In the art of philosophizing, there are basic steps one must follow, and they as follows: wonder, speculation, analysis, synthesis and critique.
1.Wonder: Every art of philosophizing begins by wonder. Man is always bewildered by his existence, death, inconsistencies experienced in his everyday life and so on. As one ponders about the nature of realities and various mind-boggling experiences in his everyday existence, certain questions begins to arise. Some of such questions are : why are there things rather than nothing? What is Life? What is reality? Can we know anything for certain? What is the underlying principle of reality? All these questions lead one into speculation.
2. Speculation: When questions are asked based on our wondering about reality, human existence and all changes experienced, we tend to form opinions and presumptions based on the questions raised.
3. Analysis: Analysis entails a detailed examination of the opinion formed. So, in analysis, the opinions and presumptions made are accessed in parts in view to understanding what each of the concepts that constitute the opinions entail.
4. Synthesis: After the analysis, we combine our analyzed opinion into a unified knowledge or idea.
5. Critique: In this step, we take a critical examination of the idea formed, weighing its strengths and weaknesses before establishing a theory or principle. The theory formed leads to another kind of bewilderment and subsequent questions and the process continues ad infinitum.
Note that one basic thing about this art of philosophizing is that through this process, ideas are created, theories and principles are formulated and are subsequently critiqued as new ones emerge.
Methods in Philosophizing
Well, there are no stringent method in the art of philosophizing that is why it is always said that philosophy is meta-methodological. Philosophy being meta-methodological entails that there is no one particular method that defines the method for philosophy, that is why it attempts to scrutinize every method employed. However, there are certain identified methods employed by philosophers and they are hermeneutics,historiography, analysis, dialectics, critique, and so on.
1.Wonder: Every art of philosophizing begins by wonder. Man is always bewildered by his existence, death, inconsistencies experienced in his everyday life and so on. As one ponders about the nature of realities and various mind-boggling experiences in his everyday existence, certain questions begins to arise. Some of such questions are : why are there things rather than nothing? What is Life? What is reality? Can we know anything for certain? What is the underlying principle of reality? All these questions lead one into speculation.
2. Speculation: When questions are asked based on our wondering about reality, human existence and all changes experienced, we tend to form opinions and presumptions based on the questions raised.
3. Analysis: Analysis entails a detailed examination of the opinion formed. So, in analysis, the opinions and presumptions made are accessed in parts in view to understanding what each of the concepts that constitute the opinions entail.
4. Synthesis: After the analysis, we combine our analyzed opinion into a unified knowledge or idea.
5. Critique: In this step, we take a critical examination of the idea formed, weighing its strengths and weaknesses before establishing a theory or principle. The theory formed leads to another kind of bewilderment and subsequent questions and the process continues ad infinitum.
Note that one basic thing about this art of philosophizing is that through this process, ideas are created, theories and principles are formulated and are subsequently critiqued as new ones emerge.
Methods in Philosophizing
Well, there are no stringent method in the art of philosophizing that is why it is always said that philosophy is meta-methodological. Philosophy being meta-methodological entails that there is no one particular method that defines the method for philosophy, that is why it attempts to scrutinize every method employed. However, there are certain identified methods employed by philosophers and they are hermeneutics,historiography, analysis, dialectics, critique, and so on.
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