Fulfillment is Gained Through Philosophical Thought Essay -- philosoph

Fulfillment is Gained Through Philosophical Thought The ability to think philosophical is the ability to truly understand and know ones surroundings and everything that influences those surroundings to the degree that knowledge becomes the ultimate understanding and appreciation of the surroundings without question. With this ultimate understanding, a philosopher is able to appreciate life and live life to a fuller degree than the average person. Unfortunately, becoming a philosopher or even recognizing a philosopher can be difficult. Therefore, in order to live a philosophical life, one must understand what philosophy is and have a clear perception of why they desire a life as a philosopher and the hardships that ultimately coincide with it. A philosopher is a person that desires one part of something no greater than the other. He eagerly and freely tries all kinds of learning and avidly wants more knowledge at all times. Unfortunately, a â€Å"true philosopher† can be confused with a person of similar characteristics, a person of sight and sound. The true philosopher is one that searches for the truth behind something that is, unlike the person of sight and sound that only sees or hears what is and then moves on to the next thing, only viewing and listening to it and only appreciating what they can see and hear. The true philosopher searches for the eternal truth behind what is or what is not in determination of reaching the ultimate conclusion on that which is. For example, if we use beauty as a subject, a person of sight or sound would view or hear something beautiful and know it is beautiful and enjoy its beauty and that is it; they would not however search or desire the nature of beauty itself (476 b-c). This is what separates a true philosopher from a person of sight and sound. Thus, a philosopher not only enjoys the object that is beautiful, but he appreciates the meaning of beauty, comparing it to other beautiful things, desiring and embracing the ultimate nature of beauty along with the physical object that is beautiful. The understanding of this beauty as itself allows the philosopher to fully and ultimately understand, like or dislike, or question or conclude anything that he may further want to comprehend on the subject of beauty. Thus, comprehension of this sort gives the true ph ilosopher knowledge of beauty rather than simple opinion. ... ...ot want to share the philosophical knowledge that the philosopher is willing to give because of their predetermined ideas and beliefs. Unfortunately, this refusal and harshness the majority exhibit towards philosophy is caused by those outsiders, rulers and guardians of the city, who do not belong and who have abused one another by indulging in quarrels and arguments in a way that is wholly inappropriate to philosophy (500 a-c). Until the time when philosophers control the city as guardians, they will have to be careful, yet dedicated, to the task of philosophical teaching and thought. With an ultimate understanding and appreciation of the surroundings a philosopher holds as knowledge, he is able to see the truest meanings of life. Unfortunately, not being appreciated by all people and having difficult times at reaching the true understandings for some things weighs hard on a philosopher. Yet, with his courage and high-mindedness, the philosopher is able to be patient with his hardships. Eventually, while forming an understanding and knowledge of everything that surrounds him, the philosopher learns to live a life of fullness, appreciating all that is and all that might not be.