Question Home

Position:Home>Philosophy> What's more important, a philosopher's words or a philosopher's life


Question: What's more important, a philosopher's words or a philosopher's lifestyle!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
in the long run, it is the words!. Unless, the person were in a key world leader position, the world at large is not going to be hugely effected by what the person does!. However, the impact of a philosophical idea can last for centuries and even millenia!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

His or her words!.

Lifestyle is irrelevant for those with a truly open mind!. Such people will disregard the way in which a life is lived, and will consider only the value of the words and ideas that were produced!. It is those with an open mind who we wish to consider philosophical issues in the first place!. Obviously biased thinkers are of no use to anyone other than themselves; they satisfy only their own needs!.

The truth can be horrible!. If people cannot overlook a seemingly poor lifestyle, how will they accept a messy truth!?

The anecdote 'practice what you preach' disguises itself as a universal maxim of conduct, when there really is no basis for this!. People can preach awful things!. Do we wish for them them to practice these things!? On the other hand, one can preach something wonderful, but if preaching it requires one to shut him or herself away from society and write for years at end in a dark little room, should we not cherish the great advise, even if it isn't practiced by the person who wrote it!?


It would be foolish if not dangerous to discard a philosopher's words due to his or her lifestyle!. It would be ignorant if not dangerous to accept a philosopher's words due to his or her lifestyle!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The words are by far more important!. Attempting to disprove what somebody said by judging their character is the ad hominem fallacy!.

If we can logically prove that x is true, the fact the the guy who said x molested cats does not disprove x!. We don't have to like the guy who came up with the idea, but if x is shown to be true, then it's considerably important!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

A respectable philosopher would essentially be a good thinker, a person of substance!. He learns and teaches ethics, morals, virtues and positive qualities, and therefore he should also lead a lifestyle that is decent!. He must be true to his words and thus both his words and actions are important!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

His words or rather his mind!. We should expect that a philosopher will be leading a somewhat artificial academic life, receiving patronage for his vast intellect!. This has always been the case!. It's whether he has anything interesting to say, or think really, that we might be concerned about!. If someone has an interesting observation about something, it doesn't matter whether he is an honest man, or an experienced on!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

even if the originator does not uphold the tenet , the tenet retains it's original quality

i advocate Roland Barthes 'death of the author' specifically because of this difference - it increases quality - ease of discovery by previous association is sometimes misleading and certainly is not a requisite of quality!.!.!.!.

!.!.!.!. and only quality mattersWww@QuestionHome@Com

A philosopher's word!.
This is kind of like when parents say do as I say not as I do!.!.!. Even a philosopher is human and in saying that people have to understand no matter how true information given is!.!.!. the person that gave the information makes mistakes and bad choices just as you!Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Philosopher!.

Simple!.!. no Philosopher, no words from him, no philosopher, no philosopher's lifestyle!.!. And just in case, no philosopher, no stones that turn lead to gold!.!. =)

Www@QuestionHome@Com

More important to whom!?


Listeners, I would think, need his word to be more important!.
His life would be more important to him!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If the philosopher is a genuine one , then his lifestyle will be the same as his words !. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Both are supposed to be same!. A hypocrite cannot be a philosopher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Both because if he can not act on his words no one else will!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I would say both- it goes back to that saying "Practice what you preach"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

the philosophers stone!.!.!.!.ask harry! he agrees tooWww@QuestionHome@Com

WordWww@QuestionHome@Com