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Reading Critique 1:
BOOK OF CHOOSING:
What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to philosophy
When beginning to start talking about what philosophy really is the author states their
personal opinion of philosophy and that not all philosophers may agree with them “my personal
opinion is that most of these problems have not been solved, and that perhaps some of them
never will be.” (pg. 6) While reading the introduction and a few early pages of the book it seems
like the author is questioning the existence of everything we seem to know. The author questions
the readers on things that we probably have never thought twice about such as if we all have
brains even though we've never personally seen our brain or even physically touched it, we as
humans just assume that it does exist and that we all need one to survive and think it's crazy to
question this matter. The author makes it a point that philosophy is a study but it is different from
science and from mathematics. This is because unlike science philosophy doesn't rely on
experiments but only on thought, likewise unlike mathematics it has no exact calculations or
formulas in order to prove something. Philosophy is the basis of asking questions, trying out
ideas and thinking of possible arguments against them, and the state of wondering how our
concepts really work.
I believe that this is a common approach to philosophy and I somewhat agree with the
author's claims based on what I've learned in class and what little prior knowledge I've had to the
idea of philosophy before taking this course. In the course we define philosophy as the
questioning of our values with the qualities to your life of every other living being. These are
also the same values that we use to shape in life from what's right and what's wrong. Some sets
of values that we discussed in class would be mega values (determines how you live your life),
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micro values (your common set of values) , mini values (how you organize and prioritize your
values) and nano values (which makes each person unique) . Philosophy can also be defined as
the act of self reflection and what we use to determine what we believe truly exists. When
reading the text that the book contains the author gives the readers a few problems to think about
such as “knowledge of the world beyond our minds, knowledge of minds other than our own, the
relation between mind and brain, how language is possible, whether we have free will, the basis
of morality, what inequalities are unjust, the nature of death, and the meaning of life.” (pg. 6) I
believe that connecting these problems to the study of philosophy allows us to gain a deeper
understanding and insight to potentially help when solving these fundamental problems. When
looking at each problem individually instead of as one big problem I can see how these problems
can relate to broader philological issues and ultimately all relate to one another.
When looking and beginning to learn what philosophy is and how we use it in our
everyday lives you may try to relate it or connect it to religion or even mythology. Philosophy, in
its essence, is essentially coming to an understanding through critical inquiry. It is a study that
seeks to explore fundamental questions and problems about the nature of reality, knowledge,
existence, values, and the human experience. Unlike religion and mythology, philosophy does
not provide concrete answers but rather engages in a continual process of questioning and
examination. Philosophy does not rely on revealed truths but rather encourages individuals to
question and explore beliefs. Religion gives people hope and is deemed to be very powerful
because it allows people to believe in the afterlife after death, and promotes social control.
Philosophy, while addressing these topics, encourages a more open-ended exploration,
welcoming diverse perspectives and interpretations. To touch on the differences between
philosophy and mythology we can see that mythology often consists of traditional narratives,
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stories, and symbolic representations that convey cultural beliefs. Mythology tends to offer
explanations for the mysteries of existence through storytelling. As we go deeper into the
exploration of philosophy, it becomes evident that the author's assertion aligns with a
fundamental characteristic of philosophical inquiry—acknowledging the perpetual nature of its
questions.
The author's personal opinion, asserting that many of the profound problems raised in
philosophy may remain unsolved, resonates with the inherent nature of philosophical discourse,
where certainty often gives way to ongoing inquiry. The text reflects a commitment to the idea
that philosophy relies on thoughtful questioning, argumentation, and exploration of ideas rather
than formal methods of proof. Moreover, the problems posed by the author, ranging from the
nature of knowledge to the meaning of life, serve as catalysts for the broad and open-ended
nature of philosophical investigation. The outlined approach to philosophy in this paper also
resonates with the broader comparison drawn between philosophy, religion, and mythology.
Philosophy emerges as a discipline that values analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and an
ongoing exploration of diverse perspectives. It contrasts with religion's reliance on revealed
truths and mythology's narrative-based explanations, reinforcing the distinctive nature of
philosophical inquiry.
In essence, the study of philosophy offers not only a framework for grappling with
profound problems but also a method of inquiry that encourages individuals to question
assumptions, and critically engage with ideas. While individuals may share a common basis for
philosophy, the diverse approaches to these foundational questions contribute to the depth of
philosophical discourse, demonstrating its enduring relevance in our lives.