How to Journal (& Think) like a Philosopher

Summary

In this insightful video, Parker Set a Case from Park Notes explores the art of journaling like a philosopher. He differentiates between various types of notebooks, including diaries, commonplace books, and compendiums, emphasizing the importance of a journal for capturing and reflecting on ideas. Parker then outlines three key features of philosophical thinking: clarity, argumentation, and addressing counterarguments. He demonstrates how to apply these principles in a 'deep thinking philosophy journal,' using the example of artificial intelligence to illustrate the process. The video encourages viewers to engage in their own philosophical inquiry, promising to sharpen the mind and enhance empathy.

Takeaways

• 📚 Journals are tools for the mind, used to collect thoughts and reflect on them to become a better thinker.
• 📔 The speaker distinguishes between a diary, journal, commonplace book, and other types of notebooks, each serving different purposes.
• 📅 A diary is used to record daily experiences and feelings, focusing on personal experiences and emotions.
• 💭 A journal is a personal record of thoughts and ideas, not necessarily daily, and involves metacognition or thinking about one's own thoughts.
• 📖 Commonplace books are collections of quotes and thoughts about quotes, meant for reflection and personal growth.
• 📚 Compendiums are systematic collections of detailed information, similar to an encyclopedia.
• 💡 The speaker keeps a book of soliloquies for self-reflection and a collection of best ideas for further exploration.
• 🔍 Thinking like a philosopher involves being clear, giving arguments, and addressing objections and counterarguments.
• 🤔 Keeping a deep thinking philosophy journal involves writing down an idea, defining terms, giving arguments, and addressing counterarguments.
• 🌐 The philosophy of artificial intelligence is used as an example to illustrate how to think deeply and critically about a topic.
• 💭 Anticipating objections and counterarguments in philosophy can lead to better empathy and less arrogance about one's own positions.

Q & A

What are the benefits of keeping a journal according to the script?

The benefits of keeping a journal include collecting thoughts in one place, looking back on thoughts to remember past thinking patterns, and using journals to reflect on and sharpen thoughts to become a better thinker.

What is the distinction between a diary and a journal as per the speaker's definition?

A diary is a book used to record daily experiences and events as they happen, focusing more on feelings and is time-bound. A journal, on the other hand, is a personal record of thoughts and ideas, not necessarily a daily practice, and includes metacognition or thinking about one's own thoughts.

What is a commonplace book and how does it differ from a journal?

A commonplace book is a collection of quotes and thoughts about quotes from favorite books, used for reflection and to make them part of one's identity. It differs from a journal, which is more about capturing original thoughts and ideas rather than curated content from external sources.

How does the speaker define 'deep thinking philosophy journaling'?

Deep thinking philosophy journaling is a method of journaling where the individual writes down an idea and then engages in a deep thinking session to explore arguments and counterarguments, aiming to clarify concepts and think deeply about the idea.

What are the three key features of thinking like a philosopher according to Mike Huemer?

The three key features of thinking like a philosopher are being clear in what you're saying, giving arguments for your views if they're not obvious, and addressing objections and counterarguments.

How does the speaker apply the three features of philosophical thinking to journaling?

The speaker applies these features by encouraging clarity in defining terms, giving arguments for one's position, and addressing potential counterarguments and objections within the journal to strengthen the thinking process.

What is the difference between a compendium and a commonplace book as described in the script?

A compendium is a collection of systematically gathered and presented information, similar to an encyclopedia, often containing concise detailed information. A commonplace book, in contrast, is more about collecting and reflecting on quotes and thoughts from favorite books.

What is the purpose of keeping a book of soliloquies according to the speaker?

The purpose of keeping a book of soliloquies is to engage in a conversation with oneself, capturing thoughts, emotions, and feelings in a way that is between a diary and a journal, aiming to get to know oneself better.

How does the speaker use the concept of 'intrinsic' and 'derivative' intelligence to discuss artificial intelligence?

The speaker uses the concept of 'intrinsic' and 'derivative' intelligence to argue that any intelligence present in an AI algorithm is a representation of the intrinsic intelligence of the programmer, making AI a form of derivative intelligence rather than intrinsic or genuine reasoning.

What is the speaker's view on the philosophy of artificial intelligence in the context of the script?

The speaker questions whether the intelligence in AI is real, suggesting that it might be more accurate to consider it as 'derivative' intelligence, an extension of the programmer's intelligence, rather than an independent form of genuine reasoning.

How does the speaker suggest improving one's empathy and reducing arrogance through journaling?

The speaker suggests that by anticipating objections and counterarguments in journaling, one can practice empathy by considering how others might feel or think about their arguments, which can potentially make them less arrogant about their own positions.