Philosophy Now Forum

When is someone able to say that they are a philosopher? Am I one? Or do you have to have done a Masters or PHD in philosophy to be considered such? When can you legitimately say I am a philosopher?

IMO a philosopher is one who furthers the function of philosophy. Jacob needleman describes it in his book: "The Heart of Philosophy

https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Philosophy ... 1585422517

The function of philosophy in human life is to help a man remember. It has no other task. And anything that calls itself philosophy that does not serve this function is simply not philosophy.

The purpose of philosophy is not to learn new things so as to impress others which is what much of modern philosophy has become. Its purpose and its value comes from its ability to help us remember what has been forgotten: " anamnesis." In this sense when philosophy is serving its function it is a form of art.

Pluto wrote:When is someone able to say that they are a philosopher? Am I one? Or do you have to have done a Masters or PHD in philosophy to be considered such? When can you legitimately say I am a philosopher?

Some of the most successful PhDs in philosophy soon get on with life and forget philosophy.
When I CHOSE to continue with biology after school leaving at (16 at the time), our master called us biologists. That gave us a sense of worth and purpose. And I think that fairly describes a philosopher, as long as you continue to adopt a certain mode of thinking when it comes to philosophical matters.
There will be some on this Forum that have abandoned, or never were philosophers, that are nothing but God botherers, that will claim to be philosophers - they are dead wrong.
In stead of adopting a skeptical and critical mode of philosophical thought they simple see everything in terms of their own view of god. The funny thing is that none of them agree except on the most basic and banal level. And none of them think philosophically, despite knowing some terms such as ontology, epistemology etc.

As you can see above, Nick's contribution is just a derivative bucket of crapology, offering nothing of note.

Okay thanks to you both.

I think god is a creation of man. I have read a number of books by philosophers and about philosophy. Am I a philosopher? When can I say so?

Pluto wrote:When is someone able to say that they are a philosopher? Am I one? Or do you have to have done a Masters or PHD in philosophy to be considered such? When can you legitimately say I am a philosopher?

..when you say wise things, you know ..philosophy = love of wisdom.

..but the tragic truth that neither of you really say something wise, only few here in this forum occasionally does, but you Pluto are not, sorry!

I was thinking that I was a philosopher that made paintings rather than an artist

Pluto wrote:

I was thinking that I was a philosopher that made paintings rather than an artist

Normally, those calling themselves philosophers and painters are actually bull shit artists. They can create expressions of bull shit which rises to the level of extraordinary. Forget about philosophy. Being a talented bull shit artist will make you fame and fortune. You may even appear on Oprah where you can reveal and demonstrate your bull shit. Once you've reached the top and become a successful bull shit artist your paintings will sell like hot cakes. Then you can forget about philosophy.

I am a philosopher that makes paintings

Pluto wrote:

I am a philosopher that makes paintings

How do you know you're not really a painter who makes bull shit?

That's the problem, or one of them. Picasso was filled with doubt at times. As an artist you're always worried that the work you're making is not good enough, lacking in some way. But then I make a painting like the one below, and think, that's superb. What a painting. And my faith in my power as an artist is restored, for a time at least.