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What is the best way to DO philosophy?

I

In Dubio

Greenlighter
Joined
Oct 30, 2013
Messages
47
as in, what is the fastest or most accurate way of gaining knowledge? I would think that taking a random side of an argument and arguing vs another person, doing one's utmost best to avoid personal biases (since one would be arguing for a position they vehemently oppose) and logical fallacies is the most effective method. Of course I could be wrong. Anyone?

p.s. It would be similar to being a lawyer doing your absolute best to defend someone you know or are nearly know is guilty.
 
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i'm no expert however I believe the best method is to study philosophy first. then meditate on that knowledge for a while. then converse with a teacher about it. then either try to teach the acquired knowledge or debate it to further your understanding.
 
Unlike western psychology which asserts that neuroses are permanent
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I thought Western psychology viewed neurosis as historical products of unresolved conflict, refracted through pathological, mostly unconscious mechanisms, to be remedied by various techniques that bring to the fore awareness of such conflicts (in different ways, depending on the particular psychological technique applied.

ebola
 
Well, I think, first you have to establish exactly what "knowledge" is, then consider how things like doubt and underdetermination and the veil of perception and logic and the validity of inference and induction... I'm not sure that fast philosophy is good philosopy.
 
Well, I think, first you have to establish exactly what "knowledge" is
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Good luck--I haven't found a satisfactory answer myself (though I am rather partial to where Marxism, continental phenomenologists, and American Pragmatism converge). Though my immediate urge is to begin from first principles in this way, this isn't always a practical way to go about things.

then consider how things like doubt and underdetermination and the veil of perception and logic and the validity of inference and induction... I'm not sure that fast philosophy is good philosopy.
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I think these are just beginnings, on the basis of which we should start asking questions.


ebola
 
^Yeah, the things I mentioned were in no way intended to be exhaustive. I just don't think that elucidating the ideal methodology for best understanding self, reality, being, meaning, good, evil, knowledge, belief, mind, religion, and almost everything else under the sun is something all that well suited to a forum post. I recommend reading a book, perhaps.
I haven't found a satisfactory answer myself
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I'd certainly like to hear it if you had! I reckon there'd be a paper or two there. Myself, I'm a Quinean, though I just can't give up on my kooky belief in the a priori. I just meant to point out to the OP that "gaining knowledge, fast" is easier said than than done, to say the least.
 
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Thanks for the replies. Another question: what is the point of philosophy?

p.s. should I contribute to the discussion or is asking loads of questions agreeable?
 
do what thou wilt

tell me what you mean by truth foreigner.

philosophy is love of wisdom.

that is the point I think. as a teen I wanted to change the world and had all this "blah blah, leftie leftie help others attitude" now I just want to be content in myself and keep learning and keep my brain going. It's exercise for the brain. Theres mundane unthinking life there if you want it but I want to think. it doesn't make me superior or worse, It's all very simple.
 
All the more honor is due, when the self has forgotten what it's doing.
-Alan Watts
 
There's a much simpler way than all the stuff I wrote before.

Question everything, even the questions. Take positions if you must, but be open to those positions changing. Let evidence of your experience be your ultimate feedback. Consult knowledge holders while practicing discernment.

Try to stay light hearted about it all because the search for truth can sometimes feel daunting. The things you take personally and feel steamrolled by will be your greatest teachers.
 
I would say reading and meditation.

Find a philosophy your interested read about it and meditate on what you learned. You will find your knowledge quickly going and you may sprout your own trees of wisdom as well.
 
Introspection/meditation, combined with sorting out your physical and mental habits. Also, the way is to back into the truth, not postulate a heaven and march towards that.. so in that regard, you start with yourself and go from there. The point (of philosophy)? To get the definition, the answers to "who am i?", "where will i go when i die?", "where was i before i was born?".

The real philosophy isn't about gaining knowledge but having direct experience through action. You never learn, you become.
 
ebola? said:
What qualifies as action in this respect?

ebola
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Is this question directed towards me?

I think I can answer my last question with the answer 'to cease fearing life and death' since that's a serious problem.
 
ebola? said:
What qualifies as action in this respect?

ebola
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Working on yourself. You are what you do. If you devote time to looking inside yourself, challenging your mind with questions about your ego's, sexual nature, etc, you will find out about yourself by shedding what is false. Then you are a changed person by virtue of having gone through that process and living the result day in and day out. That's the action.. changing who (what you thought) you are.
 
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