Do You Have To Be A Philosopher To Do Philosophy?
In a word, no, not really. At least, it doesn’t have to be in your job title. In a perfect world, everyone would do philosophy. It would be an everyday habit, like doing dishes or walking the dog. There are a number of great thinkers who aren’t typically associated with philosophy, but who did ask some important philosophical questions. Here are a few examples:
William Shakespeare may have impressed crowds with his poetry and drama, but he also had some pretty fantastic ideas about human nature, and about where wisdom comes from. Even the fools in his plays have some pretty interesting things to say about the meaning of life.
Rachel Carson spent years researching marine biology, but also wrote some very influential works on environmental philosophy. She encouraged her readers to think like an animal in order to fully appreciate the importance of protecting the environment.
Albert Einstein may have been a Nobel prize winning physicist, but he never lost his sense of wonder at the mysteries of nature. In fact, he warned that science should never be given too much authority, as humans still had a lot to learn about the universe.
Maybe the word “philosopher” just needs a little bit of a redefinition. None of these great minds mentioned above studied philosophy at an academic institution, but they were definitely doing what philosophers do, that is, they asked philosophical questions and used logic and reasoning to find and test answers.
So, what about you? You too could be philosopher, if…
· You like to ask big questions, many of which begin with “Why” and all of which are so big that they don’t have just one answer.
· You wonder about things like truth, beauty, love, justice, equality, and the difference between right and wrong.
· You can give reasons for thinking the way you think. You’re okay admitting you don’t know, but you can also avoid relying on “just because”.
· You’re open to new reasons when they arise, even if it means revisiting what you thought before.
· You can avoid errors in logic, like name-calling, leaving out evidence, and distracting others.
Even if you don’t feel you tick all of these boxes, we’re pretty sure your kids could. Doing philosophy with them will not only help them sharpen their thinking skills, but it might help you build a little more confidence in your own. Embracing your own inner philosopher, and encouraging your child to grow as a thinker, is likely to be a fun experience that will build a bond of trust between you.
If you need a place to start, check out our books, apps, and our free learning page, The Wall of Wonder!
Happy thinking!
