Philosopher ♦ Philosophe I don’t remember who exactly - Guitton (***) or Tibon (***) - told this story, which supposedly happened to him. It happened at the beginning of the twentieth century, in a more or less remote village. Young philosophy teacher... ... Philosophical Dictionary Sponville
- (from the Greek philosophos - friend of wisdom) initially, for example. according to Heraclitus, this is the name given to every person engaged in research. Later, the word “philosopher” began to be understood as a type of person striving for final, comprehensive clarity and... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia
And husband. Star. ed. Report: Filosofovich, Filosofovna. Derivatives: Phila; Sofa.Origin: (Greek philosophos lover of wisdom, philosopher.)Name day: June 13 Dictionary of personal names. Philosopher “Lubomudr”, lover of wisdom (Greek). June 13 (May 31) –… … Dictionary of personal names
- (Greek philosophos, this, see philosophy). 1) in ancient times, a person who knew how to create a theory of life wisdom for himself and lived guided by it. 2) studying philosophy or putting it into practice. 3) a scientist leading a quiet, solitary life. 4) person... Dictionary foreign words Russian language
Thinker, sage, wise man, cultural philosopher, thinker, wise man; Zeno, Kant, Pythagoras, Xenophanes, Spinoza, Schelling, Descartes, Schopenhauer, Aenesidemus, Bacon, Democritus, Hume, Galileo, Leibniz, Menippus, Helvetius, Locke, Chrysippus, Epicurus, Heraclitus,... ... Synonym dictionary
philosopher- PHILOSOPHER, PHILOSOPHER a., m. philosophe m. 1. A person who studies philosophy. BAS 1. [Mamant:] This Philosopher of the silent sect. You won’t be able to get a single word out of Nevo; he apparently swore not to speak until death. 1783. Chulkov As you wish... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language
philosopher- PHILOSOPHER, obsolete. wise, outdated wise man... Dictionary-thesaurus of synonyms of Russian speech
philosopher- and obsolete philosopher, philosopher... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language
PHILOSOPHER, philosopher, husband. 1. Scientist, specialist in philosophy; A person engaged in developing worldview issues, a thinker. “Anyone can be a philosopher... who was born with the habit of thinking and looking for a beginning and an end in everything.” Maksim Gorky. Philosophers... ... Dictionary Ushakova
PHILOSOPHER, huh, husband. 1. A specialist in philosophy, as well as the creator of what n. philosophical system. 2. transfer A person who has a reasonable, judicious and calm attitude towards all the phenomena of life, towards its adversities (colloquial). Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I.... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary
Of course, the philosopher unusual person. At all times, philosophers existed and differed from other people. The term “philosopher” was first proposed by Heraclitus. This thinker believed that the philosopher should seek wisdom in. The Sophists, on the contrary, believed that, having learned wisdom, the philosopher was obliged to convey it to his students.
In everyday understanding, a philosopher is a person whose world is not limited by everyday worries and vanity. He lives in accordance with his ideas about love, beauty and other intangible values. Theoretically, every person has a piece of a philosopher in them, and anyone can become a philosopher. However, in reality this turns out not to be the case.
The ancient Greek thinker Plato, for example, believed that it is impossible to become a philosopher, because one can only be born one. Nature must embed in its creation the ability to know and understand absolute truth. Naturally, not every person can have such abilities. Accordingly, philosophers are the only representatives among people. A philosopher is a person who, more than anyone else, must realize that he is constantly face to face with ignorance. Often it is philosophers who pave the way for something new.
If earlier, when defining a person as a philosopher, it was understood that he belonged to a certain school or movement, for example, the sophists, etc. A person who attributed himself to a certain school was a philosopher in his way of life. Currently, there is a profession of philosopher; many universities have philosophy faculties that graduate professional philosophers. However, without certain inclinations you cannot become a philosopher.
It is interesting that a person who has received a specialized philosophical education and has learned to think outside the box can become an unsurpassed professional not only in the field of philosophy, but also in other areas of scientific knowledge. In the West, large firms are happy to invite certified philosophers to work with clients precisely because of what a philosopher can offer non-standard solution in any situation. However, you can work directly in your specialty - teach philosophy at a university.
By the way, philosophers themselves cannot accurately define the subject of their knowledge and give
Among all the humanities, philosophy is called the most insidious. After all, it is she who asks humanity such complex but also important questions as: “What is existence?”, “What is the meaning of life?”, “Why do we live in this world?” Hundreds of volumes have been written about each of these topics, their authors trying to find the answer...
But more often than not, they became even more confused when searching for the truth. Among the numerous philosophers who have made their mark in history, 10 of the most important can be identified. After all, it was they who laid the foundations for future thought processes that other scientists were already struggling with.
