By: Abonyi, Hyginus Ebuka
1.0.Introduction
In every-day-man’s
notion, a philosopher is misconceptualized to be a person who argues to stupor
or one who loves making argument. In their mentalities, they see philosophy as
having no reliance or importance to humanity or to the society. For this
reason, they see one who wants to take the course or discipline in the higher
institution as one who does not have future for him/herself.
Hence, it becomes
pertinent to answer the question; what is philosophy, who is a philosopher and
what are the importance of philosophy/why is philosophy important. This will
help to enlighten people and also change people’s (every-day-man) conception
about what philosophy means and who is a philosopher.
Nevertheless, the
importance of philosophy cannot be said to over estimated or emphasized because
it encompasses man’s everyday activities in the cosmos in which he lives. Therefore,
the purpose of this work is to discuss who a philosopher is and why philosophy
is important.
2.0. Explication of the Term Philosophy
The etymological notion
of philosophy came from two Greek words “philos
and Sophia”, meaning “love and wisdom” respectively. Thus, etymologically,
philosophy means love of wisdom. Love of wisdom is a kind of virtuous
knowledge; a knowledge that empowers its possessor with the ability to direct
itself to the good; it is an appreciative knowledge accompanied by the ability,
inclination and orientation towards an end or purpose of a higher rank[1]
3.0.What is Philosophy and Who is a
Philosopher?
·
What
is philosophy?
It may be courageous to
say right away that there is no hard and fast definition of philosophy, since
philosophers have never agreed on what philosophy actually stands for. “What is
philosophy?” is, then, itself a philosophical problem such as the question
“what is physics?” is also a problem to physicists?[2]
Nevertheless, philosophers have defined philosophy from different perspectives
but what is fascinating about their definitions is that it all channel to the
etymologically meaning of philosophy as “Love of wisdom”. Below are some philosophers’
definitions of philosophy:
i.
Philosophy is the science that, by the
natural light of human reason, studies the first causes or highest principles
of all things, the science of thing in their first causes in so far as these
belong to the natural order.[3]
Philosophy is a method of reflective thinking and inquirer (Descartes).
ii.
From its beginning in Greece, philosophy
has always aspired to be an all-encompassing, intellectually justified
knowledge of all that is (Hussel).
iii.
Philosophy is a collective name for
questions that have not been answered to the satisfaction of all that have
asked them (W.James).
iv.
For Plato, the first characteristic of
philosophical wisdom is that it can face the test of critical discussion.[4]
Therefore, philosophy is the highest form of inquiry because it alone involves
no presuppositions.
v.
Philosophy in the aspect of Aristotle
consists in the knowledge of the “truth”.
vi.
Subjectively, philosophy is the act of
probing in to the search for the ultimate causes of all things using critical,
systematic, observation and indebt reasoning as tools.
·
Who
is a philosopher?
We cannot tell who a
philosopher is without having recourse to Pythagoras who was the first to use
the word “Philosophy” (c. 600 BC). He also likened philosophers to spectators
at the ancient games. In the order of importance, the philosophers, whom he
compared with the spectators whose sole interest is the game itself, are
superior to competitors who are out to win prizes and commerciants out to make
money from sales.[5]
Pythagoras is said to have described himself as a “Lover of wisdom” in the
sense that he regarded every aspect of reality with thoughtful attention for
achieving a clearer and more comprehensive understanding.
When Leon the tyrant of
philius asked him who he was, Pythagoras replied, “A philosopher”, and went on
to compare life to the Great Games, where some went to compete for the prize
and others went with wares to sell. In his assessment, the best among them all
were those who went as spectators, since their interest in the games is simply
to relax and enjoy it. He compared the situation with real life where some grow
up with servile nature and others are greedy for fame and gain. Unlike both
classes of people, the philosopher seeks for the truth.[6]
For him, philosopher is one who employs the power of reasoning and observation
in order to acquire understanding.
