Some great reminders here, Martin. To your point about reading older books, one of the reasons I include Aristotle, Plato, Hegel, and Nietzsche (among others) in my writing is to remind readers that much of what we need and seek to know has long been known. I find deep reassurance in this.
I definitely agree with this one.
> eg. if you spend all day thinking about philosophy of mind, you might consider learning something about neuroscience.
I’ve been interested in philosophy of mind for years but when I finally got stuck in and started reading it seriously, I felt that everyone had been led astray by Descartes’ ideas from centuries ago. I read Principles of Neural Science next and I often wonder what philosophers of mind would have to say say if they started from Kandel rather than Descartes.
10/10 - the main advice I would give people when studying philosophy is to start very very broad. Read Wikipedia, existential comics, anything that’ll set up the main dynamics and conflicts in your head. Then pick what interests you and read primary texts, but also find real experts in those areas - academics know so so so much and have spent years learning to process those arguments. You will get miles ahead with a tutor.
It’s “care of the self” - and you convey this well. Thank you.
Your approach to philosophy seems to be the journey is the essence. I agree with you that no human can arrive at the endpoint of anything. That is why I am glad to believe in God who has the capacity to be the endpoint in a gracious and beautiful manner. I know the one who knows. Then we humans can poke around in the small neighborhood we are capable of knowing something about.
This seems a balanced and thoughtful approach. Just don't leave out the possibility of God, and a theistic world view starting with the earliest philosopher like Boethius and Augustine, those of the middle ages like Aquinas or Albert the Great,or more recent philosophers like Jacques Maritain, Edith Stein, or Dietrich von Hildebrand.
I love reading the Christian theologians, even if the whole God thing never really appealed to me.
> Just don't leave out the possibility of God, and a theistic world view
Even more broadly I'd say, don't fall into the trap of only considering either physical materialism, or the kind of God that Judaism/Christianty/Islam has spent 2000 years arguing for. The space of possibilities for views including some kind of "absolute" is much vaster than that.