The True Philosopher

What help can philosophy be if there is a deity controlling all? What help can it be if all is governed by chance? For it is impossible either to change what is already determined or to make preparations to meet what is undetermined; either, in the first case, my planning is forestalled by a God who decrees how I am to act, or, in the second case, it is fortune that allows me no freedom to plan.’ Whichever of these alternatives, Lucilius, is true – even if all of them are true – we still need to practise philosophy. Whether we are caught in the grasp of an inexorable law of fate, whether it is God who as lord of the universe has ordered all things, or whether the affairs of mankind are tossed and buffeted haphazardly by chance, it is philosophy that has the duty of protecting us. She will encourage us to submit to God with cheerfulness and to fortune with defiance; she will show you how to follow God and bear what chance may send you.

- Seneca: 'Letters from a Stoic'

One should never study philosophy solely for the sake of acquiring new knowledge or to appear as intelligent before others, for it would be better to remain ignorant in that case, and to take up mindless labour in sorrowful humility. As Plato emphasises, the intention with which we study philosophy determines whether we become philsophers, or Sophists. Sophists are those that are unwilling and unable to engage in philosophical conversation; they amuse themselves by convoluting problems via a play on language, taking pride in their verbose dialectic which serves to bolster their reputation for being 'wise'. They do not arrive with curiosity, and neither are they willing to admit ignorance in any case. Bracketed with a mean conviction that Truth is either in their possession or in the hands of none, they lord over all in their minds, as though a slave to a kind of demonic pride.

And so we must ask ourselves constantly: am I seeking wisdom with the intention of bettering the soul, or am I merely feeding my ego? By studying the vast array of philosophic literature, our lives in proportion should be more reflective and self-critical; in proportion attain a new inwardness towards the soul, seeing that it is illumined in new ways. It is not to distract us from seeing God in our lives, but to realise His presence to a greater extent, in a way that is newer and profound. The Sophists make the mistake that they could become great by acquiring knowledge, and through their own reasoning outwit their Creator.

But the one who has studied philosophy with a humble curiosity realises that he knows nothing, and that true wisdom lies in admitting that nothing is truly knowable. Hence, the Philosopher studies everything with curiosity, and above all his Soul. All that he reads, writes, and does points him towards his own soul. Everything is done with self-reflection, and his whole being reflects this.

The Philosopher never keeps to himself, but always shares the good things he finds with others. For what use is an item of nourishment if it is not shared with others? And is it not selfish to keep it all for oneself? Thus, when the Philosopher shares his wisdom with the others, it is always from a place of nurturing; he teaches not to be praised by his students, but so the students could learn to self-reflect and be curious, understanding their ignorance. So one cannot teach philosophy with pride, for this will be to the detriment of the student; it is always taught with curiosity, and with conversation. The Philosopher teacher does not see himself as more knowing than his student, but equal to him; as in this, they will converse together with the intention of reaching the Truth.