Philosophy and Happiness : Socratic Exhortation to Philosophy and Platonic Higher Education

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  • 哲学と幸福 : ソクラテス的「哲学の勧め」とプラトン的高等教育
  • テツガク ト コウフク ソクラテステキ テツガク ノ ススメ ト プラトンテキ コウトウ キョウイク

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Abstract

This paper argues that the study of philosophy, especially that of the history of philosophy, helps students to lead a happy and satisfying life. In this respect, there is no essential difference between the introductory and the higher courses of philosophy. Philosophy is different from simple free discussion. It often occurs that the so-called “independent thought” is nothing but prejudged opinion arising from unconscious desires. Philosophy is an enterprise where reflective thinking works to facilitate the search for truth and the pursuit of a better life. The best way to transform students as consumers of knowledge into its producers is philosophy education at the university level, carried out through a Platonic turning of the mind. Journeying through the history of philosophy is especially effective for this purpose as it enables students to stand on different and unfamiliar perspectives. Through joint attempt with their teacher, students can learn to understand original texts, overcome challenging problems, and develop their intellectual abilities to cope with changing situations of the present complex world. Writing about one’s deepest thoughts and feelings about some philosophical topic is the best way to train excellent generalists, who can in turn become real winners of the Win-Win games in this world.

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