How Can We Attain the Closest Knowledge to Truth?
Since understanding what a concept (knowledge) truly is proves difficult, how can we attain the most accurate information? We can turn to the closest analogies. Philosophy, as a tradition of opening concepts to debate, resembles the act of emphasizing what we do not know. Those who believe they know either experiment and observe like scientists or blindly trust old myths like mythology enthusiasts.
As a child, I was unaware of philosophy. As a young adult, I learned its meaning. Upon maturing, I realized I had misunderstood it and could never fully comprehend it. I chose this title to philosophically discuss what philosophy is—through the concept of philosophy itself.
Philosophy Is Not a “Thing”
Philosophy is not a single, definite entity; it has neither one fixed meaning nor a tangible object. There are dozens of different meanings and thousands of varying definitions for philosophy. Yet, none of these meanings represent its true essence. We do not know its true meaning, and each usage functions more as an expression of aspiration. But what about the fact that its meaning has varied throughout history, adapting to the changing world, and differs across Eastern, Western, and Eurasian traditions? The issue of defining philosophy serves as a prime example of philosophy’s fundamental problem.
Why Does the Question “What Is Philosophy?” Matter?
The issues surrounding the word “philosophy” mirror the broader issues of philosophy itself. Asking “What is philosophy?” helps us recognize these problems, making it a philosophical question in its own right. In this series of writings, you will encounter a paradox. As we discuss philosophy through the concept of philosophy, you will read that philosophy both exists and does not exist. This reflects a state of uncertainty inherent in discussions that push the boundaries of language—similar to how living can be considered a form of dying or how true knowledge can be equated to not knowing. These paradoxes are reflections of the fundamental paradox underlying all things, hinting at a reality too vast to be reduced to language.
Who Needs These Writings?
Anyone striving to be human within humanity needs these writings. Thinking—the very act that defines philosophy—suits humans best, and philosophy can benefit everyone. Philosophy is no longer merely a specialized academic field; it has become a space of unresolved discussions about the fundamental issues of being human.
What Are the Characteristic Behaviors of a Philosopher?
Philosophers are typically individuals who find existence “strange” and question it. They perceive life as odd but also recognize that most people, trapped by illusions, refrain from acknowledging this strangeness. Philosophers remain wary of such illusions. They seek to understand the relationships between things and their place in the bigger picture—that is, their meaning.
A philosopher often leads a minimalist life, with no luxuries beyond basic necessities, and finds joy in observing life itself.
While the philosopher’s theoretical role is to emphasize the unknown—that which lies beyond verbal expression—their practical role is to establish balance. Ideally, they ask questions on a theoretical level while, in practice, they aim to calm and reconcile conflicts. Outsiders may perceive this as opposition, as philosophers frequently challenge prevailing views. They find points of contention in every assertion because all knowledge is a conceptual interpretation and, therefore, contains inherent inaccuracies.
A common philosophical practice is attempting to articulate new situations, forming hypotheses, and observing reality to comprehend what is happening. Philosophers make it their duty to warn against uncertainty, highlight the shortcomings of all claims to knowledge, and maintain a critical stance against every assertion to dismantle illusions and deceptions.
