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How to Become a Philosopher

Apparently back in the days, to call oneself a philosopher (lover of wisdom) was the low-key way of saying:

I love wisdom, and seek wisdom, and I seek to become wise.

Back then (as now), you are not allowed to tell others that you are ‘wise’.

Similarly speaking, in elite circles … you’re not allowed to call yourself a ‘poet’. Also it is apparently presumptuous to introduce yourself as an ‘artist’ to others. If you tell others you are an artist, they will always ask you the money question or ‘do you make a living from it’ question.

But anyways, my thought:

Anyone and everyone can become a philosopher. And all children are born as philosophers.

What is a philosopher?

selfie ERIC KIM eyes glasses

A philosopher is someone who disagrees or finds fault with common forms of knowledge, and is hungry to find some sort of deeper truths behind x, y, z.

All truth(s) are relative

This is the reason why a lot of mathematical people or scientific people don’t make (great) philosophers:

They have a hard time spotting nuance, and realizing that knowledge and wisdom is not a binary (1 or 0).

For example, logic is not true philosophy. Logic is an attempt to make reason and grammar a tyrant — an attempt for individuals to attempt ‘definitive truths’ behind x, y, z.

Question everything

To not accept commonly-held truths. The skepticism and the contrarian thinking of the philosopher.

ERIC


PHILOSOPHY by KIM

Philosophical Essays

  1. SUBOPTIMAL IS OPTIMAL
  2. THE LUST FOR MORE.
  3. TO DO IS TO BECOME.
  4. IN PRAISE OF AGGRESSIVE.
  5. THE PHILOSOPHY OF OPTIMISM
  6. OUR PHILOSOPHICAL WILL TO EXISTENCE
  7. Is Hope a Vice?
  8. MOVE MEAN
  9. Carte Blanche Ideals
  10. One Interesting Thought
  11. What Lasts? What Doesn’t Last?
  12. A WOUND STIMULATES THE RECUPERATIVE POWERS
  13. Children & Purpose
  14. Thoughts on Becoming a Parent
  15. Where Does Our Desire to Upgrade Come From?
  16. WE ALWAYS NEED SOMETHING FURTHER TO ASPIRE TO.
  17. Self-Task Yourself an Awesome Mission in Life
  18. Differentiation vs Equalization
  19. My Passion to *Become* Something More
  20. No Aesthetic or Ethos is Forever
  21. What is Your Higher Purpose in Life?
  22. IT WILL NEVER SATISFY YOU.
  23. How to Decide
  24. Things You *Want* to Do vs Things You *MUST* Do
  25. Towards a More Beautiful Mode of Existence and Future
  26. EXTREME GRATITUDE.
  27. AMAP (As Much as Possible) or None.
  28. Why or How Does it Matter?
  29. The Philosophy of Time and Events
  30. How *Not* to Resent
  31. FORWARD LOOKING
  32. DOMAIN FLEXIBILITY.
  33. The Miracle of Human Growth
  34. EXTREME ADAPTATION.
  35. Why Plan?
  36. You Don’t Need to Justify Yourself
  37. The Philosophy of Ego
  38. True vs False Passions
  39. How to Achieve Tranquility
  40. On Making Your Own Philosophy
  41. The Purpose of Life is to Create New Life
  42. Think On!
  43. The Wisdom of Doing Nothing
  44. Congruency
  45. My Thoughts on Meditation
  46. The Philosophy of Purpose
  47. Emulate Yourself
  48. Good Fear, Bad Fear
  49. For the Betterment of Humanity or Just Yourself?
  50. What you *really* believe in and care for is manifested through your actions (or non-actions)
  51. Why Culture is Your Enemy
  52. YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE KING.
  53. LIFE IS INHERENTLY GOOD.
  54. Artistic, Physical, and Philosophical Muscles
  55. All New Experiences are Good Experiences
