Socrates and Inspirational Philosophers
Do you have a personal philosophy? Follow a classic or modern philosopher? Is it something you've worked out consciously or something you dont particularly reflect on but works well for you? Is it something which influences your decision making in the minor or major or is it an after thought if you're reflecting or recalling things after the fact or event?
Inspirational philosophy is the kind of philosophy you have when you are not having any philosophy.
For an inspirational philosopher is a guru.
Epistemology though is interesting.
For Epistemology is ways of seeing.
We start off with one way of seeing and if we are lucky and meet an epistemologist, we are shown another way of seeing.
And the second way of seeing does not replace the first, and so we are left with two ways of seeing. And if we can see in two ways, a third beckons.
However if we have been damaged and are damaging, it is likely we suffer from anxiety, depression and social exclusion. So it is natural for us to look for relief.
And there are many who can see us coming, from gurus to psychologists, from drug dealers to psychiatrists, from sex addicts to exercise addicts, from Oprah to the Military, from astrologers to Scientologists, from inspirational philosophers to motivational speakers.
All can see us coming. And all are ready to take advantage of our vulnerability.
And actual philosopher won't be able to help us. An actual philosopher won't even try.
An actual philosopher will undermine our beliefs and our very way of seeing.
Of course Socrates was an actual philosopher who so disturbed the good citizens of Athens that they put him to death.
And no inspirational philosopher will run this risk, they are usually content with the contents of our pocket books.
Still, an inspirational philosopher may provide comfort in a comfortless world - but not philosophy.