1.2. The tracing out of certain patterns of thought to attain certain states of mind, such as peace of mind or certainty.
1.3. The reduction of human suffering through detaching from our egocentric viewpoints and engaging in exercises which involve emotion, intellect, our ability to reason and imagination.
1.4. Becoming aware of our belonging to the entire cosmos. One part of a whole.
1.5. A striving for objectivity.
1.6. A realisation that human suffering is not so much things in the world as our beliefs about those things.
1.7. Stopping the subjective colouring we tend to ascribe to everything we experience.
1.8. A discipline of desire and a discipline of action. So that one is not thinking simply about own short term advantage, but to the interests of wider communities.
2. Not rhetoric
2.1. Philosophy is concerned with reality rather than appearance.
2.2. An individual with genuine understanding need not worry about persuasive talk (rhetoric).
3. Method of inquiry and argument
3.1. By showing inconsistencies one can refute claims to knowledge.
3.2. The Socratic method suggests the philosopher is always ignorant (there are not many genuine claims to knowledge).
3.3. Often ends in aporia, which is a difficulty or impasse. But does this mean we shouldn't attempt to seek knowledge?.
3.4. A search for definitions and truth.
3.5. A way of life; ideas impact upon action.
4. Attitude of detatchment
4.1. To detach from difficulties to attain peace of mind as a goal of our thinking.
4.2. A taming of the emotions. Provides reasons to be less angry, passionate, jealous etc.
4.3. Cultivates a cool rationality which is an exhortation to adopt a calm and composed attitude.
4.4. Doubts and questions can be seen as far from serene. A kind of worrying?
4.5. A drawing of ideas to stimulate creativity and curiosity.
4.6. Often quite adversarial in nature.
5. The love of wisdom
5.1. Phila is Greek for love.
5.2. Sophia is Greek for wisdom
5.3. Or maybe the wisdom of love?
6. Self knowledge
6.1. Begins with doubt, but should lead quickly to what is certain.
6.2. The foundation is that we ourselves exist and that we are aware of what is going on (Cogito ergo sum - I think therefore I am).
6.3. Science exists so we can know the world, but first we have to 'know thyself'.
