Tom Morris - Philosophy For Dummies

In philosophy, ultimately, there are no final authoritative experts. You and I are in this together. I often ask you to consult your intuitions about something, and I sometimes make a suggestion about what most people usually tend to conclude when they do so. I sketch out the deep contours of some experiences that are common among human beings across space and time. And I ask you to think through many issues for yourself. You and I are on a journey of understanding together. So feel free to talk back to me if you ever think I’m getting something wrong.

A final piece of advice: Catch yourself if you spend too much time staring blankly at a page, mesmerized. Deep questions can sometimes have that effect. And, please, try not to ever fall asleep with this book in your hands. It might give other people the wrong idea about the exciting, rousing, exhilarating enterprise of philosophy.

I am assuming you are new to philosophy. You’re not new to all the questions of philosophy — you’ve likely been asking some of them since you were quite young. But I’m assuming that you are new to the careful discipline of philosophical thinking. I don’t take for granted that you’ve ever sat in a philosophy classroom, or that you’ve ever donned a toga. I assume only that you sometimes wonder about life and this world and want to get your bearings a little better. If you are that rare reader who already has had an introduction to philosophy, or even proudly hold a (non-income generating) degree in philosophy, I’m just going to assume you’re willing to suspend or rethink some things you thought you knew already, and go at this afresh. And I’m also going to assume that you and I can have an adventure here, thinking about things that matter, which actually isn’t foolish at all.

Throughout this book, icons in the margins highlight certain types of valuable information that call out for your attention. Here are the icons you’ll find and a brief description of each.

The Tip icon marks suggestions and perspectives that can help you think through an issue.

The Remember icon indicates information that’s especially important to know and keep in mind.

The Technical Stuff icon alerts you to information of a more difficult nature that you can skip over initially, if you’d prefer.

The Warning icon tells you to watch out! It flags important cautionary notes that can save you intellectual confusion, needless effort, or the fallacious faux pas to be avoided.

In addition to the abundance of information and guidance related to the philosophical questions to be found in this book, you get access to even more help and information online at Dummies.com . Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet. Just go to www.dummies.com and search for “Philosophy For Dummies Cheat Sheet.” But don’t worry, it’s not the sort of cheating to be pondered in the ethics chapters.

The deepest philosophical issues are all connected with each other in interesting ways, as you’ll come to see. But I’ve written this book so you can start anywhere or read different chapters independently of each other. If you see your favorite topic in the table of contents, jump right into it if you like. But of course, if you start with chapter one and read on consecutively, you’ll be following the order of my own thinking and pick up some tools early on. But the point is that you need not. This is a reference guide for your convenience and is intended to answer at least many of the questions you might have about philosophy and philosophical thought. It’s written in the great For Dummies style that organizes lots of important information in an easy to access format. Go enjoy the journey!

Part 1

IN THIS PART …

Cut through the false image of philosophy in our time.

Find out what philosophy really is and does.

Explore a philosophical way of thinking and living.

Chapter 1

IN THIS CHAPTER

Hearing common misunderstandings of philosophy, courtesy of the famous

Examining the importance of the examined life — the life worth living

Looking at the questions to consider in a deep quest for understanding

Conversation you’re not likely to hear at any point in your life:

Him: “Hey, Honey, what do you want to do tonight?”

Her: “How about some philosophy?”

Him: “Sounds great!”

Her:“Invite the neighbors!”

Okay, let’s face it. For at least a hundred years, philosophy hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most appealing reputation in our culture. But that situation is about to change. This deepest, most exciting, and ultimately most practical activity of the mind has been misunderstood for long enough. It’s time to acknowledge that there are many critics and move beyond them.

In this chapter, you’ll be introduced to the broad array of worries and criticisms that otherwise highly intelligent and accomplished people have leveled against the enterprise of philosophy, and then you’ll get to see more deeply the real truth about this ancient and profound way of thinking.

There may be no intellectual activity more misunderstood and wrongly maligned as philosophy. The great American historian Henry Adams once characterized the entire endeavor as consisting of nothing more than “unintelligible answers to insoluble problems.” As far back as the 16th century, the prominent French essayist Michael de Montaigne proclaimed that, “philosophy is doubt.” And, of course, who enjoys doubt? It’s often uncomfortable. It can even be scary.

The 19th-century philosophical wild man, Friedrich Nietzsche, took it one more step and characterized philosophy as “an explosive, in the presence of which everything is in danger.” So, then, it really comes as no surprise to see Nietzsche’s predecessor, the English poet John Keats, worry about all the questions and doubts encouraged by philosophers and ask, “Do not all charms fly at the mere touch of cold philosophy?”

In ancient times, the Roman statesman and author Cicero even complained, “There is nothing so absurd that it hasn’t been said by some philosopher.” Of course, he too was “some philosopher.” But then there are many other very smart and even truly wise people who adopt the label of philosopher with pride. It may be revelatory to understand them and how they see their distinctive activity of the mind.