Philosophy comes Full Circle.

[Stoic_Guardian]

In a short excerpt on Socrates from a book called “Essentials of philosophy” by James Manion.

“The ancient world had become an ethically arbitrary place, rife with moral relativism and a lack of regard for Eternal Truths when Socrates (469-399 B.C.) came on to the scene.”

Though these themes are always present they seem to again take precedent today in an age where many who claim to be philosophers will only think in these confines unless it is “proven” otherwise through science.

In this forum specifically there seems to be a lack of philosophical discussion, instead Debate and criticism seem to take the center stage. When I started my study in philosophy all the way up to this day I am still captivated by Socrates. Yhe simplicity and sicerity is a beautiful thing that many “modern” philsophers seem to lack, though I am absolutley certain there are other people like him in this world today.

In fact it seems as though many who would call themselves philosophers seem too disregard what might be called " the basics" and in fact it’s seems as though many skipped that part of their education entirely.

I believe before we move on to other topics we must stop and think.

What is philosophy? I am of the belief that it is the love of wisdom and the search for truth regardless of what ideas or preconceptions we hold and that it must be these things first and foremost that we must concern ourselves with.

[Only_Humean]

@Stoic Guardian

In this forum specifically there seems to be a lack of philosophical discussion, instead Debate and criticism seem to take the center stage.

How does philosophical discussion differ from debate?

If you look at Socrates’ dialogues without the man himself in them, it’s basically a series of “you’re right, O Socrates” “I suppose so, Socrates” “Gosh, Socrates, I’d never thought of that”. There’s no discussion there. And it’s a literary device for it to be so, just like the twenty baddies who run at the kung fu master one-by-one in chop socky flicks.

In fact it seems as though many who would call themselves philosophers seem too disregard what might be called " the basics" and in fact it’s seems as though many skipped that part of their education entirely.

What are the basics?

What is philosophy? I am of the belief that it is the love of wisdom and the search for truth regardless of what ideas or preconceptions we hold and that it must be these things first and foremost that we must concern ourselves with.

I see it as conceptual engineering - doing our best to get clear, smooth, elegant models to make sense of the world around us.

[finishedman]

@Only_Humean

I see it as conceptual engineering - doing our best to get clear, smooth, elegant models to make sense of the world around us.

But don’t different groups with different models clash? How do the models formulate themselves?