Parmenides (520-450 BC). This ancient Greek philosopher lived before Socrates. Like many other thinkers of that era, he was distinguished by incomprehensibility and even a certain madness. Parmenides became the founder of a whole philosophical school in Elea. His poem “On Nature” has reached us. In it, the philosopher discusses issues of knowledge and existence. Parmenides reasoned that there is only an eternal and unchanging Being, which is identified with thinking. According to his logic, it is impossible to think about non-existence, which means it does not exist. After all, the idea “there is something that is not” is contradictory. Parmenides' main student is Zeno of Elea, but the philosopher's works also influenced Plato and Melissus.
Aristotle (384-322 BC). Along with Aristotle, Plato and Socrates are also considered to be the pillars of ancient philosophy. But it was this man who was also distinguished by his educational activities. Aristotle's school gave him a great impetus in the development of the creativity of numerous students. Today scientists cannot even figure out which works exactly belong to the great thinker. Aristotle became the first scientist who was able to create a versatile philosophical system. Later it will form the basis of many modern sciences. It was this philosopher who created formal logic. And his views on physical basis the universe has changed noticeably further development human thinking. The central teaching of Aristotle was the doctrine of the first causes - matter, form, cause and purpose. This scientist laid down the concepts of space and time. Aristotle paid a lot of attention to the theory of the state. It is no coincidence that his most successful student, Alexander the Great, achieved so much.
Marcus Aurelius (121-180). This man went down in history not only as a Roman emperor, but also as an outstanding humanist philosopher of his era. Under the influence of another philosopher, his teacher Maximus Claudius, Marcus Aurelius created 12 books on Greek, united under the general title “Reflections about oneself.” Meditations was written for inner world philosophers. There, the emperor spoke about the beliefs of the Stoic philosophers, but did not accept all of their ideas. Stoicism was an important phenomenon for the Greeks and Romans, because it determined not only the rules of patience, but also showed the path to happiness. Marcus Aurelius believed that all people, through their spirit, participate in an ideological community that has no limitations. The works of this philosopher are still easy to read today, helping to solve some of life’s problems. It is interesting that the philosopher’s humanistic ideas did not at all prevent him from persecuting the first Christians.
Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109). This medieval philosopher did a lot for Catholic theology. He is even considered the father of scholasticism, and famous work Anselm of Canterbury became "Proslogion". In it, with the help of ontological proof, he provided unshakable evidence of the existence of God. The existence of God flowed from his very concept. Anselm came to the conclusion that God is perfection, existing outside of us and outside of this world, surpassing in magnitude everything imaginable. The philosopher’s main statements “faith requiring understanding” and “I believe in order to understand” then became the original mottos of the Augustinian philosophical school. Among Anselm's followers was Thomas Aquinas. The philosopher’s students continued to develop his views on the relationship between faith and reason. For his work for the benefit of the church, Anselm was canonized as a saint in 1494. And in 1720, Pope Clement XI proclaimed the saint a Teacher of the Church.
Benedict Spinoza (1632-1677). Spinoza was born in Jewish family, his ancestors settled in Amsterdam after being expelled from Portugal. In his youth, the philosopher studied the works of the best Jewish minds. But Spinoza began to express orthodox views and became close to sectarians, which led to his excommunication from the Jewish community. After all, his progressive views were in conflict with deep-rooted social views. Spinoza fled to The Hague, where he continued to improve. He made his living by grinding lenses and giving private lessons. And in his free time from these everyday activities, Spinoza wrote his philosophical works. In 1677, the scientist died of tuberculosis, his deep-rooted illness was also aggravated by inhaling lens dust. Only after Spinoza's death his main work, Ethics, was published. The works of the philosopher synthesized scientific ideas Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages, the works of the Stoics, Neoplatonists and Scholastics. Spinoza tried to transfer the influence of Copernicus on science into the spheres of ethics, politics, metaphysics and psychology. Spinoza's metaphysics was based on logic: it is necessary to define terms, formulate axioms, and only then, using logical consequences, derive the remaining provisions.
Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860). The philosopher's contemporaries remembered him as a little ugly pessimist. He spent most of his life with his mother and cat in his apartment. Nevertheless, this suspicious and ambitious man was able to make his way into the ranks of the most important thinkers, becoming the most prominent representative of irrationalism. The source of Schopenhauer's ideas was Plato, Kant and the ancient Indian treatise Upanishads. The philosopher became one of the first who dared to combine Eastern and Western culture. The difficulty of the synthesis was that the first is irrational, and the second, on the contrary, rational. The philosopher paid a lot of attention to issues of human will; his most famous aphorism was the phrase “Will is a thing in itself.” After all, it is she who determines existence, influencing it. Main job The philosopher’s entire life became his “The World as Will and Idea.” Schopenhauer outlined the main ways a decent life- art, moral asceticism and philosophy. In his opinion, it is art that can free the soul from life’s suffering. You must treat others as you treat yourself. Although the philosopher sympathized with Christianity, he remained an atheist.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900). This man, despite his relatively short life, was able to achieve a lot in philosophy. The name Nietzsche is commonly associated with fascism. In fact, he was not a nationalist like his sister. The philosopher generally had little interest in life around him. Nietzsche was able to create an original teaching that has nothing to do with an academic character. The scientist’s works cast doubt on generally accepted norms of morality, culture, religion and socio-political relations. Just look at Nietzsche’s famous phrase “God is dead.” The philosopher was able to revive interest in philosophy, exploding the stagnant world with new views. Nietzsche's first work, The Birth of Tragedy, immediately awarded the author the label of "the terrible child of modern philosophy." The scientist tried to understand what morality is. According to his views, one should not think about its truth, one must consider its service to a purpose. Nietzsche's pragmatic approach is also noted in relation to philosophy and culture in general. The philosopher was able to derive a formula for a superman who will not be limited by morality and ethics, standing aside from good and evil.
Roman Ingarden (1893-1970). This Pole was one of the most prominent philosophers of the last century. He was a student of Hans-Georges Gadamer. Ingarden in Lvov survived the fascist occupation, continuing to work on his main work, “The Dispute about the Existence of the World.” In this two-volume book, the philosopher discusses art. The basis of the philosopher’s activity was aesthetics, ontology and epistemology. Ingarden laid the foundations for realistic phenomenology, which is still relevant today. The philosopher also studied literature, cinema, and the theory of knowledge. Ingarden translated philosophical works, including Kant's, into Polish, and taught a lot at universities.
Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980). This philosopher is very loved and popular in France. This is the most prominent representative of atheistic existentialism. His positions were close to Marxism. At the same time, Sartre was also a writer, playwright, essayist and teacher. The work of philosophers is based on the concept of freedom. Sartre believed that she is absolute concept, man is simply condemned to be free. We must shape ourselves, taking responsibility for our actions. Sartre said: “Man is the future of man.” The world around us has no meaning; it is man who changes this through his activities. The philosopher’s work “Being and Nothingness” has become a real Bible for young intellectuals. Nobel Prize in literature, Sartre refused to accept because he did not want to question his independence. Philosopher in his political activity always defended the rights of the disadvantaged and humiliated people. When Sartre died, 50 thousand people gathered to see him off on his last journey. Contemporaries believe that no other Frenchman gave as much to the world as this philosopher.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961). This French philosopher was at one time a like-minded person of Sartre, being a supporter of existentialism and phenomenology. But then he moved away from communist views. Merleau-Ponty outlined his main thoughts in his work “Humanism and Terror.” Researchers believe that it contains features akin to fascist ideology. In a collection of his works, the author harshly criticizes supporters of Marxism. The philosopher’s worldview was influenced by Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche and Freud, and he himself was interested in the ideas of Gestalt psychology. Based on the work of his predecessors and working on the unknown works of Edmund Husserl, Merleau-Ponty was able to create his phenomenology of the body. This doctrine states that the body is neither a pure being nor a natural thing. This is just a turning point between culture and nature, between one's own and someone else's. The body in his understanding is a holistic “I”, which is the subject of thinking, speech and freedom. The original philosophy of this Frenchman forced a new rethinking of traditional philosophical topics. It is no coincidence that he is considered one of the main thinkers of the twentieth century.
There are many definitions of philosophy. The first describes the discipline as a science that studies the fundamental nature of existence, the meaning of life, and the place of man in the world. Second option: the main task of philosophy is the search for truth.
The work of a philosopher is to find answers to the eternal questions of the universe: who we are, what is our purpose.
To better understand the tasks, object and subject of the study of philosophy, let’s plunge into history. Scientists believe that the discipline appeared in Greece at the turn of the 6th-7th centuries. BC. During this period, humanity was experiencing a rapid technological rise and, as a result, a class appeared in society that did not take part in hard physical labor. Its representatives could devote themselves entirely to spiritual and cultural life.
Development of trade relations between different peoples led to a conflict of worldviews. Religion, spirituality, and the way of life of people began to closely intersect with the first scientific discoveries in medicine, astronomy and others natural sciences. At this moment, philosophy appears, whose representatives set themselves the task of giving rational answers to questions about the essence of being.
The modern functions of the profession of philosopher can be represented as follows:
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Philosopher is not exactly a profession, but rather a special way of thinking. It is worth noting that in the XV-XVI centuries educational institution could bear the name “university” only if there was a faculty of philosophy.
Students of modern universities are taught ethics, logic, theory of knowledge, and history. Teachers set themselves the goal of teaching students methods of non-standard thinking. The profession of a philosopher provides excellent assistance for achieving success in a variety of fields. Among them: journalism, advertising, business.
