Ma.

Francesca de Asis Module 1 Assessment

PHILO 11.06 J-Q2 What is it like to be a philosopher?

The Lechon of Philosophy

As a previous philosophy major, I am no stranger to the question, “What is it like to

be a philosopher?” I have attempted to answer this question in the span of a year, with three
philosophy courses and hundreds of pages of philosophy readings. To be quite honest with
you, I still have the faintest grasp of what it means to be a philosopher. What I have come to
understand so far is that a philosopher thrives most when he can share his thoughts with other
human beings. What is it like to be a philosopher, you ask? It is to share your wisdom with
the world, like a roasted pig or lechon at a potluck.

Before entering college, I did not fully understand the importance of philosophy in
everyday life. Philosophy has long been under-appreciated among the youth, as compared to
science in which technological discoveries can be physically enjoyed at a young age as
shown through the popularity of smartphones and social media apps. Until now, I believe
philosophy’s role in the twenty-first century is often disregarded. It is easy for someone who
has yet to engage in philosophy to believe that the discipline has no impact on their life
because philosophy is a force that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

I respected philosophy even when I did not know how to appreciate it. I saw
philosophy as something to be feared because all the philosophers I knew were old/deceased
bearded white men. Once I broke down that barrier, I realized that philosophy was a
discipline that could, and should, be practiced by everyone. Philosophy came from being a
topic I felt was reserved for a specific group of people to something present in all aspects of
my life. In this module, for example, I learned that philosophy has multiple branches that
attempt to answer the varying questions humans have in mind, whether that be in moral
decision-making or logic. I also learned that philosophy was not at odds with science,
contrary to my previous beliefs. I was prompted to stop viewing philosophy and science as
opposites but instead view the two fields to be in a mutually beneficial relationship.

In the Magisterial Lecture by Dra. Angeles, I was inspired to view the philosopher’s
contribution to humanity by contextualizing it in the experiences of other people. While it is
essential to understand philosophy for what it is (the study of human experience, knowledge,
and reality), I believe it is more important to understand philosophy for what it does.
Philosophy can provide an avenue for human curiosity to inch its way out of the comfort of
one’s mind. If science promotes technological advancements, philosophy encourages internal
innovations within the soul. The discussions brought about by philosophy empowers human
beings to better understand the invisible workings of the world around them and their
Ma. Francesca de Asis Module 1 Assessment
PHILO 11.06 J-Q2 What is it like to be a philosopher?

relationships with one another. That is why in Apology, Socrates chose death over exile as his
punishment. His love for wisdom and the urge he felt to share his knowledge was much
stronger than his fear of death.

Like Socrates, I believe that the aspect of sharing our knowledge of philosophy is
what makes philosophy important to society even centuries after Socrates’ trial. I relate
philosophy to lechon at birthday gatherings because I cannot imagine purchasing a whole pig
just for one person to eat it all, just as I cannot imagine a philosopher to gain a new level of
understanding just to keep it to himself. It feels gluttonous to feast on a delicious roasted pig
alone, but it feels even greedier to hoard philosophical knowledge by one’s self, especially
when this knowledge completely transforms our worldview, and consequently, our way of
life.

I can base this on personal experience as I am able to enjoy philosophy more when I
have someone with whom I can discuss my newfound knowledge. I find it hard to take
human connection out of the philosophical experience because this is what draws philosophy
out from simply being words on a page to imparting lessons with real-life implications. To
philosophize alone is to digest all the conclusions that past philosophers have made.
However, to philosophize in a room with other people is to give contemporary significance to
what has been previously understood. Being a philosopher in the presence of other humans
also allows new philosophical ideas to form, those of which have been contextualized to
better fit the situations of modern-day humans.

In conclusion, philosophizing — asking important questions about the human

experience and attempting to answer these questions — is only half of what it means to be a
philosopher. The other half of being a philosopher includes holding the responsibility of
sharing these discoveries of our reality to better the lives of other people. It is to persistently
consider the contexts of lives outside of our own to provide inclusive answers to these
varying philosophical questions. On my part, I feel more confident in tapping into the
philosophical side of my brain knowing that I have a clear goal in mind — to share my
insights in hopes that it will affect the people I encounter.