Single Idea 23885

[catalogued under 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 Reference

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….