The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast Episode 94: Schopenhauer on Reading, Writing, and Thinking
May 23, 2014
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Solitary Thought Beats Fashionable Scholarship
- Schopenhauer prizes solitary thinking that resists parroting contemporary authorities and fashions.
- True intellectual value lies in form (style) and original perspective, not mere topical matter.
Walking Through Kant Produced 'Aha' Moments
- Wes recounts studying Kant by walking and thinking through paragraphs slowly during spring break.
- That patient, private reflection led to authentic 'aha' understanding.
Re-derive Ideas Before Reading Commentaries
- Recreate an author's reasoning by thinking through their problems yourself before consulting secondary literature.
- That slow, hard re-derivation builds deeper understanding than quick summaries.