Methods

So we've gone over some methods of philosophy by now.



1) The Analytic method - is just math. Get your math out and rock it. We've had more on this before and after.

2) The ordinary language method - take your favorite idiomatic expression and then stretch it out in order to reveal some larger truth (re: Gilbert Ryle's The Concept of Mind).

3) The dialogue method - just talk to people in order to get down to foundational beliefs. (re: any number of Socratic Dialogues by Plato).

4) Eastern Philosophy - Stopping the "thinker" by using breathing exercises and meditation. The "thinker" here being mind-flows; and therefore involves consideration of the stream of consciousness (I'll get a post here one of these days on some of my findings; re: Thich Nhat Hanh's Peace is Every Step, Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth).

5) Some Romanticism and Post Modern Schools - argue for the exact opposite of 4). They recommend just writing and writing and writing.

6) Thinking of how things ought to be - The imperative or subjunctive nature of philosophy is all over. These people feel the ethical need to write and convince people. (re: any number of Christian Apologists (is this really philosophy?) or Atheists; and I guess Kant sort of slips into here)

7) Thinking of how things are - Describing our world in a way that shows a coherent or foundational knowledge (Like Sosa's "Raft and the Pyramid" Article? maybe.....)