Thursday, April 24, 2025
Musings On Philosophy
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 April 2025
One reader has a problem when poetry and philosophy are juxtaposed. It's almost sacrilegious to him as he erroneously thinks that poetry trivializes philosophy, therefore, they cannot be clubbed together. Philosophy is not a flight of ideas couched in seriousness.
This overweening reader should remember Ludwig Wittgenstein's quote, "A serious and good philosophical work could be written that consisted entirely of jokes."
This statement challenges conventional notions of philosophy by emphasizing the value and efficacy of humour and light-hearted poetry in intellectual discourse. Wittgenstein encourages us to question our assumptions about the severity of philosophical investigations and suggests that humour can offer a unique perspective in examining complex ideas. By crafting a philosophical work solely through jokes, he suggests that humour possesses an inherent ability to penetrate the core of philosophical inquiries, prompting thought-provoking reflections.
Through this quote, Wittgenstein invites us to embrace the potential of humour as a powerful tool that can shed light on profound philosophical concepts, effectively engaging and inspiring intellectual conversations. But this humour must never degenerate into unnecessary irony and sarcasm. Philosophy doesn't always provide definite answers and that's the beauty of it (philosophy).
A philosophical problem has the form: 'I don't know my way about.' This encapsulates the essence of the challenges faced in the realm of philosophy. It highlights the intrinsic uncertainty and confusion that often accompanies the exploration of abstract concepts and fundamental questions about life, knowledge, and existence. Philosophical problems arise when we find ourselves in a state of intellectual disarray, unable to grasp the landscape of our thoughts and ideas. It is an acknowledgement of the profound perplexity that accompanies philosophical inquiry, emphasizing the need to navigate through the labyrinth of our minds in search of clarity, understanding, and meaning. Those interested in philosophy must embrace the complex, puzzling nature of philosophical problems and embark on a journey of exploration and introspection in order to gain insights into the multifaceted nature of this discipline.
Though logic is integral to philosophy, bringing in logic all the time, kills the speculative quiddity of philosophy and dries up its fluidity. The purpose of engaging with philosophy is to liberate ourselves from conceptual traps and confusions.
There's a very interesting question in the realm of philosophy: What is your aim in philosophy? – To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle. By likening the mind to a trapped fly inside a bottle, it highlights the limitations and narrow perspectives that hinder our understanding of the world. This question guides us towards a broader view, to break free from the constraints of our own preconceptions, and to discover new paths of thinking.
We must question, challenge, and strive for intellectual freedom, ensuring that our philosophical endeavours’ are not merely self-imposed limitations but rather a means to expand our horizons. Since philosophy is eternally inconclusive and amorphous, whichever way- poetry, language, literature, one-liners, aphorisms- you approach it should be acceptable. Don't be so obstinate and structured all the time.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/musings-philosophy/d/135287
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