How To Become A Philosopher

It’s funny the reactions I get after I tell people I study philosophy at the University of Kansas.  Many times, people are interested and curious about why I chose to study business and philosophy.  They say things like, “That’s an interesting combination.  What made you decide to do that?”  One person called me a freak--not an unreasonable claim because the connections between business and philosophy are not immediately evident.

The thing about doing philosophy is that anyone with a questioning mind can do it.  There’s nothing special about me--I only have the strong desire to question and find the truth.  You can be just like Socrates without much training or background.  First, you must understand that regardless of what you have been told, there is no clearly defined way to do philosophy properly.  There’s no protocol, rulebook, or procedure an individual must follow.  It helps to eliminate prejudice, ignorance, and your own point of view when examining an philosophical question, but sometimes, your point of view, if supported with sound and valid arguments, can be vital to transforming you into a prolific philosopher.  A philosopher is a person that engages in critical thinking about some of the most perplexing issues that concern humanity.  You don’t need a formal degree or a title to be a philosopher.  Instead, a philosopher seeks to understand, learn from every experience, and analyzes everything around them.

Second, there is no clearly defined way to question, which adds to the beauty.  Sure, there are different schools of thought, but there are countless ways to begin and continue your inquiry.  If you decide to study philosophy at a university, you will be exposed to different famous thinkers and their opinions, but in order for you yourself to become a philosopher, you must think about these issues and decide for yourself whether you agree or disagree.  Be prepared to defend your opinions with reasons and seek the truth above all else.  You must be the source of your own philosophical investigation.  If you are very serious about pursuing structured studies in philosophy, consider minoring or majoring to get more exposure and perspectives on philosophical questions.  

Philosophers think about profound topics that rarely enter into everyday small talk- life, death, existence, meaning, knowledge, and reality to name a few.  Bertrand Russell said when a question has an absolute answer, it is no longer philosophical.  One of the most important questions a philosopher can ask him/her self is, “Why do I believe what I believe?”  Debate is a crucial element to accepting criticism about your own personal beliefs on these profound issues.  In addition to questioning and clarifying your own beliefs, multiple perspectives can help you reach more sound conclusions about these issues.  Never be afraid to ask, “Why?”      

Generally, I haven’t encountered many philosophers who also consider themselves believers in a God.  The lone girl brave enough to voice her belief in God in my modern philosophy class was harshly rebuked by other students.  Christian religions (and most world religions) presuppose the existence of God in all their teachings and doctrine, so when a philosopher questions the very existence of God, the entire body of religious teaching is at stake.  If the philosopher decides God does not exist, it becomes terribly difficult to believe in the other teachings of a religious organization because in that individual’s mind, there is no foundation on which to justify actions and behavior.  However, occasionally I’ll meet someone who has questioned their own religious beliefs, and as a result, their faith has grown stronger.  I argue that these people should also be considered philosophers because they have approached their faith with an open mind, and have not been afraid to question deeply held assumptions.