Why Honesty is So Important in Philosophizing; Philosophy As an Attempt

(Philosocom's Directory on Honesty and Truth)

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Synopsis by Mr. Mandoela Svarl

Why do we dismiss people, only their truth? The basis of philosophy is the pursuit of truth. It's an endless search for insights when the insight we want to seek threatens our comfort zone.

Here comes the "paradox" (or the confusion between 2 things):

On the one hand, why would we want to look for something that, in advance, would make us want to run away and hide? Feel pain, grief, and sorrow? But on the opposite side, there is the clarity and the truth that you want to know. People prefer to avoid the truth and run away from it to avoid anxiety and fear. And triggers that may interfere with peace of mind.

That's why this world is so complex and false. Because there is no compatibility with the truth. When such difficulty goes down, you get people who avoid the layers of truth and make empty promises.

Philosophical essence is a generalized insight into all layers of the population.

We must understand that distractions or denial only make it harder for us to accept the other. Because there is no desire to understand what is behind everything. And it hurts us, too. And we also miss people who speak the truth. People you can trust. We must understand that the choice will help us know who is lying and who is telling the truth through an informed observation and through self-doubt. We must stop accusing others of superiority when they want to know the absolute truth that will put the puzzle together [and help others in the process].

Why We Dismiss What Makes Us Uncomfortable

There's a strange power in dreams. One night, amidst the landscapes of my subconscious, a realization fell upon me. Those who dismissed me as irrelevant aren't necessarily reflecting some inherent lack within me. Instead, they're could also reveal their own unwillingness to confront things and people that challenge their comfort.

It's a choice, to overcome the fears and concerns which compel us to stay passive, or to even escape. They choose to see me as irrelevant because facing the truths I represent – brutal honesty, uncomfortable insight – is simply too unsettling. It's easier to escape than to grapple with these complexities, and few have a militant-enough mentality, capable and disciplined enough to overcome it.

Think about it. Philosophers, the wanderers dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom, wouldn't spend their lives seeking truths if they shied away from discomfort. And they would seek it, together, or by their lonesome.

What is the success of a journey that has not reached its intended conclusion? The traveler either fulfills their journey, or they fail in their trial. There is no other option, even if other things are attained along the way. It's like in a fight, you either beat your opponent or lose. The very act of seeking knowledge inherently involves confronting the unknown, the challenging, and sometimes, the unsettling.

To be dependable people, we need to be able to fulfill the promises we make to others and to ourselves. Otherwise, how could others rely on us, and how could we rely on ourselves? When we make a promise, even to ourselves, we should try to fulfill it. Otherwise, what value do our promises hold?

When we wish to seek wisdom, we must move on towards the target like professionals, and not like newcomers.

Why We Seek What Might Hurt

Philosophy, at its core, is a pursuit of truth. It's a relentless quest for understanding, even when that understanding threatens our comfort zone. Here's the "paradox": why would anyone seek something that could potentially make them want to run away and hide? Why would anyone seek a greater clarity which could cause them pain, sorrow, and grief?

In the very act of seeking, the truth seeker overcomes not only their understanding, but themselves as well:

• To be able to be lambasted, one must prepare for a thicker skin.

• For one to be insulted, one must prepare to accept hardship.
  

• For one to overcome the need to depend on trigger warnings or avoid triggers entirely, one must be emotionally strong, like a butcher doing his or her work regularly.

• To accept certain truths, one must change himself in accordance. Otherwise, you'll be protected by denials.

Philosophers and their students aren't after a warm blanket of comfortable truths:

• Looking only for comfortable truths will deter your philosophership role from its efficiency.

• Understanding several truths, regardless of their level of comfort or unease, will allow you to see the bigger image of reality, and impart it to those who wish to learn from you.

As such, delve into the unknown, the challenging, and sometimes, the downright unsettling. It's a journey with discomfort as a potential travel companion. And they do it because they are honest with the promise they made: To seek the truth. If you are not honest with the promise you intend to keep, of what worth is your intent? What worth is an intent, an ambition, that cannot be enforced?

Must we enable a culture of incompetence, one that relies on the mere whim of feelings? The answer is no:

• We should strive to be better than those we condemn, like politicians, many of whom are despised. If we want to be better than those who lie to get support, we should not do the same. We should foster the strength to carry out our genuine intentions.

• There is a consistent rise of anxiety in our world, particularly in the United States, with over 30% of U.S adults experiencing any kind of anxiety disorder. Increased psychological safety can help you and others cope better with anxiety. As it is "important for the well-being and productivity of people"

• Philosophers worldwide can fix their elitist, stereotypical image by being competent at what they do, overcome their emotions, and lead by example by ruthlessly and genuinely working on finding the truths they seek. This can create a ripple effect, leading others to do the same.

• Honesty can be linked to competency in the form of being a man or woman of your word. Therefore, honesty can be important in business as well. Genuine philosophers, for that reason, could be very valuable in the office.

• Dishonesty as such could be linked to pseudo-intellectuals, as we shouldn't rely too much on their word.

