This was like sipping tea brewed with Heraclitus' river water. Subtle, shifting, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed. The reminder that philosophy isn’t about finding the “right framework” but about dancing awkwardly and authentically with the unknown? Yes. That.
Too many chase clarity like it’s a product to purchase, forgetting that life hands us koans, not user manuals. This invitation to treat philosophy as a verb rather than a noun is the sacred mischief I live for.
I think there are very few philosophy professors who teach the subject this way. The university has killed the practice of philosophy and replaced it with "research".
Your writing feels like a mirror, I have chased frameworks for years, only to realize, like you, that the real work is in the messy, personal inquiry. Thank you for sharing.
I also have a personal question I wanted to ask, I left it inbox, when you have time please check it out.
Incoincidental timing… in a group gathering last night we discussed these very things… personally targeting the scripts we tried to follow that, when they don’t work, blame us… without asking itself reasonable questions. So therefore we have to.
Posted this to my little tribe for continued reflection. Thanks for your thoughts!
I love that you put "philosophy words" to what I've experienced. I have not studied philosophy, but I often think my brain works somewhat in that way. I guess the mindset comes with being a poet, at least in my case.
I grew up being told exactly what to do and think. As I learned how to move away from that and find my own way, and finally moved past a defensive stance, I felt an inner rebellion to anyone who suggested their way was right, even if it seemed to make sense to me. I determined that I could find my own way and my own inner wisdom could be my reference point, while still learning from others, as you said. I now know that is the only way to live and wish more people knew that.
Thank you for helping me to understand philosophy in its true form, as a verb.
Great article Jessica, feels like your hunting the spiritual truths, of the true knowledge that exists in knowing that you know nothing, to paraphrase Socrates. And taking the generational journey to becoming reality-wise, beyond our well conditioned sense of Knowing.
That reified-reality feeling that our ideas about reality, are Reality. The great perceptual-pretense our Species' plays with our multilingual language game of survival, as try to evolve our consciousness beyond merely surviving, into the prophecy of the Messianic Age of the World to come.
As a 73 year old I do my bit to pave the way for Gen Alpha, and the mess they will inherit, and be forced by the history of fate to deal with. By encouraging them to take the philosophy king Jesus of Nazareth seriously, along R. D. Laing's philosophic questions: How much of what we ordinarily feel, is what we have all been hypnotized to feel? How much of who we are, is what we have been hypnotized to be?
And of course being quite socially normal, they laugh heartedly at Jesus spiritual truth telling.
"Come on Grandad be serious. How can it possibly be true that we seeing see not, hearing hear not, and neither do we understand? It makes absolutely no language defined sense at all. How can it?"
I always get excited when I see you have posted something. I learn/get something new every time, but also feel more seen and at home in the world because I recognize myself so much in the struggles you describe. Thank you!
This was like sipping tea brewed with Heraclitus' river water. Subtle, shifting, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed. The reminder that philosophy isn’t about finding the “right framework” but about dancing awkwardly and authentically with the unknown? Yes. That.
Too many chase clarity like it’s a product to purchase, forgetting that life hands us koans, not user manuals. This invitation to treat philosophy as a verb rather than a noun is the sacred mischief I live for.
Thank you for this.
😊 always loving your words 🖤
I think there are very few philosophy professors who teach the subject this way. The university has killed the practice of philosophy and replaced it with "research".
Maybe you can change that :)
Notable exception: https://www.coa.edu/live/profiles/1129-gray-cox
Your writing feels like a mirror, I have chased frameworks for years, only to realize, like you, that the real work is in the messy, personal inquiry. Thank you for sharing.
I also have a personal question I wanted to ask, I left it inbox, when you have time please check it out.
Incoincidental timing… in a group gathering last night we discussed these very things… personally targeting the scripts we tried to follow that, when they don’t work, blame us… without asking itself reasonable questions. So therefore we have to.
Posted this to my little tribe for continued reflection. Thanks for your thoughts!
Thank you, Rob. Seems to be something in the ether :)
Maybe something in the nöosphere?
I love that you put "philosophy words" to what I've experienced. I have not studied philosophy, but I often think my brain works somewhat in that way. I guess the mindset comes with being a poet, at least in my case.
I grew up being told exactly what to do and think. As I learned how to move away from that and find my own way, and finally moved past a defensive stance, I felt an inner rebellion to anyone who suggested their way was right, even if it seemed to make sense to me. I determined that I could find my own way and my own inner wisdom could be my reference point, while still learning from others, as you said. I now know that is the only way to live and wish more people knew that.
Thank you for helping me to understand philosophy in its true form, as a verb.
Wow Trish, I love how you reflect this in your journey. Thank you for that.
Very wise.
Thank you, Tim.
Beautifully written Jessica and timely. Practice listening to your soul and you don't need the philosophies of others.
🖤
Great article Jessica, feels like your hunting the spiritual truths, of the true knowledge that exists in knowing that you know nothing, to paraphrase Socrates. And taking the generational journey to becoming reality-wise, beyond our well conditioned sense of Knowing.
That reified-reality feeling that our ideas about reality, are Reality. The great perceptual-pretense our Species' plays with our multilingual language game of survival, as try to evolve our consciousness beyond merely surviving, into the prophecy of the Messianic Age of the World to come.
As a 73 year old I do my bit to pave the way for Gen Alpha, and the mess they will inherit, and be forced by the history of fate to deal with. By encouraging them to take the philosophy king Jesus of Nazareth seriously, along R. D. Laing's philosophic questions: How much of what we ordinarily feel, is what we have all been hypnotized to feel? How much of who we are, is what we have been hypnotized to be?
And of course being quite socially normal, they laugh heartedly at Jesus spiritual truth telling.
"Come on Grandad be serious. How can it possibly be true that we seeing see not, hearing hear not, and neither do we understand? It makes absolutely no language defined sense at all. How can it?"
Hi,
I always get excited when I see you have posted something. I learn/get something new every time, but also feel more seen and at home in the world because I recognize myself so much in the struggles you describe. Thank you!
Thank you so much for these kind words, Louise. That makes my day.
And it’s very comforting to hear that others have similar struggles and experiences 🖤.