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Single Idea 23885

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / b. Philosophy as transcendent ]

Full Idea

Philosophy does not consist in accumulating knowledge, as science does, but in changing the whole soul.

Gist of Idea

Philosophy aims to change the soul, not to accumulate knowledge

Source

Simone Weil (Reflections on Value [1941], p.33)

Book Ref

Weil,Simone: 'Late Philosophical Writings' [Notre Dame 2015], p.33

A Reaction

I agree, roughly. In the sense that philosophy is a much more personal matter than any pure pursuit of knowledge, such as geology. Though a life in geology could change your soul. Not just any old change, of course….

The 6 ideas from 'Reflections on Value'

23881 All thought about values is philosophical, and thought about anything else is not philosophy [Weil]
23883 Minds essentially and always strive towards value [Weil]
23882 Ends, unlike means, cannot be defined, which is why people tend to pursue means [Weil]
23884 Truth is a value of thought [Weil]
23885 Philosophy aims to change the soul, not to accumulate knowledge [Weil]
23886 Systems are not unique to each philosopher. The platonist tradition is old and continuous [Weil]