Therefore, there are values more important than what we feel or want to feel. We should overcome our egos and consider the world around us, and develop the appropriate responsibility for the power we have or might have on others later on.

The Challenge of Cognitive Dissonance

While the pursuit of truth is admirable, it's natural to resist it when it threatens our dear-held beliefs. It's seen in how certain religious sects might treat philosophy. This psychological discomfort, known as cognitive dissonance, arises when our existing worldview clashes with new information. Resisting a conflicting idea is a defense mechanism, a way to shield ourselves from the pain of confronting that clash. We might instinctively seek escape routes – distractions or denial – to avoid the dissonance.

The philosopher tries to overcome this conflict through its confrontation, not through its escape. He or she would face the dissonance like a hero may face an uncanny monster: With bravery. To be brave, you must resist your fears. You have the right to. To act despite fear. The philosopher can make a content empire out of that right. Whatever others think of him, and the risk that may follow, does not have to be his or her concern.

A philosopher's worth can be measured by the ability to to face these unsettling truths head-on. Core beliefs, confidence, and our own sanity, at times, are to be put to the flame. See what it takes to endure:

• The initial reaction might be fear or a desire to run away.

• Confronting our limitations and challenging our assumptions could tempt us to regret leaving the comfort zone, as "Comfort zone is like a loop in which you are stuck as all your needs are fulfilled effortlessly." (Shrey Baghat, Quora).

• There are many ways to find the truth. Empiricists may claim that you need to experience life in order to truly understand it. To understand pain, you must know suffering. To know hunger, you must deny yourself food. To understand the pain of loneliness, you must be in isolation, depraved of human touch. If they are right, the quest for knowledge can be that harsh. Are you prepared for harshness?
  

The discomfort of encountering unsettling truths is a necessary part of the philosophical journey:

• It's through struggle that we emerge stronger.

• Our understanding of ourselves and the world will less be built on shaky foundations of unexamined beliefs, but on a more solid base. One forged in the fires of intellectual honesty. "Accordingly, I believe intellectual honesty reflects one's commitment to pursue truth while resisting it's two most insidious enemies: propaganda and logical fallacies." --John G. Cottone (Psychology today).

• This process might not always be pleasant, but it ultimately leads to a deeper and more meaningful connection with truth and wisdom.

If the prospect of facing harsh realities makes you want to run for the hills, it might mean you lack capacity for philosophical inquiry. However, it can also indicate that you need more time to prepare. Mindlessly kill your time, and you will rarely move anywhere. But if you persevere, you'll find yourself not only enriched with knowledge, but also better equipped to navigate the complexities and the disappointments of life.

Points about Being a Philosopher

• A philosopher is merely someone who declares themselves devoted to truth-seeking. It's not necessarily something that puts them above anyone else in any social or formal hierarchy. By itself, there is nothing arrogant about this.

• It is hypocritical to not act on that declaration.

• Those who refuse challenging their perceived/"personal" truths are not worthy of being called philosophers. It is the difference between ideology and philosophy.

• The pursuit of truth can be a demanding endeavor. Both philosophers and their followers grapple with the challenge of prioritizing truth-seeking over the allure of comfort and an easy life. This internal conflict can be seen as the ultimate sacrifice, as it requires constant self-doubt towards our confidence. Doubt, against the temptation to settle for what's pleasant to believe to be true, versus what's actually true.

• It is then when the philosopher's love for the truth is challenged.

• Philosophy might not be relevant for you if you refuse to look both ways, and re-consider why someone might be correct as opposed to you.

• Philosophy is not only the love of wisdom, but also the determination to endure what it would entail: pessimism, sadness, condemnation by others, and anything else that could be deemed negative. Love requires commitment, not just emotion. And commitment is an honest tenacity.

• The elementary motive behind every philosopher, and behind every philosophy consumer -- to find the truth, and to be prepared to face any consequence, might come up with this attempt. The rest should be secondary.

Mr. Nathan Lasher's Feedback

This might go along with the newcomers fallacy but why is it important that a philosopher would philosophize everything? Can’t there be specialties within philosophy where people only deal with certain aspects of it?

I don’t believe it is necessary for someone to philosophize everything. I think there can be a better life philosophy where people only apply things to their lives that do real good. Philosophizing everything appears as a know it all. Why would you want to philosophize stuff that isn’t related to you? Where I feel philosophy should be used is to make your life better. 

Why do I feel as though philosophy shouldn’t be considered a job but, rather, suggestions on how to improve your life? It should be applied as a characteristic you possess. Characteristics are things that people can work on.

If a truth won’t reveal any ways to improve lives... then are they worth sharing? Just seems to me like you are meant to be a party pooper if you philosophize everything. Then, why not use it situationally? Learn and then, when your polymathy reveals a way it can be used, learn to apply it to your life or the lives of other people.

Not all truths are things that people want to hear so it comes down to the timing bias where I believe you must make sure it is the right time to reveal the truth. You don’t want someone who is having a bad day to have an even worse one because you felt the need to tell them something else negative.