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The question ‘why study philosophy?’ is irrelevant, as philosophy is the collective wisdom of our ancestors only a fool can ignore. It is a storehouse of ideas on living the good life. One can avoid reinventing wheels. One can learn from mistakes & blunders already committed by dozens of fools & wise men, thereby saving pain, effort, time, money etc. Not studying philosophy will not result in death. But, studying it can make both living & dying better.
The question ‘when to study philosophy?’ is easily answered – as early as possible, perhaps starting with the teens, and continuing till death. Picking up philosophy late in life, in old age or past one’s prime, is of little practical use – one may learn how to die well, but will miss out on how one could have lived better.
The question ‘how to study philosophy?’ is more important & difficult to address. If one makes a wrong start, or ventures into strange paths, or encounters difficult guides, and does not have the patience or temperament to introspect & recalibrate, its quite easy to give up on philosophy. And that is often the unfortunate outcome in the modern frenzied world. Where is the time to pause & muse?
But, still, if a keen learner were to ask the question ‘how to study philosophy?’, how should a fellow student respond?
Philosophy can be approached from various vantage points like rational, mystical, religious, etc. For modern minds trained in science from primary school, the rational approach might be more appealing.
The rational seeker could begin with befriending the likes of Seneca, Epictetus & Marcus Aurelius. These teachers do sound religious & mystical at times, but largely depend on reason & logic to present their ideas. Buddha is another rational thinker whose company can be exhilarating. Parts of the Gita engages the rational mind. Practical manuals like the Thirukkural can ease daily life. Confucius is often rational.
The lover of reason & logic has to cast his net wide, and train with a handful of masters from various traditions, regions & cultures. When one master is difficult, move to another. Then, after a while, head back to the first. Most of these masters build their ideas on common universal principles, while their presentations, examples & arguments differ. Further, all masters have their own masters and disciples, who can also be looked up.
The rational approach to studying philosophy also provides practical ideas which can be put to immediate daily use. Questions like how to make friends, how to create wealth, how to advance in career, how to wield power & influence, how to be happy, how to deal with enemies & insults, how to handle failures, how to manage pain & suffering, how & when to retire, how to think about death etc. are not new. They have existed for ages. Old masters like Seneca & Buddha sparkle with intelligence & wisdom when they handle such questions. They were experienced practitioners, not arm-chair thinkers. New-age self-help gurus & books are often a poor rehash of their ideas. Learning directly from the old masters is prudent.
The modern curious thinker trained in science is often not satisfied to stop with the rational approach to studying philosophy. The curiosity to look beyond reason, into religion, mysticism, etc. can be compelling. And those philosophies can be revolting, enriching or just amusing. The curious student could stick to reason, or cross the bridge, venture onto other paths, enrol into different schools, learn from disparate masters, and build his own personal philosophy.
The net could be cast wider to capture more variety. But, the student needs to be cautious as the danger of being drowned in murky waters is very real. Study of philosophy for its own sake, without bothering about its practical use, is absurd.
Seneca or Buddha need not be the starting points for everyone. No major school or master is superior to another. The appeal of a philosophical idea depends on one’s nature & personality. Some ideas make better sense and are more effective at certain times, given the quirks of fate, circumstances & personalities involved. One’s personal philosophy may also change with time. A person born and brought up in one culture may be attracted to the masters in other cultures.
The budding philosopher has to make peace with the evolution of his own ideas and be alive to the possibility that he will forever remain a student. The study of philosophy is never completed. No certification. No graduation.
A good life & death, on one’s own terms, are philosophy’s rewards.