What is philosophy? February 15 2007
The word “philosophy” comes from Greek meaning “love of wisdom.” Wisdom and knowledge are not synonyms. One can be knowledgeable and yet not know when to use it or how it relates in the grand scheme of things. The philosophers of old sought more than just knowledge; they sought to coordinate it into a system of thought that would enable them to understand their place in society, the world, and the cosmos. In simplest terms: philosophers sought the meaning of life.
The world has changed a lot since then. In the age of super specialization, generalists can never match up with experts in any given field, hence they have fallen by the wayside. Simultaneously, philosophy has gone on the Ultra Slimfast diet, giving up significant ground to advancing sciences over the last century. For example, interesting questions such as “Do we have free will,” “What is consciousness,” and the mechanics of morality may someday be answered wholly or in part by neuro/cognitive sciences and psychology. The philosophy that people study in college is but shell of its former self.
With this site, I hope to help restore some of philosophy’s former glory. Being an old-school philosopher probably won’t help you get a better job or make a you more popular, but it may make your life more meaningful. And that could make a world of difference.
Now is also the time to unify both Eastern and Western philosophic traditions. The West emphasizes logic while the East uses intuition to arrive at its insights. For the longest time, the West has dismissed Eastern thought because it is not based on logic, but the tide is slowing changing. Acupuncture and yoga have tangible benefits that are just now being scientifically investigated and understood. It is time to realized that there is no “Eastern” or “Western;” there is only Philosophy - the Pursuit of Truth.