Philosophy Discussion Forums | A Humans-Only Club for Open-Minded Discussion & Debate

[Eckhart Aurelius Hughes]

This is a discussion forum topic for the November 2022 Philosophy Book of the Month, In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All.


Real philosophers read more than they write, listen more than they speak, and observe more than they think.

Real philosophers are always experts in happiness, meaning true happiness, or what I call free-spirited inner peace, and what many others might call grace, enlightenment, or even nirvana.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: To have hate in your heart is to be in hell.

I say this with love and a bit of playful amusement because I appreciate folly too, because who doesn't enjoy with a loving smile the watching of a dog desperately chasing its own tail or a little kitty chasing the ever elusive red dot: Anyone preaching hate or willfully engaging in hate is a miserable fool, and never a true philosopher.

Combining the above truths, we can easily see that real philosophers are ultra-observant yet completely non-judgmental.

Granted, a real philosopher isn't necessarily always completely mute. A real philosopher isn't necessarily always in a state of complete and total thoughtless observation (a.k.a. mediation), with absolutely no inner monologue ever and without speaking or writing any words ever. While they listen more they speak, and observe more than they think, most real philosophers if not all real philosophers will still at times calmly think and calmly share words of wisdom, especially when directly asked and truly given the empty space, meaning silence from others and listening ears and carefully watching eyes. Indeed, that is how young philosophers learn from older ones, even dead ones, whose lifetime of carefully collected wisdom can be communicated across thousands of ever through the reading of one quick little book.

In contrast to real philosophers, many people, especially pseudo-philosophical pseudo-intellectuals, keep their hose on all day, and are too busy desperately pretending the moist air spraying from it is water to have time to collect new actual rain water.

A fool will die of dehydration in a rain storm.

Or, as a more common version of such a proverb goes: You can't push someone up a ladder. You can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves.

Actions speak louder than words. Just because someone says they want to be helped or help themselves or both doesn't mean they really do. Just because someone says they want to be happy doesn't mean they really do. Just because an addict says they want to get clean doesn't mean they do.

As I have said many times before, including in my book: All humans are on the addiction spectrum.

And the most common fundamental human addiction is the addiction to comfort.

Given the chance, and the usually are given that chance, almost all humans in almost all situations will choose comfort over true happiness, and will choose indulging in their addictions over freedom.

Despite the often contrary words that will often come out of their mouth, many humans do not want free-spirited inner peace. They want unhappiness. They want to stay in their little pseudo-prison. They want to keep pretending to be really trapped in the miserable comfort zone, a slave to addiction and temptation. They want to keep using the six dangerous misery-inducing phrases because those phrases help them create their miserable illusion that want and cling to so badly.

And all of that is okay. Perfectly okay.

I love freedom. I love seeing people get what they want, meaning what they choose.

I love watching a dog chase its own tail. I love watching a little kitty cat, with a super serious look on its little kitty face, as it desperately seek the red dot.

And, if you want to chase your own red dot, I say more power to you. I say it with a smile.

How is it any different than anything this human we call me would do, be it boxing in my backyard with my friends until I'm bloody, or riding my motorcycle down the highway at over 100mph?

To each their own, I say.

Live and let live.

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[Melissa Jane]

"Anyone preaching hate or willfully engaging in hate is a miserable fool, and never a true philosopher."

This is an interesting way to look at philosophy.

On this, what is your opinion on Arthur Schopenhauer? He's know for misogyny and some say this may have been as a result of his "hate" for his mother.

[Surabhi Rani]

I loved reading that young philosophers learn from older ones, even dead ones, whose lifetime of carefully collected wisdom can be communicated across thousands of ever through the reading of one quick little book. It was remarkable for me to learn that you love seeing people get what they want, meaning what they choose.

[Kajori Sheryl Paul]

I completely agree. We, as humans, don't often mean what what we say. Still, it is our choice.

Also, it us true that most of us will choose comfort over true happiness, if given the choice.


Indeed, we should live and let live.

[Enos Rolex]

While reading is essential for philosophical exploration, the assertion that real philosophers read more than they write may vary among individuals. Philosophers engage in a balance of both reading and contributing to the discourse through their writings. As for expertise in true happiness, philosophers often delve into discussions about the nature and pursuit of happiness, offering diverse perspectives on what constitutes genuine fulfillment.

[Petro Yongo]

Socratic and Aristotelian philosophies, for instance, delve into virtue, moral character, and the pursuit of eudaimonia, a concept often translated as "flourishing" or "true happiness." By engaging with diverse philosophical perspectives, thinkers aim to refine their understanding of happiness and its underlying principles.

[Ronald Aminga]

Genuine philosophers understand the importance of active listening. They prioritize absorbing the thoughts and arguments of others, fostering an environment where diverse viewpoints are considered and respected. This not only enhances their own understanding but also contributes to the collaborative and dynamic nature of philosophical inquiry.

[Christopher Bundi]

In their pursuit of true happiness, these philosophers go beyond the superficial definitions, exploring the depths of joy, contentment, and fulfillment. They navigate the intricate realms of ethics, metaphysics, and psychology, seeking a holistic comprehension of what constitutes genuine well-being.

[Sushan]

The well known philosophers were avid readers, listeners, and observers, as you clearly explained. They did not come with the label, 'hey, I am a philosopher'. They intended only to learn and understand the world, the human nature, science, etc. through acquiring more knowledge. The only difference was the paths that they chose to reach wisdom. Later on only they were named as philosophers.

But if someone comes out and says 'hey, look, I am a philosopher', I think that is enough to mark them as pseudo-intellectuals.