Though I began philosophic debates with my father when I was about 8 years old I didn't fully know then what he was teaching me. Basically, he was teaching me to question everything in life. He had been valedictorian of his high school Class in 1934. In church I had a friend who was interested in Philosophy and telling jokes and making fun of everything in life, especially problems. I found this humorous way of approaching problems very useful in approaching literally everything in life. So, when I reached college I first studied Computer Science and Computer operations because logic and reason and truth made the most sense to me in life.
However, then I began to realize my survival depended upon philosophical enquiry more than anything else. By this time I was 21 years old and had left my childhood church so I was suffering then and I had broken up with a girl from my church because she wanted to be celibate and married. However, I wanted to be married with children. Marriage to me only made sense to me at all if I was having and raising children. Otherwise, what's the point of the compromises one must make to be married?
So, philosophical enquiry began my search for how I was going to survive my life and got me As in all my philosophy classes then because I spoke up in class to share what I thought about philosophers in the past, and present including Socrates, Aristotle, Plato and other more recent philosophers like Descartes who said: "There is nothing so good that no bad may come of it and nothing so bad that no good may come of it." I completely agree with this statement because it mirrors life as I move through it.
Though people who are dualists might not be able to think this way I tend to see dualism now as sort of childish and for children.
However, it also appears that most people remain children in this sense for the rest of their lives simply because they are not exposed to a good college education. This is my thought of why most people stay children in this sense.
Many people want to categorize everything into either White or Black, good or bad whereas real life is often more grey (both black and white to various degrees.
So, what does one do with life?
We all do the best we can to survive and to help our friends and families survive.
This is what human life on earth is all about.
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Philosophical inquiry is the deep, critical process of questioning fundamental aspects of life, reality, knowledge, and values
(like "What is good?" or "What is truth?") to seek wisdom, not just
facts, by resisting easy answers and exploring complex ideas through
reason, logic, and discussion, helping us understand ourselves and our
world better.It's about exploring the "why" and "how" of existence, moving beyond simple answers to a richer understanding.
Key aspects of philosophical inquiry:
Questioning the fundamental:
It tackles big, abstract questions about existence, ethics, knowledge, beauty, and meaning.
Seeking wisdom (Love of Wisdom):
It's driven by a desire for deeper understanding (philosophy meaning love of wisdom) to live a more fulfilling life.
Critical thinking:
Involves rigorous analysis, logical reasoning, and challenging assumptions rather than accepting them.
Open-ended:
Often involves more questions than answers, leading to further exploration.
Personal and communal:
Can be a personal journey or a collaborative "community of inquiry," as seen in educational approaches.
Method:
Uses argumentation, reflection, and exploring different perspectives to clarify thinking and build knowledge.
In practice:
Education:
Used in schools (like Philosophy for Children - P4C) to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Life:
Helps individuals navigate uncertainties, understand their place, and make sense of experiences.
In
essence, philosophical inquiry is the art of wondering deeply and
questioning thoroughly to uncover deeper truths about ourselves and the
universe.
Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings | BU Hub
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Philosophical inquiry
is a method of critical thinking that involves questioning fundamental
beliefs, values, and assumptions about existence, knowledge, and ethics.
It is a practical guide to the philosophical arts of questioning, conceptual exploration and reasoning, with wide application across the school curriculum.
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