Philosophy as a process of thinking

If we read philosophy in search of only the conclusions reached by a thinker, we, as readers, are really missing the whole point of philosophical discourse.  While such conclusions may be important to know, it is the intellectual journey that one makes, with the philosopher at hand being a kind of tour guide, which is the crucial component of philosophical discourse. 

To use a musical analogy: Should one listen to a symphony with its various themes and variations for only the closing bars and final chord?  This is hardly the purpose of listening to the symphony.  It would be absurd to listen to a symphony (or any form of music) in such a way.  Likewise, we misunderstand what philosophy is about by reducing it to a mere ideology.

We should not read philosophy to simply seek agreement or disagreement with a particular philosopher’s conclusions—philosophy also means to follow a chain of thoughts.  It is through the very process of thinking that the conclusions may be truly revealed and understood—and the reader can learn from such processes, even when he or she disagrees with the conclusions.

I’m afraid we all too easily want to cut to the chase, seeking not the questions philosophy asks, but just to be given a set of ideological answers to which one may passively agree or disagree.  Such an approach might work for religion qua religion, but philosophy is not simply a matter of belief only.  This is not to say that one is not allowed to agree or disagree with a philosopher—but this is to miss the main point of philosophy.

The beauty of philosophy is that it is possible to transform one’s worldview not by merely assenting to a set of propositions, but by thinking through an idea and letting those ideas lead one someplace unexpected—even when one knows what the conclusions are in advance.  The what of philosophy is not as important is the how.  This is why the ancient Greeks elevated reason as something divine, calling it the logos.  It is through this logos that philosophia possesses the capacity to change one’s life.