Steff: Sophi, I stumbled upon a rather curious quote by Friedrich Schlegel today: “About no subject is there less philosophizing than about philosophy.” It seems paradoxical, doesn’t it?
Sophi: It certainly does, Steff. Schlegel was pointing out the intriguing fact that while philosophy seeks to understand all subjects, it often overlooks understanding itself. It’s a call to meta-philosophy, the philosophical examination of the nature, aims, and methods of philosophy itself.
Steff: Meta-philosophy? So, it’s like a self-reflection for the entire discipline?
Sophi: Precisely! It’s philosophy turning the lens upon itself, questioning its own assumptions and methodologies. Just as Schlegel suggested, philosophizing about philosophy is less common because it requires a step back from traditional problems to question the framework itself.
Steff: It sounds like Schlegel was against the idea of definitive answers in philosophy.
Sophi: He was indeed skeptical of absolute certainties. He saw philosophy more as a continuous circle, where the conclusion of one argument feeds into the beginning of another, much like Hegel’s notion that “the whole of philosophy resembles a circle of circles.”
Steff: So, if philosophy is a circle, and we start “in the middle,” as Schlegel suggests, is there a starting point at all?
Sophi: That’s the beauty of it—there isn’t a fixed starting or ending point. Think of it as being immersed in a river where the water flows in cycles. You are a part of it, influencing and being influenced by the currents of philosophical thought.
Steff: That’s quite a dynamic view. It contrasts sharply with the linear progression of ideas we often assume in other fields.
Sophi: Exactly, and it’s in line with Derrida’s later views, where philosophical analysis is not about reaching a conclusion but engaging in an ongoing dialogue through language and texts.
Steff: So, in essence, philosophizing about philosophy is an endless journey, a path with no final destination but plenty of beautiful scenery to ponder along the way.
Sophi: Wonderfully put, Steff. And each philosopher, from Protagoras to Heidegger, adds their unique viewpoint to this landscape, enriching the journey of understanding.
Steff: I guess in that sense, every philosophical conversation we have is a step along this circle, a continuation of the grand dialogue.
Sophi: Indeed, and every dialogue is a chance to see the circle from a new angle. Shall we continue walking this path together, Steff?
Steff: Until we go full circle infinitum – I guess so.
With this dialogue, we’ve captured the essence of Schlegel’s meta-philosophical musings, highlighting the richness and the cyclical nature of philosophical inquiry.
