Doing Philosophy/The Need to Philosophize

Chris Mark Catalan

31 Jul 202008:22

Summary

TLDRThis video script explores the necessity of philosophizing, starting with Socrates' view that wisdom begins with wonder. It highlights the human inclination to question and seek understanding, as seen in Plato's and Descartes' approaches to knowledge through curiosity and doubt. Jaspers emphasizes the role of challenging experiences in shaping our philosophical inquiries. Aristotle's assertion that the desire to know is innate in humans is also discussed. The script concludes by reflecting on the benefits of philosophizing and reminds viewers to stay safe during the pandemic.

Takeaways

🤔 The need to philosophize stems from human curiosity and the desire to understand the world and our existence.
🌈 Socrates believed that wonder is the starting point of philosophy, and it is through questioning ordinary things that we begin our philosophical journey.
🧐 To wonder, according to Chris John Terry, is to recognize the strangeness behind everyday perceptions, which sparks curiosity and the quest for knowledge.
🧠 Each person has the potential to be a philosopher as philosophizing involves thinking and expressing oneself in a philosophical manner.
🕵️‍♂️ Plato traced the human need to philosophize to our innate sense of wonder, which leads us to ask questions about our identity and the nature of reality.
🤯 Descartes emphasized the importance of doubt as a method for seeking truth, suggesting that we should question everything that can be doubted to find certainty.
📚 Jaspers believed that philosophizing is essential in dealing with life's limiting situations, which can challenge our ideas and provoke a deeper understanding.
🚫 In the context of social media and information overload, it's crucial to verify the truthfulness of ideas and opinions before accepting them as truth.
📉 Aristotle stated that all humans have an innate desire to know, which is the fundamental reason for the need to philosophize and pursue wisdom.
🤷‍♂️ Socrates considered 'knowing that you do not know' as the beginning of wisdom, highlighting the importance of recognizing our own ignorance as a starting point for learning.
🏡 The current pandemic situation is an example of a limiting circumstance where philosophizing can help us transcend limitations and learn from the challenges we face.

Q & A

What is the significance of 'wonder' in the context of philosophy as discussed in the script?
-In the script, 'wonder' is described as the feeling that initiates a philosopher's journey. It is the realization that there is something strange or unknown behind ordinary things, which sparks curiosity and the beginning of wisdom according to Socrates.
What does Chris John Terry suggest 'to wonder' means in the context of philosophy?
-Chris John Terry suggests that 'to wonder' means to recognize the unusual or mysterious aspects of everyday things that we perceive, and it is this curiosity about the unknown causes that leads to questioning and the start of wisdom.
How does the script define 'philosophizing'?
-The script defines 'philosophizing' as the act of thinking and expressing oneself in a philosophical manner, driven by our natural inclination to question and seek understanding.
What role does curiosity play in the need to philosophize according to the script?
-Curiosity, as mentioned in the script, leads us to ask many questions, such as 'Who am I?' or 'Is love blind?', which in turn drives us to investigate and question more deeply, fulfilling our need to philosophize.
What was Descartes' approach to philosophizing as mentioned in the script?
-Descartes' approach to philosophizing, as discussed in the script, was through his method of doubting. He questioned established ideas and even his own, using his famous methodic doubt to search for certainty by doubting everything that can be doubted.
How does the script relate the concept of 'doubt' to the process of philosophizing?
-The script relates 'doubt' to philosophizing by highlighting Descartes' methodic doubt, suggesting that doubting ideas and opinions, especially in the context of social media and fake news, is a crucial step in verifying truth and finding certainty.
What is the 'limit situation' as described by the Swiss-German philosopher Jaspers in the script?
-In the script, Jaspers' 'limit situation' refers to experiences that challenge our ideas and make us feel helpless, stressed, or depressed. These are situations that confront us with our limitations but also offer opportunities to transcend and learn from them.
How does the script use the current pandemic as an example of a 'limit situation'?
-The script uses the pandemic as an example of a 'limit situation' by pointing out the restrictions it imposes, such as the inability to go out or socialize with friends, which can be seen as challenges that we must rise above and learn from.
What does Aristotle believe about the desire of all men in relation to philosophizing?
-Aristotle, as cited in the script, believes that all men have a natural desire to know, which is the fundamental reason for the need to philosophize. This love for wisdom drives us to continuously probe and question until we arrive at the truth.
What does Socrates consider as the start of wisdom according to the script?
-Socrates considers 'dr ignorantia' or the recognition of one's own ignorance as the start of wisdom. It is the understanding that knowing what one knows and what one does not know is a characteristic of true knowledge.
What message does the script leave the audience with regarding the benefits of philosophizing?
-The script encourages the audience to reflect on the benefits they can gain from philosophizing, suggesting that it is a valuable process for learning and understanding, and it also reminds them to stay safe during the pandemic by wearing masks and staying at home if possible.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Necessity of Philosophizing

The first paragraph introduces the concept of philosophizing, starting with the personal experiences of the speaker and the natural curiosity that leads to philosophical inquiry. It highlights the idea that wonder is the beginning of philosophy, as stated by Socrates, and that every person has the propensity to philosophize. The paragraph also touches on the role of philosophy in life, referencing Plato's view of the need to philosophize through a sense of wonder and Descartes' methodic doubt as a means to search for certainty. It emphasizes the importance of questioning established ideas and the impact of experiences, as suggested by Jaspers, on the need for philosophizing.

