The Critical Thinker 005: Philosophical Wisdom

Summary

In episode 5 of the Critical Thinker podcast, host Kevin de la Plante delves into the significance of critical thinking for philosophical wisdom. He distinguishes philosophical wisdom, which is rooted in rational argumentation, from wisdom derived from religion or mysticism. De la Plante emphasizes the indispensable role of logic and argumentation in philosophy, akin to mathematics in physics, and suggests that critical thinking is foundational for understanding and contributing to philosophical discourse.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The podcast 'Critical Thinker' is hosted by Kevin de la Plante, a philosophy teacher at Iowa State University, who explores the existential aspects of critical thinking.
• 🌐 The website 'criticalthinkingtutorials.com' offers video tutorials and blogs on logic, argumentation, and critical reasoning.
• 🤔 The podcast delves into why critical thinking is important, discussing its value for individual self-interest, social and political values, and philosophical wisdom.
• 📚 Philosophy is defined as the love of wisdom, with wisdom being knowledge of the true and the good, and acting on this knowledge.
• 🧩 The pursuit of wisdom is not exclusive to philosophy; it's also found in religious and mystical traditions, each with its own methods for acquiring wisdom.
• 🔮 Revealed religions obtain wisdom through divine revelation, such as scriptures and direct communication with a divine presence.
• 🌟 Mysticism seeks enlightenment and deep metaphysical truths through practices like meditation, aiming for a transcendent awareness beyond rational ego.
• 🗣️ Philosophical wisdom is distinct, relying on rational argumentation as its primary method, making it a public and social activity.
• 🔄 The dialectic of philosophy involves offering reasons, raising objections, and evolving through discourse, a tradition that continues from ancient Greece to modern times.
• 💡 Critical thinking is foundational to philosophy, with logic and argumentation being as essential as mathematics is to physics.
• ⚖️ The podcast concludes by acknowledging the complexity and diversity within philosophical traditions, without implying superiority or rigid boundaries between approaches to wisdom.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'Critical Thinker' podcast?

The main focus of the 'Critical Thinker' podcast is to explore the existential aspects of critical thinking, such as what it means to live an examined life as Socrates suggested, and why critical thinking is important.

What is the host's daytime profession and how does it relate to the podcast?

The host, Kevin de la Plante, teaches philosophy at Iowa State University, which relates to the podcast by providing him with the expertise to discuss critical thinking, logic, and argumentation.

What are the different types of content available on the affiliated website, criticalthinkingtutorials.com?

The website offers video tutorials and a blog on various topics related to logic, argumentation, and critical reasoning, focusing on the technical aspects of these subjects.

Why does the host believe that critical thinking is important for individual self-interest?

In episodes 2 & 3, the host discusses how critical thinking skills can serve individual self-interest by helping people make better decisions and avoid fallacies in their personal lives.

How does critical thinking relate to the maintenance of forms of government that respect human rights and individual freedoms?

In episode 4, the host argues that critical thinking is important for sustaining forms of government that respect human rights and individual freedoms, as it enables citizens to evaluate policies and governance critically.

What is the definition of wisdom as stipulated by the host for the purposes of the podcast?

The host defines wisdom as having knowledge of the true and the good, and acting on the basis of this knowledge, distinguishing it from mere information or empirical facts.

How does the host differentiate philosophical wisdom from revealed wisdom and mystical wisdom?

Philosophical wisdom is acquired through rational argumentation and public discourse, whereas revealed wisdom is given through divine acts in religious traditions, and mystical wisdom is attained through direct intuition or insight often involving disciplined practices like meditation.

What is the 'secret sauce' of philosophical wisdom according to the host?

The 'secret sauce' of philosophical wisdom is rational argumentation, which is a public and social activity central to the philosophical pursuit of wisdom.

Why is critical thinking central to the pursuit of philosophical wisdom?

Critical thinking is central to philosophical wisdom because logic and argumentation are foundational to philosophy, much like mathematics is to physics; without it, one cannot understand or contribute to philosophical discourse.

What are some disclaimers the host offers regarding the relationship between philosophy, religion, and mysticism?

The host clarifies that there are no sharp boundaries between philosophy, religion, and mysticism, and that his discussion does not imply the superiority of one approach over the others, nor does it rule out the possibility of skepticism or the influence of religion and mysticism on philosophical thought.

What is the host's next series about in the podcast?

The host's next series will be about the elements of critical thinking, discussing what should belong in every well-stocked critical thinking toolkit.