  56. What is the Purpose of X?
  57. UTILITY.
  58. Philosophy is a Luxury
  59. The Attempt is More Interesting than the Result
  60. Joyfulness vs “Happiness”
  61. Effectiveness Over Happiness
  62. Self Actualization
  63. MAXIMAL ENGAGEMENT
  64. Life & Pain
  65. On Living Every Day with No Regret
  66. Learn as if you’re going to live forever, live as if you’re going to die tomorrow
  67. Live Every Day Like it Were the Last Day of Your Life
  68. Self-Determination
  69. FALSE GRATITUDE vs REAL GRATITUDE
  70. HOW TO LIVE MORE
  71. THE UPSIDE OF TRAGEDY
  72. Satisfaction is a Sucker’s Game
  73. Supreme Repose
  74. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LIFE? According to ERIC KIM
  75. STUBBORN, FLEXIBLE
  76. EVERYTHING HAPPENS AS IT *SHOULD* HAVE HAD HAPPENED
  77. Good Addiction, Bad Addiction?
  78. What is the Best Life?
  79. The Philosophy of Thinking
  80. The Philosophy of Conspiracies
  81. Conspiracies
  82. Growth
  83. Skepticism.
  84. What Do You Really Want Out of Life?
  85. Seem or Be?
  86. Learn Through Pain
  87. Respect Yourself
  88. In Praise of Elitism
  89. Why Independent Thinking?
  90. I Will Never Die
  91. Bitter is Better
  92. The Genesis of Nihilism and Existential Dread
  93. The Ethics of Personal Enrichment
  94. Good vs Not Good
  95. Punished by Privilege
  96. Abstinence Over Moderation
  97. Just Leave Others Alone
  98. You Can Only Critique that Which You Truly Understand and Love
  99. ERIC KIM Critique of Metaphysics
  100. Only Trust Philosophers Who Deadlift
  101. Heuristic: If Someone Talks Shit About Others Behind Their Back, Most Likely They’re Also Talking Shit About You Behind Your Back
  102. Virtue is a Privilege
  103. What Are Your Life Goals?
  104. Honesty
  105. Why I’m Anti Moderation
  106. No Spite, No Malice.
  107. Ascending Life or Descending Life?
  108. Double Edged Sword
  109. Ignorance.
  110. Why I Don’t Trust “Nice Guys”
  111. Why You Must Share Your Opinion
  112. Selfish Isn’t Evil
  113. Wisdom is the Goal
  114. YOU ARE KING.
  115. MASTER YOURSELF
  116. What is “Good” for You is Often what is Bad for You
  117. Care.
  118. BITTERSWEET
  119. ONE REP MAX
  120. Morality and Ethics is the Snare
  121. BY HELPING YOURSELF, YOU BEST HELP OTHERS
  122. Insanity is Good.
  123. Think Deep.
  124. PHILOSOPHY IS THE FUTURE.
  125. Open Mind vs Closed Mind
  126. ENTHUSIASM IS GENIUS
  127. Towards a More Critical and Rigorous Line of Thinking
  128. How to Encourage and a Foster Independent and Free Thinking
  129. What is the Purpose of Life?
  130. WHY PHILOSOPHY IS SUPREME.
  131. Elitism.
  132. I Cannot Form an Opinion About Somebody Until I’ve Met Them in the Flesh
  133. ALL GENETICS ARE GOOD GENETICS.
  134. Happiness vs Freedom
  135. The Birth of a Hater
  136. My Way Isn’t the Right Way
  137. Walking as an Existential Thing
  138. Why I’m So Tolerant
  139. Mortal Gods
  140. THE HUMAN SPECIES
  141. Why I’m So Skeptical
  142. Just Follow the Money
  143. Why Selfish?
  144. WHY WE CANNOT BLAME OTHERS
  145. Why Are We So Anti Elitism?
  146. What Actually Interests You?
  147. How to Become Yourself
  148. SELF HATE
  149. Optimistic Fatalism
  150. Death is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
  151. FLUX.
  152. How to Think for Yourself
  153. FLESH
  154. How to Live the Best Life
  155. Why Live a Life Without Regrets?
  156. Why Plato Ruined Art and Aesthetics for Us
  157. Self Respect
  158. Hypocrite vs Contradict
  159. Ideals vs Reality
