Here’s an interesting article on WikiHow.com on “How To Become A Philosopher“. It’s an interesting look at what makes a person a philosopher. In my opinion, a thirst for knowledge, an inquisitive mind, and thinking in a deep manner are some ways that contribute to being a philosopher. Does that mean I’m a philosopher? You tell me.

Here’s a summary of the article.

Steps To Being A Philosopher

1. Think about things outside your normal range of thought, like the future of civilization and what creates meaning in life. Be the source of your own investigation.

2. Write down what you think about these subjects, including ideas you think you shouldn’t write down

3. Re-write your ideas more formally and let others read your work, so you can get others to hear your ideas

4. Engage in any debate possible. This will increase your ability to think freely.

5. Read philosophy copiously, learning new questions and problems to think about and past solutions, and their criticisms.

6. Pursue philosophy as a career by acquiring a doctorate in philosophy and getting a professorship at a university.

Tips

1. Don’t be scared of having your ideas stolen by others when you share it with them. Having people hear your ideas will spark criticism and contribution within them, only strengthening your own thoughts and counter-argumentation.

2. Assumptions are the bane of philosophy and of fresh, intelligent thought. Never stop asking “why?”

3. Don’t hesitate to argue positions that are the opposite of what you believe. Being able to see as many sides of an issue as possible is an excellent intellectual exercise.

4. Always remember that wisdom is applied knowledge

Warnings

1. Don’t be afraid to voice a radical opinion.

2. You need to be able to accept criticism, and work with it.

3. By philosophizing, you will mature, so much so that you may outgrow friends. This is normal, though it can be isolating.

My View

In the end, I don’t think you really need to go to all that trouble. The process of challenging yourself to think more deeply, in my opinion, is always an excellent start. I think as bloggers, we may be in the cusp of a new age thinking, in which philosophy and the spread of thoughts and ideas is moving even in a faster rate than ever before.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the thought that only highly educated individuals coming from Harvard can take up such an honorable discipline, because as you may have seen, there really are no steps that mention Harvard, Princeton, nor Yale.

Critical thinking is the key, and by by asking questions within the normal range of todays conversation such as politics, religion, and even sports, you can develop your thought process to rival even that of Aristotle himself.

Lastly, I thought there was one point in the article which was really eye opening, and that is the danger of isolation. I think that is only possible if your thinking lead you to actions that are arrogant almost aristocratic, then maybe you face that danger. But if you remain humble in your thinking and conversation, there is no reason why you should be in danger, and if you do face that possibility, the greater question is… were these people ever your friends in the first place? So, don’t be afraid, and think and ask, and grow as an individual — as a philosopher.