“The philosopher is not a person who wears no mask, but one who knows how to play with a number of masks, skillfully shifting from wearing one to wearing another, as circumstances demand.” ~Raymond Geuss

Expressing yourself like a philosopher is gazing into the abyss with an arsenal of masks. These “masks” symbolize different ways of looking at, and moving through, the world.

When you express yourself like a philosopher everything is Labyrinth. Everything is metaphor. Everything is meant to be explored. Everything is wisdom disguised as ignorance. Everything is parenthetical, incidental, tangential. Even the self. Even the universe. Even God.

For a good philosopher, nothing is off the hook for being questioned to the nth degree. A good philosopher understands that there are no absolute answers, only astute questions.

As Nietzsche said, “A philosopher who is warlike challenges problems to duels.”

A good philosopher cuts through all red tape. Kneecaps all high horses. Dethrones all gods. Inflicts oneself and the world with good questions. Remains ahead of the curve. Doubles down on curiosity and then uses it to overwhelm and overcome their own certainty.

Gary Z McGee
Art: Gijinka by liberxx0