Analogy of the Table

CEBU, Philippines - My “Analogy of the Table” makes philosophy enjoyable.  Let’s say, between you and me is the table.  We both claim to see the whole thing. Truth is, there’s a part of it facing me which I see, but which you don’t.  Likewise, there is a part of this table facing you which you see, but which I don’t. Even though we both claim to see this table, we have to admit that there are parts of it which none of us sees, i.e., underneath and what is inside its drawer. And yet, we all claim to see this table, each one from the side facing him or her.

In order to have a more adequate view of this table, you will have to ask me what I see from my side and I will have to listen to your description of the part you are seeing.  This is where dialogue comes in.  You ask me, I tell you. I ask you, you tell me. And in order to have a more complete view of the table, we will have to find out how it looks from underneath and from the other sides that are not facing any one of us.  This is where research comes in.  And when we are researching, we are actually dialoguing with the authors of the books that we are reading.  When are going to the library, we are bringing a set of questions to be answered by those authors.  The only difference is that we have to look for their answers, whereas in the classroom we ask direct questions and get instant answers.

Just as every one of us claims to see this table although we each see only a part of it and none of us actually sees the whole table at any one instant, so also in philosophy, which relies on human reason alone (with all its limitations), nobody has the monopoly of the truth , which is what philosophy is striving for.  You have your truth or view of the table, I have my truth or view of n the table. You tell me your truth and I tell you mine with the hope that during our dialogue the WHOLE TRUTH will manifest itself to both us.

Thus, one who is open to truth wherever it comes from enjoys philosophy which, by our “analogy of the table,” nobody sees the whole table at one glance. We see it part by part, one part at a time.

During the radio program over DYHP I wrote about the other Sunday, September 7, Atty. Marcelo M. Bacalso asked me if it is possible for one to learn philosophy without a teacher.  We agreed that philosophy is based on common sense.  Since every human being is equipped with common sense, one can learn philosophy without a teacher, although “common sense” is not so common.  History tells us that the teacher of Aristotle was Plato, whose teacher was Socrates. There is no record who the teacher of Socrates was, although he is recorded as saying that “wonder is the feeling of a philosopher and philosophy begins in wonder.”

What makes philosophy, philosophy (the essence of philosophy)? I’ll write about it next time.