Thinking

by Isabella Yatco

20 June 2013
Discussed Text: Simon Critchley, "What Is A Philosopher?"

When was the last time you stopped whatever you were doing to think? And I mean actually think – not necessarily about anything deep, but about things that really matter to you?

In a time where everything is so fast-paced, mostly thanks to technology, it seems as if people simply take things as they are and hardly ever put things into question. We’ve become so habituated with the way we live our lives that we neglect certain important details that may have the ability to change the way we perceive life as we know it. Take, for example, the English language. We’re so used to hearing it that we don’t even remember a time when it didn’t make sense to us. What makes a word a word, anyway? Or have you ever wondered what English sounds like to non-English speakers?

In his speech, Simon Critchley quoted the English philosopher Wittgenstein who said that philosophers ought to greet each other with “take your time” instead of the conventional “hello,” or maybe even the occasional nod in passing. Imagine if we started to greet one another in a similar way. To be reminded constantly to “take your time” could even create a new sense of awareness, which is what philosophy calls for. Doc G mentioned in class today that with that sense of awareness, we would be able to determine what is essential and what is not. If we start paying attention and “take time to make things important” as Doc G said, we will begin to see the things far beyond what is before us.

Don’t lose your sense of wonder. Keep asking questions.