18 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)
View submission: what makes someone a philosopher?
I suppose the formal answer is simply that a professional academic philosopher is someone who has the piece of paper calling them one. In this way, it's the same as how we don't tend to call someone a sociologist or a psychologist unless they have the relevant qualifications.
Outside academia though, people often use the word 'philosopher' in a more informal way - generally denoting a person who has a questioning attitude and thinks carefully about things. The only issue there is that basically everyone feels they have a questioning attitude and think carefully, so everyone is a de facto philosopher.
Honestly I'm too embarrassed to call myself one despite having the piece of paper; it can get pretty bad reactions from people sometimes. Sometimes people think "I'm a philosopher" means you're claiming to be wiser or smarter than other people, rather than just citing the area you studied at university/college.
Comment by SnooSprouts4254 at 26/01/2025 at 18:01 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Honestly I'm too embarrassed to call myself one despite having the piece of paper; it can get pretty bad reactions from people sometimes. Sometimes people think "I'm a philosopher" means you're claiming to be wiser or smarter than other people, rather than just citing the area you studied at university/college.
Well, from what I've seen in your posts, you do seem to be super smart and have a ridiculous amount of knowledge, so maybe their reactions aren’t that unjustified, lol. I wonder, though, do they not get fascinated when you explain what you actually do and talk about the topics you're an expert in?
Comment by IceTea106 at 26/01/2025 at 23:15 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If it gives you any confidence in your ability to identify as a philosopher, you the logic guy and the kierkegaard commentator are by far my favorite contributors on the sub :)