Philosophy is the academic study of thinking. Literally, it is the love of wisdom. And that is what thinking should be bringing us closer towards. But what do we think about?
If we admit it or not, we all have a personal philosophy. Seldom do we think it through as a system of thought that controls our lives and our actions. But it is there nonetheless. We should think it through. Why do we respond the way we do to life? Why is our response towards this great big experience-creating machine called "reality" different than other peoples? Once we begin to think upon such questions, we realize a few things. We see that our perspective is just one out of six billion perspectives that are operative right now. We come to realize that life is greater than "me." We understand that there is much to think about when it comes to the dynamics of the relationship between the "self" (me) and reality (everything else).
When the tough questions are asked we should take the time to answer them. Ponder that tough question for a few moments and decide if it is relevant to your life and how, ultimately, it will affect you and your world. If we ask questions and seek answers, then it would only make sense to bring our actions into accordance with what we find.
A parable (it may be true... or not): A girl was watching her mother prepare dinner. The mother pulled out a large pot roast, cut a piece off both ends, plopped it into a large roaster and began cooking it. The girl asked, "Mom, why did you cut the ends off?"
"That is how I was taught to do it," answered the mother.
"But why?" Insisted the girl.
"I don't know. Go ask your grandmother, she was the one who taught me."
The little girl was not going to let it drop without coming to an answer. So she ran down the street to her grandmother's house.
"Grandma, why do you cut the ends off the roast?"
"Well, my grandchild," began the grandmother, "I had to because the pan I had was always too small for the roasts that your grandfather would bring home from the butcher's shop."
How many lessons have you inherited without asking about them: religion, science, culture, politics, ethics, etc...?
Your life does not become "yours" until you own it. Think. Seek wisdom and understanding. Once you do and say and think your actions and words and thoughts because they are yours, then you will be "you."
1 comment:
I agree a philosohy is the study of thinking--and that we do not examine it enough.
And, our Phlosophy of Life has a core value we set. It has been said that every decade of our life it subtley changes. I believe in my 50+ years I can look back and see where my exuberance for some things has waned.Ironically, my Religous Beliefs have done an About Face over those same years.
Also, the perspective of every other human IS skewed in a slightly different manner than the next. But this can be due, not just to the inate make-up, but by experiences meted out over time.
I for one, coming from an abusive home, had to be hyper-vigilant to read another's (read:Parent's) thoughts--for the wrong answer meant a quick game of red welts-- for me. I still try to read thoughts--and some times I do it badly.
But Humans persevere--having lived for eons, and some times look in the mirror and ask Why? P.
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