φιλοσοφία – Love of wisdom
In the simplest terms, as it says on the label, Philosophy is literally the “love of wisdom” (from the Greek, φιλοσοφία). It is not just the understanding of different arguments, it is not just the history of ideas; it is a subject that interrogates us and our world. It draws the mind and the heart out of clichés and comfortable illusions and invites us to be more fully ourselves.
The pictured triangle is an attempt to illustrate what is going on. At the bottom right of the image is the reader – the self. This is the starting point – our everyday life.
Through a dialogue with the Philosophers, we are drawn away from common sense assumptions about both ourselves and the situation. This movement out of our corner enables us to see the world from a different angle and it enables us to take a critical distance from ourselves.
The space in the middle of the triangle is where Philosophy happens – at first this unfamiliar place can be a challenging zone to find our feet in.
Through a continual ‘trialogue’ with the Philosophers, our world, and our own experiences, we can build up the strength and skills to become autonomous thinkers and agents.