IN Western countries employers have long understood this. When finding employment in a large business corporation, a specialist's diploma in this specialty provides significant advantages. What can an ordinary manager offer? Most likely, standard solutions, while the philosopher finds creative approaches for the development of the company.
You can master the profession of philosopher at the following universities:
Task 5.
Express and give reasons for your own opinion about who can be considered a philosopher.
Is philosophy possible as a profession?
Does a philosopher have a special social mission, and what does it consist of?
Jacques Maritain, Philosopher in the City:
“A philosopher is a person seeking wisdom... great philosophers and the truth of philosophy are values independent of each other. It may turn out that great philosophers are also mistaken... A great mistaken philosopher is like a lighthouse on the reefs: he tells the sailors: swim away from me. It allows people to identify the bugs that are affecting them.
<…>And although philosophers are hopelessly divided among themselves in their understanding of the highest truth, they at least seek this truth.” 22
Friedrich Weissman, How I understand philosophy.
“...a philosopher is a person who catches, as it were, hidden cracks in the structures of our concepts, where others see only a smooth path ahead of them, full of banalities.<…>Philosophers from Plato to Schopenhauer agreed that the source of their philosophizing was wonder. It is not caused by something deep and exceptional, but precisely by those things that catch our eye: memory, movement, general ideas» 23.
Karl Popper, How do I see philosophy
“I consider all men and women philosophers. However, I think that some of them are more philosophers than others.<…>I completely disagree with the idea ... of the existence of an intellectual philosophical elite. Of course, I acknowledge the existence of several truly great philosophers...however, despite the enormous importance of their works for professional philosophers, they did not influence philosophy to the same extent as great artists influenced painting, or great composers influenced music. Moreover, great philosophy, for example, the philosophy of the Pre-Socratics, always preceded the emergence of academic, professional philosophy.
All people are philosophers. Even if they are not aware of their own philosophical problems, they at least have philosophical prejudices." 24
Do you share K. Popper's point of view that all people are philosophers? What is philosophy in this case?
Task 6.
Get acquainted with the statement of F. Nietzsche.
Do you agree with his position?
What, then, is responsible for the differences in the views of philosophers belonging to different cultures?
What is truth and is it achievable?
Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond good and evil:
“It is very likely that the philosophers of the Ural-Altaic group of languages (where the concept of the subject is poorly developed) look at the world differently and find different ways of thinking than the Indo-Europeans or Muslims.” 25
Task 7.
Read the statements below and express your attitude towards them.
How would you answer the question, what is a “philosophical problem”?
Are there philosophical problems?
Are they related to scientific problems and everyday human life?
Do they have permission in principle?
Ludwig Wittgenstein, "Philosophical Studies":
"123. A philosophical problem has the form: “I am at a dead end.” 26
Moritz Schlick"The Future of Philosophy":
“All real problems are scientific and there are no other problems.”
“The fate of all “philosophical problems” is this: some of them will disappear as soon as it is shown that they are errors and the result of a misunderstanding of language, while others will be recognized as ordinary scientific questions, albeit disguised.” 27
Ludwig Wittgenstein, "Philosophical Studies":
"436. If you believe that the whole difficulty of the task here lies in the fact that you need to describe elusive phenomena, quickly fleeting experiences of a given moment, or something like that, then it’s easy to get into a dead end of philosophizing. Then ordinary language will seem too crude to us, as if we must deal not with those phenomena that are spoken about every day, but with those that easily slip away and, in their appearance and disappearance, only crudely produce those first ones” 28.
“With the establishment of a new way of life, old problems disappear: moreover, it becomes difficult to grasp what they were. The fact is that they are rooted in the way of expression, and as soon as a new way of expression is involved, then along with the old vestments, the old problems are removed.” 29
Friedrich Weissman, How I understand philosophy.
“In philosophy, the real problem is not to find the answer to a given question, but to make sense of it.” thirty
Task 8.
Do you think the term “progress” is applicable to philosophy?
Comment on the views expressed below regarding the idea of progress in philosophy.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, “Culture and Value”:
“Philosophy is reproached again and again for the fact that it, in fact, does not move forward, that the same philosophical problems that occupied the Greeks continue to occupy us. …The reason is that our language remains the same and again and again inclines us to pose the same questions.” 31
“I read: “Philosophers today are no closer to the meaning of “existence” than Plato.” What a strange state of affairs. How amazing it is that Plato was able to advance so far! Or that we were unable to move forward! Is this the reason that Plato was so smart? 32.
Ludwig Wittgenstein, “Culture and Value”:
“Philosophy has made no progress? Isn’t it possible to see progress in the fact that a person scratches an itchy place?” 33
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