WHY THERE IS A NEED

TO PHILOSOPHIZE?
1. SENSE OF WONDER – Greek Philosopher Plato
Man’s over curiosity drives him to ask questions, some of
which has no definite answers.
Example:
1. Where did we come from?
2. Why do we exist?
3. For what purpose were we created?

These perspective drives the need of a philosopher to question,

examine and learn more.
2. DOUBT – French philosopher Rene Descartes
- Descartes was famous for rejecting or questioning established
ideas, and he event went as far as doubting his own ideas.
Example:
A scientific hypothesis must first be tested and verified before it is accepted as
truth.

- In life, we will be faced with several ideas and arguments which present
themselves as ”truths”

A critical and questioning perspective is necessary to determine if these ideas or

views are correct or true
3. EXPERIENCE – Swiss-German philosopher Karl Jasper
- Karl Jasper believed that man is often confronted by experiences
which challenge his ideas and frameworks

- Jasper called these experiences LIMIT SITUATIONS and these are

often accompanied by feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or dread.

- Karl Jasper believed that philosophy provides us a means to

understand adverse or challenging conditions, and to rise above
them and gain new knowledge and perspective.
4. Love of wisdom – Socrates
- To love for wisdom is to have an insatiable(impossible to satisfy)
desire for truth
- A philosopher does not seek knowledge to claim ownership of it;
not satisfied to with figuring out the answer to a question. He seeks
to continue the questions, to probe, and to discuss in order to get the
bottom of things.
- Socrates is famous for having said, “ I know that I do not
know…” and his motto : “The unexamined life is not worth living”
1. WHAT ARE THE REASONS
THAT COMPEL A PERSON TO
ENGAGE IN PHILOSOPHICAL
THINKING?
2. HOW CAN YOU AS A
PERSON BENEFIT FROM
PHILOSOPHIZING?