The Real Modern Day Philosophers

The Real Modern Day Philosophers

The French Dictionary of the French Academy that was read during the end of the seventeenth century described philosophe, (a philosopher) as a wise man who lives a quiet life, an individual who by free thought puts himself above the ordinary duties and obligations of civil life.

But to really define and describe the term philosophe/philosopher we have to go further to the source - that is where philosophy as we know it today comes from. We go to the Greek City State of Athens.

During the 5th century BC a group of individuals called sophists appeared in Athens in Greece. The word sophiste meant either one who makes wise, or one who deals in wisdom. The sophists were itinerant teachers who moved around Athens making their living trading in sophia. Some of them were good teachers while some of them were not. Many sophists were regarded to be too clever, subversive and critical because they were prepared to follow an argument whenever it might lead them. When you go all out after truth you cannot tell in advance that the truth will be what society would like it to be.

Socrates, was probably the most notorious of the sophists even though he did not consider himself to be sophist. He never accepted pay for his teaching like other sophists. His interest was to argue with fellow Athenians and then sting them out of their accepted ideas and believes. Socrates questioned everything ordinary people took for granted or preferred to leave unquestioned. Socrates suggested to people to listen to their conscience - the inner voice within that tells you what is truly right. And if you don't know keep asking questions of yourself until you find out.

What it comes down to then that the term philosopher is essentially identified with two key elements. First they were FREE individuals and who were prepared to follow an argument through and through and secondly they had a free thinking approach. So then let us take that and apply it today - in our times. Based on our review above then, the notion of referring to a university, a traditional static university with a campus as the extension of philosophes gives a false impression. Yes there is enlightenment or knowledge acquisition happening at universities, but looking at the term philosopher and its etymology or origin we have to eliminate the university as the center of free thinking and inquiry - a traditional university is a form of an organization, and as an organization it cannot accept free inquiry in the exact sense of that word. No organization tolerates an endless free thinking. There are limits - how far you can go in free thinking when you are confined to any type of organization. Because the term organization has with it, rules of behavior and every organization have boundaries.

Universities cannot be connected to the term philosophe. There is a lot of politicking and cover ups going at universities. How can you have a free thinking approach in such an environment - in an organization with a boss on top? At least, perhaps, the term philosophe can be applied to personal development coaches or what the people call gurus. Because gurus or personal development coaches are naturally free, unconnected to a static organization, through their teachings, books, and seminars they are free and assume free thinking approach in their disposition. And remember a lot of these coaches or gurus never even went to a university.The Real Modern Day Philosophers - Tobecool General Business - Directory Seo - Business Directory