C O N T E N T S What Is Philosophy ? Sources Of Philosophy The Comprehensive The Idea of God The Unconditional Imperative Man The World Faith and Enlightenment The History o f Man The Independent Philosopher The Philosophical Life The History o f Philosophy APPENDICES Philosophy and Science On Reading Philosophy Bibliograp hy Index W A Y T O W I S D O M Hi ocrat doubt, we are far more advanced than pp the Greek physician . But we are scarcely entitled say that we have progressed m r only advanced beyond his ate ials, beyond use hilos scientific findings ofwhich he made . In p o itself we have scarcely regained his level . Of It lies in the very nature philosophy, as tin uished g from the sciences , that in any Of its for must dispense with the unanimous recognition The certainty to which it aspires is not Of the Obj scientific sort, which is the same for every mind ; inner certainty in which a man ’ s whole bei pates . Whereas science always pertains to Objects , the knowledge Of which is by no means ns pe able to all men, philosophy deals with the ns of being, which concer man as man, with a which, wherever it is manifested , moves us mor deeply than any scientific knowledge . System atic philosophy is indeed bound up with th ' m ad ancec sciences . It always reckons with the ost v O h scientific findings f its time . But essentially philosop f ff “ Springs rom a di erent source . It emerges before an m en science , wherever achieve awareness . The existence of such a philosophy without science i revealed in several striking ways : First : In p hilosophical matters almost ev ery o n' m m believes hi self capable of judg ent . Whereas it i c recognized that in the sciences study, training, metho ! are indispensable to understanding , in philosophy me generally assume that they are competent to form a! m ! Opinion without preli inary study . Our OW 8 W H A T I S P H I L O S O P H Y ? o ur our o w n manity, own destiny, experience strike as r a sufficient basis fo philosophical opinions . notion that philosop hy m ust be accessible to all ustified . The circuitous paths travelled by specialists philosophy have meaning only if they lead man to awareness o f being and Of his place in it . Second : Philosophical thought m ust always spring ‘ for Om free creation . Every man must accomplish it imself . ’ A marvellous indication of man s innate disposition 3 philosophy is to be found in the questions asked by hildren . It is not uncommon to hear from the mouths f children words which penetrate to the very depths A : f philosophy . few examples A out child cries in wonderment, I keep trying to h ’ ” f . ink that I am somebody else , but I m, always mysel T his boy has touched on one of the universal sources Of ertaint of y , awareness of being through awareness lf e . the He is perplexed at mystery of his I , this oystery that can be apprehended through nothing lse . ! uestioningly, he stands before this ultimate alit e y . Another boy hears the story Of the Creation : In the beginning God made heaven and earth and ” mmediatel ? y asks , What was before the beginning ” ( his child has sensed that there is no end to question n g, that there is no stopping place for the mind , that [0 conclusive answer is possible . A little girl out walking in the woods with her father istens to his stories about the elves that dance in the “ le arings at night But there are no elves Ier father shifts over to realities , describes the motion 9 W A Y T O W I S D O M Hi ocrat doubt, we are far more advanced than pp the Greek physician . But we are scarcely entitled say that we have progressed beyond Plato . We ha only advanced beyond his materials , beyond t m hiloso scientific findings ofwhich he ade use . In p p itself we have scarcely regained his level . It lies in the very nature Of philosophy, as di tin uished g from the sciences , that in any of its forms m ust dispense with the unanimous recognition Of a The certainty to which it aspires is not o f the o bj ectiv scientific sort, which is the same for every mind ; it is inner certainty in which a man ’ s whole being partie articul pates . Whereas science always pertains to p o f objects , the knowledge which is by no means indi w hol pensable to all men, philosophy deals with the s Of being, which concern man as man, with a trut m ‘ which, wherever it is anifested , moves us mor deeply than any scientific knowledge . System atic philosophy is indeed bound up with th ' m : sciences . It always reckons with the ost advance scientific findings Ofits time . But essentially philosoph f ff ‘ springs rom a di erent source . It emerges before an science , wherever men achieve awareness . The existence o f such a philosophy without science i revealed in several striking ways : First : In philosop hical m atters almost ev ery o n. m O f believes hi self capable judgment . Whereas it i ( recognized that in the sciences study, training, metho m e! are indispensable to understanding , in philosophy generally assum e that they are competent to form a! m Opinion without preli inary study . Our OW! 8 W H A T I S P H I L O S O P H Y ? our o ur manity, own destiny, own experience strike as a sufficient basis for philosophical Opinions . notion that philosophy m ust be accessible to all ustified . The circuitous paths travelled by specialists philosophy have meaning only if they lead man to awareness of being and o f his place in it . d : Philosophical thought must always spring free creation . Every man must accomplish it for m l se f . A marvellous indication Of man ’ s innate disposition philosophy is to be found in the questions asked by ildren . It is not uncommon to hear from the mouths children words which penetrate to the very depths A : philosophy . few examples out in wonderment, I keep trying to ’ ” f. somebody else , but I m, always mysel boy has touched on one of the universal sources o f int y , awareness Of being through awareness Of the He is perplexed at mystery Of his I , this ery that can be apprehended through nothing ! uestioningly, he stands before this ultimate Another b oy hears the story Of the Creation : In the beginning God made heaven and earth and i e Wh i ? mmediat ly asks , at was before the beginn ng This child has sensed that there is no end to question m ing, that there is no stopping place for the ind , that no conclusive answer is possible . A little girl out walking in the woods with her father listens to his stories about the elves that dance in the clearings at night “ But there are no elves hi Her father s fts over to realities , describes the motion 9 W A Y T O _W I S D O M o f of the sun, discusses the question whether it is sun or the earth that revolves , and explains the reas for supposing that the earth is round “ ’ ” axis Oh, that isn t so , says the little girl nl ! stamps her foot . The earth stands still . I o y be ” “ ” “ ou what I see . Then , says her father, y d ’ Him 1 Go d . believe in , you can t see either The m m girl is puzzled for a o ent, but then says with g ’ ’ assurance , If there weren t any God , we wouldn t d here at all . This child was seized with the won er existence : things do not exist through themselves . An she understood that there is a diff erence b etw ee questions bearing on particular Objects in the worl our i and those bearing on ex stence as a whole . Another little girl is climbing the stairs o n her o n visit her aunt . She begins to reflect how ss changes, flows , pa es , as though it had n “ But there must be something that ’ sam e I m climbing these stairs on my — ’ m ’ my aunt that s so ething I ll never forget . ment and terror at the universal transience Of thing here seek a forlorn evasion . Anyone who chose to collect these stories migh m ’ co pile a rich store Of children s philosophy . It i som etimes said that the children must have heard m m this fro their parents or so eone else, but such objection Obviously does not apply to the child ’ s re s serious questions . To argue that the e children do continue to philosophize and that consequently s utterances must be accidental is to overlook the that children Often possess gifts which they lose as grow up . With the years we seem to IO W H A T rs E H I L O S O P H Y ? n and un conve tions and opinions , concealments estio ned acceptance , and there we lose the candour of The child still reacts spontaneously to the O f life ; the child feels and sees and inquires which soon disappear from his vision . He t for a moment was revealed to him and is when grownups later tell him what he said questions he asked .