how to be a philosopher

We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Earning a living from philosophy means using your knowledge and (hopefully) wisdom to produce original works of philosophical thought and, usually, to teach others about the field. While you may be able to find work as a philosopher with just a master's degree, your chances will be much greater if you get a doctorate. In How to Be a Stoic, philosopher Massimo Pigliucci offers Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that inspired the great emperor Marcus Aurelius, as the best way to attain it. Consider the source. Ask intelligent questions. If you can, it's great to be the source of your own investigation. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Not exactly! This article received 20 testimonials and 87% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. At the same time, if you start reading something by one of these thinkers and it isn't stimulating to you, don't be afraid to set it aside and pick up something else that you find more compelling. Don't hesitate to argue positions that are the opposite of what you believe. Whenever you encounter something that your intuition tells you doesn't make sense or seems "fishy," look into why. Thank you! But arguments in another sense – vigorous interchanges of ideas, either verbally or in writing – are also very common in philosophy. This is the first I am exploring my interest in, "Very helpful. Definitely not! Last Updated: May 14, 2020 If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. moments. These cases aside, if you find yourself tempted to don a uniform, or worse, impose one on others, you might like to reconsider your philosophical credentials. More "practical" topics, like those derived from the social sciences (e.g. It’s hard work finding a good argument. That is just some basic logic, but it is at the core ( or at least should be) of all regular and philosophical thought. Singer has convinced many philosophers that consuming meat is morally wrong, by and large. Logic is the tool that you use to create ideas. Research source A teaching philosophy isn’t a laundry list of what you’ve done, says Mr. Green. I'm an art student right now because I thought that was my passion, but lately I have an interest in philosophy. Epicureanism. Being able to see as many sides of an issue as possible is an excellent way to hone your own arguments and thinking. Not quite! Choose a … Guess again! Political arrangements? Certainly, I find that good coffee gets my cognitive juices flowing. By using our site, you agree to our. Stoicism is a pragmatic philosophy that focuses our attention on what is possible and gives us perspective on what is unimportant. For example, some philosophers only trust their minds and logic, and not the senses, which may at times deceive us. One way it does this is by example. You will need to attend graduate school to further your philosophical thinking. We study ethics in order to improve our lives, and therefore its principal concern is the nature of human well-being. But philosophy is unusual in its explicit focus on the structure of arguments across a broad range of topics, from the meaning of words to the nature of … political science or sociology), the arts, and even the physical sciences (e.g. There is no single, superior method of investigation, so you will need to develop an approach that is both intellectually rigorous and compelling to you. Philosophers develop arguments to be challenged by other philosophers. It’s intriguing how often Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and other advocates of the New Atheism are accused of being aggressive. It's also a good idea to present your work at academic conferences. While philosophers debate, the goal is not to win. Therefore, only we can determine a philosophy to live by. What Is the Main Point? We can employ deductive reasoning (e.g. Wondering is philosophy, philosophy is wondering. Never stop asking "why?". Not necessarily! The central task that underlies the effort of the philosopher is that of model development. Keep an open mind. No belief or source of ideas is immune, regardless of its origin, authority, or emotional power. Many of the greatest philosophers have developed such frameworks. Ask more questions. Yes because you will take your time and read texts slowly. "Questioning everything around you, even the basic beliefs or ideas of your society. Never stop asking why, even when you are given an answer. For example, wearing a t-shirt announcing 'I am a philosopher’ will be met with derision, if not outright ass-kicking. You are a philosopher when you can find a place to any fact, in heaven or earth. Be logical and consistent. Epicurus of Samos is an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 341-270 BCE. ", "I got inspired after reading this article.". You’ve read one of your four complimentary articles for this month. You’ll need to accept that while you have investigated concerns that most people respond to with ‘I dunno’, people jealously defend their dignity, even if they subscribe to a list of hogwash and pseudo-science. Learn the top 5 signs someone is lying to you. Great art is often deeply philosophical, and great philosophy deeply artistic. Descartes, one of the most respected philosophers in history, was one who took this approach. I have little to no money for college. And the best way to do that – for many philosophers the only way – is by reading their books. that your premise was understood, or even read). He was a sage who established Epicureanism, a school of philosophy known in Athens known as “the Garden.” Click on another answer to find the right one... {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b5\/Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid20079-v4-728px-Become-a-Philosopher-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"