Prologue

The eminent ancient Greek philosophers Pythagoras and Plato wrote that only God, who possesses all knowledge, is truly wise. Humans, in their finite nature, cannot know everything, yet they harbor something divine within them, a quality that draws them closer to God. This resemblance manifests in their constant striving to emulate the divine in all aspects. While divine wisdom remains unattainable for humanity, the pursuit of it is possible. The Greeks termed this ceaseless pursuit of wisdom as philosophy. The word "philosophy" means "love of wisdom." Anyone who seeks wisdom, who cherishes it, is considered a philosopher. Philosophy, as the quest for wisdom, is a trait inherent to every human being, distinguishing humanity from all other creations. Despite being a fundamental characteristic of all people, not everyone is deemed a philosopher. Any human trait is given as a potential—a gift that one may either cultivate or neglect. A philosopher is one who has developed this particular gift, who has honed their mind to perceive profound meanings. Those who have cultivated the gift of philosophy have approached the ideal of Divine Wisdom more closely than others. Their thoughts are primarily shared with humanity so that others may build upon their achievements and advance towards the truth. Thus, the term "philosophy" has acquired another meaning—the legacy of philosophers. Therefore, philosophy refers to two things: the inherent traits gifted to every person and the legacy of those who have managed to cultivate these traits.

Philosophy is studied in educational institutions at various levels. The study of philosophy encompasses both of its meanings. In the process of studying philosophy, students engage with the legacy of great philosophers, not merely to memorize the thoughts of others but to learn to think independently by their example. Thus, the aim of studying philosophy is to train the mind, to bring one closer to the truth, and to uncover meanings that an untrained philosophical mind cannot perceive.

Philosophy does not operate with fixed categories. Although it is meant to bring human understanding closer to eternal truths, it remains in constant search. Philosophy endures as long as philosophical debates continue. Throughout human history, philosophers have perpetually debated: some present arguments and support them with their reasoning, while others agree or disagree based on their own arguments. This process should continue indefinitely, as it is a constant approach towards truth. Philosophical debate may cease only in two scenarios: either philosophers have reached the truth and thus have nothing more to discuss, or they have lost interest in seeking the truth and have ceased to debate. The first scenario is, in reality, impossible, for, as Plato demonstrated, only God can attain the truth, not man. The second scenario is not only possible but also occurs quite frequently. There have been periods in history when people were deeply engaged in philosophy, religion, science, and art, with vibrant debates flourishing in all these fields. These were times of civilization development, cultural flourishing, and moral and value ascension of humanity. Conversely, there have been periods when interest in philosophy, religion, science, and art waned, with focus shifting to "stomach values," practical utility, and narrow technical competencies. These were periods of cultural decline. Modern education is inconceivable without a substantial philosophical and theoretical component. Therefore, in leading universities around the world, which set the tone in the realm of education and science, the proportion of philosophical and theoretical study is increasing. This component ensures the quality of education, as philosophy teaches one to think, and a person who has not mastered the art of thinking cannot excel in any field.

So, what does it mean to study philosophy, and what must one do to study it? Philosophy is an ongoing discussion. Engaging in philosophy means participating in this discussion. To participate in this discourse, several steps must be taken. The first and fundamental step towards philosophy is mastering the arguments that have been presented in the past. No one can enter the discussion without first understanding what has been debated and the arguments presented by previous participants. Some arguments of past participants can be heard directly from them. However, since most of them lived in past eras, their thoughts and arguments are accessible only indirectly. There are two such intermediaries: instruction, where a teacher recounts the achievements of great philosophers and scholars of the past, and the study of sources, which involves reading the books and articles written by these philosophers and scholars. Without reading books, there can be neither philosophy nor general education. The second step towards philosophy is the ability to analyze and compare the thoughts and arguments of philosophers. This skill can only develop when a novice philosopher reads extensively the works of their predecessors, for without reading philosophical literature, they will have nothing to analyze and compare. During the study of source philosophical literature, a novice philosopher will sooner or later experience an internal reaction: they will agree with some thinkers and disagree with others. At this moment, the spark of philosophy ignites within the novice’s soul. However, one should not rush: having an internal agreement or disagreement with the thoughts read or heard is not yet philosophy. The modern era is overflowing with populists eager to express "their opinion" on any subject. In reality, these are often not original thoughts but mere reactions to others' ideas. An original thought can emerge only in someone who has completed the second step towards philosophy, i.e., mastering the ability to analyze and compare the thoughts and arguments of others.

The third step towards philosophy is the ability not only to handle others' arguments, analyze, and compare them (though this is essential to philosophy) but also to formulate one’s own arguments. A philosopher is someone who contributes their own arguments to the philosophical discussion on a topic that is the subject of active debate. It should be noted that a new argument is not a new paradigm of thought. Many philosophers of the past did not create their own paradigms but were authors of original arguments in support of already established paradigms, thereby making significant contributions to the development of philosophy. For example, the Kantian philosophers formulated their own arguments in favor of Kant’s theory, while the Thomists supported the philosophy of Thomas. Thus, a philosopher is someone who holds personal convictions (even if inspired by other thinkers) and can argue them. A philosopher loves wisdom and seeks it in dialogue with other seekers of truth, thereby resembling God, who possesses the fullness of truth.