Philosophy- Final Exit Essay

Philosophy- Final Exit Essay

Studying philosophy has provided me with a new way of thinking, and I am now a critical thinker. Being a critical thinker means that I must have reasons for what I believe and what I do. In addition, I refuse to accept any belief without a profound examination of the said belief. To quote Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living” (McElwain, 2013). My conception of philosophy before taking this course had no practical value. I believed philosophy was all about esoteric questions that would not have any significance in human practice if answered. Even if this is partly true, studying philosophy also helped me realize that it is so much more than that. It is about developing intellectual autonomy, and it appealed to my ability to find out the truth as well as what is right by using my own thoughts and experiences, free from beliefs from an outside authority.

I do not see philosophy as a way of life; rather I see philosophy as a way of thinking that then guides a person’s way of life. Introduction to philosophy has significantly impacted my life because my thoughts have become critical and comprehensive in trying to unmask assumptions, distinguishing significance, revealing conjectures, resolving misperceptions, searching for explanations, evaluating worldviews, and questioning abstract frameworks. Further, philosophy has enabled me to develop my imagination, learn how to control my emotions, enrich my understanding, dispel ignorance, establish acting habits, synthesize my knowledge, and broaden my deliberations.

One thing I will take from this course is the need to question everything: the beliefs I grew up with, the values, and everything else I have learned so far. I need to completely understand why I believe in what I believe in, why I have certain values and why I think they are better than others, my thoughts, and basically everything else about me. I never thought about these things before, but now I realize I must think critically about them to completely understand myself. I have to approach everything with this exact thought so that I can think critically before making my conclusions on it. The only way that I can see possible venues for improvements or errors in something is by learning more about it. Further, I now know that this is the only way to understand my worldview as well as those of others. Another lesson that I take from this course is that I really do not know anything. To quote Socrates again, “The only thing that I know is that I know nothing” (Fine, 2008).

References

Fine, G. (2008). Does Socrates claim to know that he knows nothing? Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, 35(4), 49-88.

McElwain, H. (2013). Socrates’“The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living”: Exploring the” Examined Life” Through an In-depth Analysis of the Dominican Virtues of Love/Compassion and Truth/Knowledge.

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Philosophy was/is considered a “new way of thinking.”

Has this course provided you with a new way of thinking?
Is your conception of what philosophy is different now from what it was at the beginning of the course?

Philosophy can also be said to be “a way of life” – a manner or mode of existence. (The ancient Greek philosophers saw it as such, and so did many moderns, including Descartes.)

Do you see philosophy as being a way of life?
How has this introduction to philosophy affected or influenced your life?
What if anything, will you take with you from this course?
Type your answers to these questions using proper English grammar and spelling so your responses are readable (and gradable).