questions Category

Philosophical Understanding Comes As Much From The Questions As From The Answers
Text: Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

The word “philosophy” comes from ancient Greek roots meaning the love (philo) of knowledge or wisdom (sophia). In this letter Rilke suggests that philosophy is also a love of the questions themselves. Full essay.

We Must Become Philosophers To See That Philosophy is Relevant to Daily Life
Text: Franz Kafka, "On Parables"

Perhaps the most important objection ever raised against philosophical thought is that it is irrelevant to daily life.  In "On Parables," Franz Kafka considers this problem of the relevance of deep thought for everyday life.
Full essay.