A philosopher is one
who is filled with the three factors that promote philosophic thinking:
curiosity, wonder, leisure that aspire him/her with the impulse and desire to
know through question asking. About what is real, about what makes a person,
about whether there is God and, if so, what this God is like and many other
questions.
According to B. Russell,
“A philosopher is one that attempts to raise relevant questions, to raise an
answer, inasmuch as possible, ultimate questions critically, with the pure and
sole light of reason, after exploring all that makes such questions puzzling
and after realizing all the vagueness
and confusion that underline our ordinary ideas.[7]
A philosopher is one
who believes in the efficacy of intellectual effort, and who uses whatever
knowledge he/she can command, in order o benefit humankind.[8]
And, as T.V. Smith rightly put it, one who must benefit humankind must of
course be clear-headed,[9]
that is, free his/her mind from biasness or being open-minded.
Finally, a philosopher is a Lover of wisdom.
In his conversation with Phaedrus, Socrates gives his criteria for ascribing
wisdom to anyone, namely, an originality of thought and a critical mind even in
regard to his or her own production:
If
the work had been done with knowledge of the truth, if he could defend his
statements when challenged, and would demonstrate the inferiority of his own
writings out of his own mouth would be called, not wise, for that pertains to a
god, but a love of wisdom. (Phaedrus 278d).
In Socrates’ own
assessment, among those to whom wisdom could rightly be ascribed were such
writers of discourses as Lysias, such poets as Homer, such political writers as
Solon. In a nutshell, a philosopher is one who searches for the truth for its
own sake.
4.0.
Why Philosophy is Important
According to Prof.
Onyeocha, the study of philosophy will benefit you personally and
professionally. It will develop your mind by improving your ability to analyze,
organize, synthesize, and express your own thoughts and the expresses thoughts
of others. It will enhance your ability to make good judgments, to discern and
understand relationships, to make necessary distinctions, and to broaden your own
perspectives. Philosophy is generally very useful in every department of daily
life- intellectual, moral, aesthetical, social-political, etc.[10] The
study of philosophy can be valuable for the following reasons:
a. Search for the Truth and certainty-
philosophy engages its student for the objective and impartial search for the
truth through the light of human reason (homo
rationales). This is evident in the presocratic philosophers like Thales
who did not rely on mere mythological belief and interpretation of the ultimate
causes things by the Greek poets, Homer and Hesiod. Rather, Thales objectively,
sought out the origin of things, for the ultimate meaning of life and
existence. Descates expressed the truth searching objective of philosophy in
the following words: “I venture to believe that if there is anyone among the
purely human occupations that has solid worth and importance, it is the one I
have chosen, i.e. the pursuit of truth and certainty”.[11]
b. Development of Critical Thinking-
philosophy teaches us how to think, to reflect and to discern critically.
Theodor W. Adorno underlines the place of criticism at the heart of philosophy.
In Adornor’s view: “Criticism, rather the passive acceptance of received
theory, the unifying factor between the various problems, and an ingredient in
each argument, has laid the foundation of what may be termed the constructive
unity of the history of philosophy. Critical vision entails going beyond
superficial appearances.
c. Character development-
philosophy inspires one to follow the path of reason always rather than
sentiments. Philosophy teaches people to know what they are doing and be
responsible for them. A philosopher thinks about the possible consequences of
his actions before acting. It helps one develop mature character and eventually
rational discipline in behaviour.[12]
d. Development of communication skills-
philosophy
exposes her student to the history of thoughts and logic. Logic is about the
power of argument, demonstration and self expression. It will equip her student
with the skills on how to construct his words to be logically and sound.