05:03

🧐 Overcoming Limiting Situations Through Philosophy

The second paragraph delves into the idea that philosophy can help individuals transcend limiting situations, such as the current pandemic, which restricts social interactions and movement. It references Jaspers' belief that experiences that challenge our ideas can lead to a state of helplessness or stress, which he calls 'limit situations.' However, it also suggests that these situations can be opportunities for growth and learning. The paragraph concludes with a nod to Aristotle's assertion that the desire to know is inherent in all humans, which is why philosophizing is necessary. It ends with a reflection prompt for the audience to consider the benefits of philosophizing and a reminder to stay safe during the pandemic.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Philosophize

Philosophize refers to the act of engaging in philosophical thought or discussion. It is central to the video's theme as it explores the necessity and origins of philosophical inquiry. The script mentions that everyone has an inclination to philosophize, starting with the feeling of wonder about the world, as exemplified by the questions about death and rainbows.

💡Wonder

Wonder is the feeling of marvel or curiosity about something that is not understood. In the context of the video, it is the starting point of philosophy, as stated by Socrates. The script illustrates this with the example of a child's curiosity about why people die and the occurrence of rainbows, which leads to the beginning of wisdom.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is the desire to learn or know more about something or someone. The video emphasizes curiosity as a driving force behind the need to philosophize. It is what prompts individuals to ask questions and seek answers, such as 'Who am I?' and 'Is love blind?', which are mentioned in the script.

💡Doubt

Doubt is the feeling of uncertainty or a lack of conviction. The video discusses Descartes' method of doubting established ideas and even his own, which he used as a way of searching for certainty. This concept is related to the theme as it encourages skepticism and verification of ideas, especially in the context of social media and fake news.

💡Limit Situations

Limit situations, as described by Jaspers, are experiences that challenge one's ideas and can cause feelings of helplessness, stress, or depression. The video uses the current pandemic as an example of a limit situation, where socializing is restricted, illustrating how such experiences can prompt philosophical reflection and learning.

💡Transcend

To transcend means to go beyond or surpass, particularly in the context of overcoming limitations. The video mentions Jaspers' belief that we can transcend limit situations by rising above challenges and learning from them, which is a key concept in understanding how philosophy can help navigate difficult experiences.

💡Love for Wisdom

The love for wisdom, or 'philosophia' in Greek, is the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Aristotle is quoted in the video as saying that all men desire to know, which is why there is a need to philosophize. This concept is integral to the video's message about the human drive to seek truth and knowledge.

💡Ignorance

Ignorance, in the context of the video, is not a negative state but rather the recognition of what one does not know. Socrates is quoted as saying that the beginning of wisdom is 'knowing that you do not know'. This concept is used to illustrate the importance of acknowledging one's own lack of knowledge as a first step towards learning and understanding.

💡Socratic Method

The Socratic method is a form of inquiry and discussion between individuals, aiming to stimulate critical thinking and to illuminate ideas. Although not explicitly named in the script, the video alludes to this method through Socrates' emphasis on questioning and the pursuit of self-knowledge, which is a fundamental aspect of philosophical dialogue.

💡Methodic Doubt

Methodic doubt is a philosophical approach introduced by Descartes, where one doubts everything that can be doubted in order to arrive at certain knowledge. The video uses this concept to discuss the importance of skepticism and the verification of truth, particularly in the context of information overload and misinformation.

💡Pandemic

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. The video uses the current pandemic as a contemporary example of a 'limit situation' that challenges our daily lives and prompts philosophical reflection on our existence and social interactions.

Highlights

Introduction to the need to philosophize.

Wondering is the start of philosophizing, as Socrates said, 'Philosophy begins in wonder.'

Wondering is realizing something strange behind ordinary things, according to Chris John Terry.

Philosophy begins when we are curious about something whose causes are unknown.

Plato linked the need to philosophize to human curiosity and the sense of wonder.

Descartes' method of doubting was a way of searching for certainty by questioning everything.

When confronted with ideas or opinions, especially in social media, doubt their truthfulness.

Jaspers believed that limit situations, like the current pandemic, challenge us and lead to philosophical thinking.

Jaspers thought that through transcending limiting situations, we can learn and grow.

Aristotle stated that all men desire to know, which drives the need to philosophize.

The love for wisdom motivates us to continue questioning until we arrive at the truth.

Socrates emphasized that wisdom begins with recognizing one's ignorance.

The state of ignorance is where learning and understanding begin.

Reflection question: Think of the benefits of philosophizing.

Final reminder: Stay safe, wear a mask, and stay home unless necessary.