The word "philosophy" means love of wisdom. But a philosopher is not someone who simply knows a lot or studies about love. A philosopher is actively involved in critical thinking about big questions that cannot be answered clearly. The life of a philosopher is not easy, but if you enjoy studying complex relationships and want to think deeply about topics that are important but often quite difficult to understand, maybe the study of philosophy could be your way of life, if this is the way for you.
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Method 1 of 3: Preparing Your Mind
Step 1. Ask about anything
Philosophy develops because there is someone who loudly and critically questions the things that exist in life and events in this world as a whole. This person must be someone who is free from prejudice, indifference, and dogma.
- A philosopher is someone who does a lot of reflection and observation: making use of every experience in search of an understanding, even if it takes the most courageous honesty to do this. In addition, he must also be able to let go of the views that one has previously accepted in the past and expose one's every belief to critical research carried out in depth. No belief or source of view is immune from this, regardless of its source, authority, or emotional strength. A person must be able to understand himself first so that he can think philosophically.
- Philosophers don't just give opinions and chat meaninglessly. On the contrary, philosophers develop arguments, based on a proposition that other philosophers can and will challenge. The goal of philosophical thought is not to be right, but to ask the right questions and seek understanding.
Step 2. Read articles on philosophy
Hundreds of years of philosophical thought predate your own investigation of life, and studying the ideas of other philosophers will give rise to new ideas, questions, and problems that need further thought. The more writings on philosophy you can read, the better philosopher you will become.
- For a philosopher, some activities are more important than reading. Philosopher Anthony Grayling describes reading as a "great intellectual interest," and recommends reading literature in the morning, then reading philosophical writings throughout the day.
- Read ancient philosophical writings. Some of the philosophical ideas that have survived and have had a strong influence on Western philosophy came from such well-known philosophers as Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Descartes, and Kant, and philosophers today recommend that you also make an effort to study their important works. In Eastern philosophy, the ideas of Lao-Tse, Confucius, and Buddhism have existed since time immemorial, and attracted the attention of other young philosophers.
- At the same time, if you start reading one of the works of these thinkers and it doesn't interest you, don't be afraid to leave it and choose another work that interests you more. You can always come back to read it at any time.
- Studying philosophy will be more structured if it is done by pursuing a bachelor's degree, but many great philosophers are self-taught.
- Balance reading what is written with writing the results of your own investigations: if reading can broaden your horizons about life, your writing will deepen your understanding. Start immediately writing your reflections on the philosophical writings you read.
Step 3. Think big
Take some time to think about this life, what it means to live, die, come into this world, and what its purpose is. These topics will lead to the great unanswered, often unanswered, questions posed only by philosophers, young people, and other curious people with imagination and the courage to ask.
More "applicable" topics from the social sciences (such as political science or sociology), the arts, and even the physical sciences (such as biology and physics) can serve as fodder for philosophical thought
Step 4. Engage in the debate
In order for you to develop critical thinking, you need to take part in a debate. This method will develop your ability to think freely and critically. In fact, philosophers view the exchange of ideas through this debate as a path leading to truth.
- The purpose of this debate is not to be a contest winner, but to learn and develop your thinking skills. There will always be people who know things better than you, and pride will hinder your ability to learn from them. Open your mind.
- Make valid and reasonable arguments. Every conclusion must follow a proposition, and every proposition must have evidence to support it. Present tangible evidence, and don't just go round and round on repetition or stupidity. A philosopher who wants to develop himself must make constructive arguments and provide criticism.
Method 2 of 3: Applying Philosophy
Step 1. Develop an investigation method and implement it
An important part of philosophy is the investigation and analysis of life. In other words, the main task of philosophy is to find ways that can explain and describe the basic structure and patterns of life, often by breaking it down into smaller parts.
- No one particular investigative method is said to be the most powerful, so you must develop the most appropriate and intellectually stimulating method.
- The decisions you make at this stage will be related to: what kind of questions you want to ask or what kind of relationship you want to explore. Are you interested in the human condition? Political matters? The relationship between understanding, or between speech and understanding? Having different areas of interest will lead to different ways of asking questions and developing theory. What you read from other philosophical works will help you achieve this goal by showing you the ways in which others have understood philosophy in the past.
- For example, there are philosophers who only believe in their thoughts and logic, not in feelings, which can sometimes lie to us. Descartes, one of the most respected philosophers throughout history, was the one who adopted this view. Contrary to this view, other philosophers use the results of their personal observations of the life around them as a basis for investigating the realm of consciousness. These two views are very different but equally valid approaches to understanding philosophy.
- If you can, it's best if you are the source of your own investigation. Because you are always there for yourself, you can make a lot of progress each time you investigate yourself (and many others will). Consider what is the basis of what you believe. Why do you believe what you believe? Start at the beginning and ask your reasons.
- As you begin to focus your attention on investigation, always try to think systematically. Use logic and always be consistent. Do comparisons and contrasts, mentally look at things separately to understand how they work, ask what would happen if two things were combined (synthesized), or if something was removed from a process or relationship (removed). Keep asking these questions in different situations.
Step 2. Start writing your views
Write down what you think about your research subject, including views you don't think you should write about (perhaps because you think there are people who will think they are stupid). You may not come to surprising conclusions, but you can put your assumptions to yourself. You may find yourself wondering how ridiculous the assumptions you have made are, and you will continue to mature in the process.
- If you don't know where to start, you can start with questions that other philosophers have explored before, such as how one should interpret the existence of God, or whether we have free will or are controlled by fate.
