Coping with Philosophy

When people heard the word 'philosophy', the general perception is, philosophy is very cerebral, and it has no practical application nor relevance whatsoever, a kind of  "super-science". The academic setting of philosophy in our day today, spread an image that philosophy is all about theoretical knowledge, a tons of ideas or concepts to be explained, memorized and tested. Yet, that's not what philosophy in their youth. Pieerre Hadot in his book, Philosophy as a way of life (1995) reminded us that philosophy in it purest form is always about practical philosophy, not what we commonly perceived as theoretical philosophy. Philosopher like Aristotles, Plato, Zeno and also Stoics see philosophy as something to be done, to be acted out and to guide one life, and be transformed hopefully. Although certain Philosophy might appear to be theoretical, it will always has a practical effect, a function that is formative, educative, psychagogic, and therapeutic  directly or indirectly, as Haddot commented in His book regarding Aristotle's logical philosophy (Hadot, 276). That is why the word Philosophy by definition is a lover of wisdom not knowledge because wisdom, by nature is always practical. Through Philosophy, one can arrived to a state of knowing, which lead them to a very simple conclusion, or the observable fact that actually human are limited, weak, and perishable as Finn Janning says: "To know in philosophy is not to posses certain knowledge about something given, but rather to know that one’s self is perishable."  True Philosophy lead us to achieve what ancient Philosopher called as Phronosis (Highest knowledge). Aristotle best describe this Phronosis experience when he famously realized "I know that I know nothing". 

         Yet, knowing the fact that human are limited and perishable, apparently philosophers are trying their best not to be passive, and not giving up and surrender with the desperate situation of our "ambiguous world". Homer in The Lliad best expresses the ambiguity; “Like the generations of leaves, the lives of mortal men. Now the wind scatters the old leaves across the earth, now the living timber bursts with the new buds and spring comes round again. And so with men: as one generation comes to life, another dies away.” Philosopher is the one who always try to do something in the midst of their perishable life with their philosophy hence, that philosophy is not remain in state of knowing only, but also in the state of coping, as follow-up. The limitation of man will never affect severely their present life, to make them feel hopeless in life, or to be drown deeply into intense desperation because by exercising philosophy, one could minimized the problems, simplifying complex life, discover the hidden beauties in the world which lead them to a solid mode of coping life, standing firm still, and more importantly, they will never taking for granted the shortness of their own life. In our modern world nowadays, we are often forced by the atmosphere of modernity to forget our very limitation by craving endlessly, yet in the same time we are also do not know how to cope with the flow of the ambiguity of our world. We like to do 'more' and 'more', without knowing how to stop or even how to cope per se. As the results, we are frequently stressed, anxious, and fear continuously. Now is the time for us to recover back the wisdom of Philosophy, and enjoy the benefits. As conclusion, Philosophy is never just a historical record of ancient concepts, ideas and discourse to be memorized in the school setting, but a treasure and tools that everyone can use, to help everyone to cope, and life their live to the fullest even in the light of their finitude!