e. Development of method of doing
things- accomplishing a goal requires methods or plans to go
about them. Without an adequate rational template, a project is to fail. To
achieve a purpose, one has to think and proceed with a method. Philosophy
teaches one to proceed in their thinking about relevant matters in some
particular ways. They strive after a methodological thinking.[13]
f. Career choice- some
persons ask embarrassing questions about what a philosopher can do. There is a
naïve thinking that knowledge begins and ends with the practical sciences. By
the integrity of his/her education, a philosopher can do anything. Thinking of
profession, every course is a branch of philosophy. A philosopher can engage in
education, politics, be a police man, a soldier, or major in law. A philosopher
can work in a bank; be a journalist, be the secretary of any office, be a
computer operator, do business like any other human being.[14]
g. Mental empowerment- philosophy
empowers her student mentally which is a critical thinking mind,
open-mindedness, a rational mind to distinguish between appearance and reality.
The fruits of mental empowerment lead success in every day endevours.
In a resume’, we live
in an age of uncertainty and change, when many of the older belief and ways of
doing things are inadequate. Under such conditions, we need a scale of values
and a sense of direction. Philosophy provides us with a unity of outlook and
response to reality of the world in which we live and operate. It provides us
with parameters for discernment and judging issues and articulating problems
intelligently and critically.
5.0.
Evaluation and Conclusion
Every society need
philosophers and for a smooth running of a society, let philosophers be king as
Plato would say. This reflects how vital philosophy is in the society. They are
the rational beings freed from bias and have the sense of ethical justices.
Philosophers are the critical thinkers who subject everything to the crucible
of the Laws of thought in other to maintain a coherent ordered nature.
Nevertheless, the do things not that every other persons do it but because
through their rigorous and systematic evaluations, dimed it fit to benefit the
society.
6.0.Bibliography
1.
Lemmon E.J., beginning logic, London, Nelson and Sons Ltd. 1965
2.
Lacey, A.R., A Dictionary of Philosophy, London, Routledge &Kegan Paul, 1976
3.
Wuellner, B., Dictioary of Scholastic Philosophy, 2nd ed., Milwaukee,
The Bruce Pub., Co., 1965
4.
Diodenes
Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers,
VIII,8, tr. R.D. Hicks, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1925
5.
Russell,
The Problem of Philosophy, (London,
Oxford Uni. Press, 197)
6.
Izu
M. Onyeocha, Introfil, A first Encounter
With Philosophy (Second Edition), (The Council For Research In Value And
Philosophy, Washington DC,USA 2009)
7.
T.V,Smith,
Philosophers Speak for Themselves,
Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press, 1934
8.
Ejiogu
E. Amaku, Introduction to Philosophy and
Logic, (Austus Book Publications, Owerri, 2002)
[1] T. Aquinas, Summa contra gentiles, Lib. 1, p.l.
[2] Ejiogu E. Amaku, Introduction to Philosophy and Logic, (Austus Book Publications, Owerri, 2002), p.g. 1
[3] Maritain, Introduction to philosophy, p. 13
[4] Apology, 22
[5] Izu M. Onyeocha, Introfil, A first Encounter With Philosophy (Second Edition), (The Council For Research In Value And Philosophy, Washington DC,USA 2009),p 1
[6] Diodenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, VIII,8, tr. R.D. Hicks, Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1925,II
[7] B. Russell, The Problem of Philosophy, (London, Oxford Uni. Press, 197), p. 90
[8] Izu M. Onyeocha, Introfil, A first Encounter With Philosophy (Second Edition), (The Council For Research In Value And Philosophy, Washington DC,USA 2009),p 5
[9] T.V,Smith, Philosophers Speak for Themselves, Chicago, Illinois: The University of Chicago Press, 1934, p.vii
[10] Izu M. Onyeocha, Introfil, A first Encounter With Philosophy (Second Edition), (The Council For Research In Value And Philosophy, Washington DC,USA 2009),p 38
[11] Discourse on the Method
[12] Ejiogu E. Amaku, Introduction to Philosophy and Logic, (Austus Book Publications, Owerri, 2002), p.g. 31
[13] Ibid, p. 34
[14] Ibid, p.37
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