  160. Spaceship Philosophy
  161. What is Your Ideal Life?
  162. MY EXTREME GRATITUDE TOWARDS LIFE AND BEING ALIVE!
  163. Critique of Utilitarianism
  164. Don’t Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
  165. The Eternal Recurrence of Tragedy and Joy in Life
  166. Elite Asceticism
  167. Why I Don’t Like Numbers
  168. Action and Reaction, Cause and Effect
  169. The Antidote to Nihilism: The Philosophy of Nothingness
  170. ERIC KIM Notes on Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
  171. EXPLOIT CHAOS.
  172. WHY I DON’T BELIEVE IN GENETICS
  173. Self-Wisdom
  174. The Future Belongs to the Fearless
  175. INDIVIDUALISM
  176. Why Live Forever?
  177. THIS TOO WILL PASS.
  178. Why Education?
  179. How to Become Yourself
  180. Things Shouldn’t Go Back to the Way They Used to Be
  181. Why Am I So Cruel?
  182. The Great Joy of Existence
  183. Virtue for the Sake of Virtue
  184. NO DISDAIN.
  185. INTELLIGENT IGNORANCE
  186. A LIFE WITHOUT PAIN, DIFFICULTY OR TRAGEDY ISN’T A LIFE WORTH LIVING
  187. BITTER IS BETTER.
  188. EXPLOIT THE BEST FROM TRAGEDY AND LIFE 
  189. DISREGARD FOR SELF-PRESERVATION
  190. PAIN.
  191. WHAT IF EVERYTHING IS NOT GONNA BE ALRIGHT?
  192. Tomorrow is Never
  193. Life is the Ultimate Creative Constraint
  194. EMBODIED REALITY
  195. BLACK SWAN
  196. THINGS WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE
  197. What are you *really* afraid of?
  198. HAPPINESS ISN’T THE GOAL
  199. Philosophy is King
  200. Why is Selfish Evil?
  201. YOU’RE CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF BECOMING
  202. ENTITLEMENT A SIN?
  203. NARCISSISM
  204. BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF
  205. WHY FREE WILL?
  206. OBEY YOUR OPINION
  207. EGO IS GOOD.
  208. WHY IT IS GOOD TO BE INTO YOURSELF
  209. Seek the Good Pain
  210. Anti-Perfection in Photography, Art, and Life
  211. Can You Become an End into Yourself?
  212. WHY I LIVE
  213. Why I Hate Decline
  214. Why I Eat
  215. Why am I So Positive and Optimistic?
  216. EFFORT IS ENJOYMENT
  217. Never Stop Gaining
  218. TRUST YOURSELF
  219. A Life of Maximal Personal Independence
  220. What Do You Desire to Become?
  221. What Do I Want from Technology?
  222. Stratified Society
  223. Do You Love or Hate Reality?
  224. On the Brian, Body and Mind
  225. I’m Maximally Happy, Now What?
  226. Care over Fame
  227. ACTIVE NIHILISM
  228. Never Stop Subtracting
  229. How to Live a Happier and More Epic Life
  230. A Risker Life is a Better Life
  231. Only Work on Things You Can Imagine Doing for Eternity
  232. How to Maximize Your Happiness
  233. Influence
  234. The Gladiator Makes His Plans once He Enters the Ring
  235. Meditations on Meaning in Life
  236. There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings
  237. Is Hope a Vice?
  238. EGO
  239. Why Be Unique?
  240. Happiness is Metabolism Health and Strength
  241. You’re the Hero
  242. Is Productivity a Virtue or Vice?
  243. Why Do We Prize the Rare?
  244. The Joy of Uncertainty
  245. How Should I Best Use My Time and Life?
  246. A Life Without Pain or Suffering Isn’t a Life Worth Living
  247. Free or Unfree?
  248. What Do You Really Care For in Life?
  249. Anti-Satisfaction in Life
  250. Why Think?
  251. The Eternal Return
  252. Only Do What is Best for You!
  253. Truthiness
  254. Why Be Happy?
  255. Permissionless Living
  256. In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom
  257. Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World
  258. Happiness
  259. Beyond Freedom
  260. Idolize People, Not Stuff
  261. What Makes You Stronger? What Makes You Weaker?
  262. Why Hate?
  263. The Secret of Happiness
  264. You’re Constantly in a State of Becoming
  265. Life is about Choices, Not Obligations
  266. Anti-Nihilism
  267. First, Do What is Best for You.
  268. Live Dynamic
  269. How to Prosper
  270. Is the Point of Life to Be Satisfied?
  271. SUPREME EFFORT OF WILL.
  272. How to Become more Idealistic
  273. Thrivival 101
  274. Create Yourself
  275. Non-Small
  276. Inspiration
  277. How to Live a Heroic Life: Dare the Heights!
  278. Human Augmentation
  279. Prune
  280. Happiness: Do What You Want to Do (And Don’t Do What You Don’t Want to Do)
  281. Avoid Vain (Empty) Pursuits in Life
  282. Modern Slavery
  283. Kill the Leeches
  284. Wisdom Augmentation
  285. Why We Need Friction in Life
  286. Straight Line Philosophy
  287. What’s Your End-Game in Life?
  288. Create Your Own Happiness Today
  289. Desire Both Pain and Pleasure in Life
  290. Try the Impossible
  291. SELF-RESPECT
  292. Anti-Social Extrovert
  293. Never Blame Anybody But Yourself
  294. Human Flourishing
  295. Simpler, Not Better.
  296. How to be Free
  297. Embrace the Extremes
  298. Cultivate Your Own Culture
  299. COURAGE.
  300. Thrivival
  301. Inner Power
  302. How to Live a Purposeful Life
  303. My Definition of Happiness
  304. Why Change is Good
  305. Why Work?
  306. How to Live the Happiest Possible Life
  307. The Two-Pronged Approach to Maximize Joy in Your Life
  308. You Always Have Another Option!
  309. INFINITISM
  310. Never Stop!
  311. What is Your Self-Directed Purpose in Life?
  312. Live Today Like it Were Your Last
  313. Do You Photograph to Live, or Live to Photograph?
  314. ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER
  315. Live Life to the Fullest!
  316. In Praise of Selfishness
  317. Why You Must Be a YAY-SAYER to Succeed in Entrepreneurship and Life
  318. Why I Love Walking
  319. Live Life Like a Video Game!
  320. Simple Luxuries in Life
  321. Treat Your Life Like a Fun Experiment!
  322. Only Prove it to Yourself
  323. You Don’t Always Need to Feel Joyful to Live a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
  324. Life is Too Short to Be Bored!
  325. Money Cannot Destroy Boredom
  326. How to Find Inspiration in Life
  327. Why You Must Ignore Haters to Succeed and Win in Life
  328. An Active Life is a Happy Life
  329. My Simple Joys in Life
  330. Never Stop Striving
  331. How to Motivate Yourself in Life
  332. How to Be Optimistic in Life
  333. How to Dictate Your Purpose in Life
  334. In Praise of a Dynamic Life
  335. PURPOSE.
  336. How to Enjoy Life
  337. Photography Therapy
  338. How to Conquer Regret
  339. Take Your Play Very Seriously.
  340. How to Prosper
  341. Memento Vivere
  342. Destroy in Order to CREATE
  343. Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind
  344. Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life
  345. Seek Knowledge, Not Information
  346. The Purpose of Human Life
  347. How to Overcome Impedence
  348. Why I Love Death
  349. How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now
  350. How to Be Happy
  351. Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?
  352. Why I’m Happy
  353. Why?
  354. Why I’m So Prolific
  355. How to Reduce LAG in Life

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