- The true power of philosophy is in the continuity of your thinking which you keep in your writings. When you are investigating something, your efforts can indeed help, but once you come back to think about it after your day(s), the different situations you have been in will bring new perspectives to your investigation. It is this cumulative mind power that brings you to the 'Eureka!' moment. (I know) this.
Step 3. Develop a philosophy of life
As you write, you must begin to develop your own philosophical insights, which will lead you to logical and true ideas about life and the world.
- Accepting an insight is a natural thing for philosophers, especially those related to certain problems. This is the framework of the mindset. Many great philosophers have succeeded in developing this framework of thinking. And at the same time, they continue to examine every problem with a critical eye.
- The main task underlying the efforts of philosophers is the development of models. Whether we realize it or not, each of us has an abductive model of reality that is constantly adapted to our observations. We can use deductive thinking (e.g. "with gravity, the stone I throw will surely fall down"), and inductive thinking (e.g. "I've observed weather patterns like this many times; I'm willing to bet it will rain again in the future. ") in creating a model for making repeatable estimates. The process of developing a philosophical theory is the process of making this model clear and examining it.
Step 4. Rewrite and get feedback
Through some drafts, you should organize your ideas more regularly and let others read your writing. You can ask your friends, family, teachers, or classmates for their opinion on your writing, or you can post your writing online (via a website, blog, or message board) and read the responses.
- Be prepared to accept criticism, and use it to develop your ideas. Make it a habit to analyze the evidence provided so that you can gain understanding, and let the insights and criticisms of others help you expand your thinking.
- Beware of criticism that is less or not useful (for example because you have understood your argument, or even read it). Critics like this assume that they are thinkers without really accepting the philosophical views given, but they feel that they are still engaged in philosophical thought. This kind of 'debate' would be useless and very tiring.
- Once you've received feedback from readers, write again, discussing useful feedback.
Method 3 of 3: Become an Expert
Step 1. Strive for a very high degree
In order to have a successful career in philosophy, you must have a doctorate, or at least a bachelor's degree.
- Earning an income from philosophy means using knowledge and (hopefully) wisdom to produce original works of philosophical thought and, usually, teach this field to others. In other words, a philosopher today is by nature an academic, and must have a very high degree.
- Equally important, the regularity of an undergraduate education will assist you in furthering your philosophical thinking. You must specifically learn how to write according to the writing rules required for academic writing.
- Take the time to search for the philosophy programs offered by various universities. Choose the one that suits you best and enroll in the program of your choice. Enrollment for these courses is usually fiercely competitive, so don't expect to be accepted into the first program you apply to. We recommend that you apply to several universities, ideally 10 to 12.
Step 2. Publish your idea
Even before you finish college, you should start trying to publish your philosophical views.
- There are many academic writings dealing with philosophy. By publishing this article you will gain a reputation as a philosophical thinker and increase your chances of being accepted as a philosopher.
- It's also a good idea to present your writing at an academic conference. Your participation in this auspicious opportunity will allow you to get more feedback from other experts and will provide a good future for your career as well.
Step 3. Learn to teach
Most of the great philosophers throughout history have been teachers. In addition, universities that may wish to accept you teaching philosophy in a professional manner will ask you to teach young philosophers.
Your undergraduate program can give you the opportunity to teach high school students and develop your teaching skills
Step 4. Find a job
Once you have completed your education as an undergraduate, start looking for work as a philosopher. This process is even more competitive than university admission. Be prepared to face rejection many times before you can finally succeed.
- Many philosophy scholars fail to find work in academia. However, the skills you will learn at university can be useful in a variety of occupations, and you can continue to work in philosophy in your spare time. Remember that the writings of some of the greatest philosophers of the past were never considered important while they were still alive.
- The benefits of disciplined thinking can never be estimated, even if not put to work. In a day-to-day environment, where there is always an abundance of information, some seem good, or worse, deliberately poison one's mental health, the investigative thinking of a philosopher can be a means of recognizing which information is half-true or wholly. wrong.
Tips
- Curiosity is philosophy, philosophy is curiosity. Never stop asking why, even if you already have an answer.
- Find meaning in everything around you. The next time you encounter a situation where your intuition is telling you something doesn't make sense or seems "in doubt," find out why. Philosophy is more than just reading philosophical works. Real philosophy comes from everyday thinking and the results of analysis of everything around us.
- Don't hesitate to ask questions if there are conditions that contradict what you believe. Your ability to see as many aspects of an issue as possible will go a long way in sharpening your arguments and thinking. A very great philosopher can (and probably will) challenge the fundamental beliefs held by the society around him without fear of criticism. This is exactly what Darwin, Galileo, and Einstein did, and why they are remembered.
- As Thomas Jefferson said: "A man who accepts my ideas, accepts them without diminishing what I have; like a man who lights his candle out of mine, receives light without darkening me." Don't be afraid if your ideas are used by other people. Allowing others to hear your ideas will indeed bring criticism and contributions, just prepare your thoughts and counter arguments.
- Assumptions are the enemy of philosophy and intelligent new thinking. Never stop asking "why?"
Warning
- Don't be afraid to come up with a radical opinion, but don't let this new opinion and its authenticity prevent you from seeing the truth of more conservative ideas.
- By studying philosophy, your ideas will be more mature, you can even become more mature than your friends. You will face friends who are no longer interested in being friends with you, or who are not willing to compromise on their ideas. This is normal, although it can isolate you. The search for a philosopher is a personal journey, and the life of a philosopher can be a solitary journey.
