Propedeutics Questions

Gilliatt April 06, 2018 at 22:17 2675 views 6 comments

Well; I think that questioning have certain methods and is the essence of philosophical/scientific intelligence; I'm not a very good questioner, but I have tried a long time to search the core of philosophical thought; much to say, I have very few answers, but I'm hopping to search that definitive answer: what is the core, the central axiom, of all philosophical activity? What justifies philosophical search? What is the meaning of philosophy? (for Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Leibniz, Schelling, etc)

Comments (6)

Moliere April 06, 2018 at 22:18 #169980 0 likes

I doubt that it's central, but I know I'd just say that I find it fun and interesting -- and that's enough for me.

Andrew4Handel April 06, 2018 at 22:21 #169981 0 likes

To me questions just seem to be created by the process of thinking.

BC April 07, 2018 at 04:15 #170023 0 likes

Just out of curiosity, where did you stumble across "Propaedeutics"? Nice obscure word.

Deleted User April 07, 2018 at 17:48 #170195 0 likes

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Artemis April 07, 2018 at 23:04 #170240 0 likes

Reply to Bitter Crank I don't know about him, but one of my phil profs from my undergrad program used to use that word in every class somehow. I remember classmates making a bet about whether he'd forget to someday.... anywho, off topic, back to the subject at hand.

Quoting Gilliatt

what is the core, the central axiom, of all philosophical activity? What justifies philosophical search? What is the meaning of philosophy?

"The unexamined life is not worth living." Or: it's fun and a better waste of my time than watching reality tv :joke:

Joking aside, I do actually think that expanding one's mind and training it leads to a more satisfactory and well-spent life.

Akanthinos April 07, 2018 at 23:13 #170244 0 likes

Quoting Bitter Crank

Just out of curiosity, where did you stumble across "Propaedeutics"? Nice obscure word.

Couldn't answer for OP, but in the Francophone world, a propedeutic is a special course requirement that is given to students who have not completed the normal requirements but which have obtained a dispensation for x or y reason.

Hypothetical case : an Ancient History doctorate wishes to complete a Philosophy Master. Asking him his 90 credits is clearly overkill. After a few interviews with the program director, he is given a list of 5-8 courses of modern philosophy to study, after which he will be accepted at the Master level. This list of 5-8 courses is called a propedeutic.