Finding Your Philosopher
I’m not sure whether philosophy is having a resurgence over recent years or I’m just seeing things through my own somewhat biased filter. I tend to listen to a lot of podcasts and content that drift into philosophical musings, so perhaps it’s self-selection bias rather than a cultural shift underway. Either way, I keep circling a similar question when I listen to philosophical content or have deeper conversations with friends. Are we putting too much emphasis on the philosopher and the intellectual indulgence of analysing them, rather than on the philosophy itself?
Across centuries and cultures, thinkers both famous and obscure have wrestled with many of the same timeless questions. Each brings a distinct lens shaped by their era, language, and lived experience. Some voices carry further and endure longer than others, but you don’t need to be a scholar of every school to find value in what philosophy has to offer. Most of us are just searching for practical guidance we can apply to our lives. How to live well, how to think clearly and critically, how to improve our reasoning, and how to find meaning amid the noise and chaos of the modern world.
Older texts can be hard work, even with modern translations, especially when they contain relatively archaic phrasing, which I sense may put many people off. I find European philosophers from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries particularly demanding, as their language can be both quite verbose. Yet finding the right philosopher with the right voice, the one that resonates with how you see the world or the questions you have, can be the difference between falling in love with philosophy and avoiding it altogether.
Finding the Right Fit
Philosophy isn’t a fixed doctrine with neat answers, it’s an evolving exploration of the nature of knowledge, fundamental reality, and what it means to live and think well. Similar questions persist over millennia, whilst our interpretations mature over time. Having a view on what you’re seeking to understand or just are curious about will help guide what school of thought or philosopher to begin with.
Are you drawn to virtue, purpose, and logic? If so, Aristotle may be the teacher for you with lessons that have stood the test of time and still read clearly today.
Seeking emotional control and self-mastery? The Stoics may be the right place to look, offering a durable framework that has helped many over the centuries deal with the trials and tribulations of life
Want to challenge faith, meaning, and human will itself? Nietzsche might be your provocateur of choice albeit a more niche selection than the priors mentioned.
In a world rich with mediums to consume information from books through to the range of digital options in podcasts, audiobooks, newsletters and more we’re almost spoilt for choice as to where to start. Don’t let the range of selection paralyse you from diving in though, use the range and abundance to your advantage.
Start with the questions that are most pressing on your mind and let that guide you. You’ll often find yourself drawn to certain philosophers and can glance through some of their key concepts or material to determine if they resonate with you. If something clicks then you can dive deeper down the rabbit hole.
Dependent on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go you may find that you come up against some particularly challenging texts, however, try not to be disheartened. Some philosophers can feel almost impenetrable on initial exposure but if you can give them the time and patience to sit with it then you can start to work through their interpretations more deeply. Some ideas especially the really deep and thought provoking ones need time to sit for a while before they take root and sprout more avenues of though in your mind.
Over the years I’ve gone deeper across several schools, testing my understanding of the original texts and forming my own interpretations. It’s been gradual journey but one that’s been hugely fulfilling.
Let Your Curiosity Guide You
Unless your studying philosophy then you’re probably seek answers to areas of curiosity and intrigue rather than anything prescriptive. Let that curiosity be your guide. Sometimes it’s better to absorb one thinker deeply than skim a hundred superficially. Other times you need to sample a few within the same school before one lands. Read slowly and thoughtfully, reflect, and let the ideas take root. Over time you’ll probably find you return to old lessons with new eyes and find fresh angles to pursue.
Ultimately, philosophy is not about venerating the dead or the living, it’s about conversing with them in a sense. Each philosopher offers a different path toward understanding yourself, the world, and the challenges of being human. Choose the path that resonates for you.