The essence and self-expression of philosophy: The core of philosophy lies in its self exploration and expression, rather than simple historical narration. Philosophy is the process of deeply experiencing the boundaries of possibility, rather than just communicating at the symbolic level. Philosophers’ symbols are not just translatable language, they carry indescribable symbolic meanings that go beyond the traditional narrative framework of history. Therefore, although the history of philosophy records the footsteps of philosophy, it is difficult to fully capture the essence and vitality of philosophy, and there is a risk of simplifying philosophy.
The difference between history and philosophy: History often focuses on recording and reproducing facts, while philosophy pursues the depth and breadth of ideas. Although the history of philosophy may seem like a representative of philosophy, in reality it is more like a signifier without a specific direction, easily simplifying the rich connotations of philosophy into a series of events. The role of philosophical historians is closer to that of guardians of culture rather than creators, and their work may sometimes obscure the true face of philosophy.
The uniqueness and autonomy of philosophy: Philosophy has no fixed object, language, or method, it relies on individual thinking and experience. When philosophy teachers attempt to establish a standardized framework for philosophy, they are actually using the perspective of historians to regulate philosophy, which undoubtedly weakens the freedom and creativity of philosophy. True philosophers are explorers of thought, constantly exploring the unknown and challenging conventions.
The Infinity and Freedom of Philosophy: Philosophy pursues infinity and freedom, questioning all established knowledge and concepts. Philosophical historians tend to examine philosophy from a limited historical perspective, which makes it difficult for them to fully understand the depth and vastness of philosophy. Philosophers achieve self transcendence through continuous self discourse and reflection, while philosophical historians may overlook the essence of philosophy by overly focusing on historical details.
Fragmentation and Paradoxicity of Philosophy: Philosophical thinking is often fragmented and full of paradoxes, rejecting simple systematization and standardization. Philosophical historians attempt to integrate philosophy into a unified framework, but this effort often leads to a weakening of the richness and diversity of philosophy. Philosophers challenge common sense and authority through paradoxical thinking, driving the progress of human thought, while philosophical historians may overlook these valuable sparks of thought due to their excessive pursuit of clarity and coherence.
The Madness and Passion of Philosophy: Philosophy is a passionate and creative activity that requires philosophers to have the courage to explore the unknown and challenge themselves. Philosophical historians may overlook the madness and passion of philosophy by overly focusing on historical records. When philosophy loses its madness, it also loses the important force that drives human thought and civilization progress.
Although the history of philosophy to some extent records the development of philosophy, its limitations may also inhibit the vitality and creativity of philosophy. Therefore, while respecting history, we should also cherish the freedom and infinity of philosophy, encourage philosophers to explore and challenge conventions, and contribute more wisdom and strength to the progress of human thought and culture.
