How can a philosopher have no ultimate goal?

Question

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have a great day!

Answer 1

I'm not really sure. I'm not a philosopher, but I think any philosopher's ultimate goal should just be to continue to think.

Answer 2

by aiming for quality not truth

Answer 3

–adjective 1. last; furthest or farthest; ending a process or series: the ultimate point in a journey; the ultimate style in hats.  

2. maximum; decisive; conclusive: the ultimate authority; the ultimate weapon.  

3. highest; not subsidiary: ultimate goal in life.  

4. basic; fundamental; representing a limit beyond which further progress, as in investigation or analysis, is impossible: the ultimate particle; ultimate principles.  

5. final; total: the ultimate consequences; the ultimate cost of a project.  

6. not to be improved upon or surpassed; greatest; unsurpassed: the ultimate vacation spot; the ultimate stupidity.  

–noun 7. the final point; final result.  

8. a fundamental fact or principle.  

9. the best, greatest, or most extreme of its kind.  

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/u...

How to be human. Caring.

Answer 4

A  "true" philosopher has no conscious intent...

Answer 5

I would think a philosopher’s ultimate goal would be to learn and find the truth.

I believe a philosopher can have no ultimate goal if they love learning the truth as other people see it... perhaps they'd be an observer..

Answer 6

because true sophist does not exist.

love

Pluto

Answer 7

lol....I thought it was to learn....to listen...to see...to find understanding....maybe some enlightenment...and to share it....dicuss others thoughts....challenge them as well as there own thoughts to open others up to new ideas...

Answer 8

A philosopher must die.

But his philosophy lives forever.

Answer 9

Discovery has no boundaries or frameworks to constrain the thought. It could be said that there maybe an ultimate goal of finding the ultimate goal.

Good luck finding yours.

Answer 10

Stop being a philosopher. HE would have no ultimate goal. Truth is the philosophers ultimate goal.

Answer 11

If you have an ultimate goal then you must know everything.

Such a position is silly at best.  At worst it indicates a rigid, dogmatic mind.

Answer 12

Philosophy is like a never-ending journey of discovery, the never-ending story in the making [it's NOT like going on vacation or trying to reach the Moon]; if you set an ultimate goal [a Destination] you have already ruined and tainted the trek.  One cannot do philosophy with a biased mind - the journey IS the reward [the trek is the destination, if you must - just ask James T. Kirk.  :-)].

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipe5Ejcch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRM0yLxMi...

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Answer 13

It is not that they don't have that goal.

It is that most deem the ultimate as unreachable and therefore don't have the actual ultimate goal.

The ultimate paradox.

Answer 14

A Philosophers ultimate goal should be to just "BE" and like it, appreciate it, and enjoy it. As long as you remain a student of "human nature", all of your philosophical needs should be met. All you are left with is drive to do better.

Answer 15

A philosopher will have goals  - or at least one, to be a great philosopher, the greatness being in direct proportion to the subtlety of that goal. He who has no ultimate goal is no philosopher; he is an Enlightened One, a Master, a Buddha. The ultimate goal is attained by having none.

Answer 16

I believe most philosophers do maintain an ultimate goal - however, dependent upon the philosophical style of analysis - that ultimate goal may be simple acceptance and understanding of the current state. An existentialist, by definition, is not looking for anything other than a marked comprehension of the factors and reasons which make us 'here'. Why, what, when, how, who - are all questions they may experience and investigate to better explain the purpose of our creation, existence and demise. A creationist or philosophical theologian may search for man's ultimate responsibility to god and god's creations.

Philosophy is the why of everything. Omnipotence, while lofty, may be considered the object of a philosopher's ponderings, however, are rarely the outright product.

Finally, I believe you might be hard pressed to find a philosopher who would be content stating that was their endpoint.

Answer 17

Because He doesn't need a "Destination" to strive towards... To the Philosopher- the "Journey" holds the Answer to ALL Questions...  :)

Answer 18

The ultimate goal is live until ones death.

Answer 19

To simply 'be' is seen to be the only goal for some people. Happiness can't be obtained from attachment to objects, people or goals in the ephemeral world in which we all live. Knowing that your time on earth is insignificant relative to the past and future no matter what level of status you may achieve in society, is a humbling thought.

Answer 20

Philosopher have a noble goal of love for Truth but

they go on thinking about it all the life instead of

being one with the Truth.

Answer 21

There is no doubt if you are biased then the conclusion you've reached is flawed. However you can't have any answers or discovery until you have a goal. Even if you are not aware you still have an outcome in mind . . . . a goal. If you intend on going to NY then that destination is your goal.

True within philosophy there is NO ultimate truth as each person seeks his/her own answer . . .  and we don't always reach the same conclusions. However you can not have an answer until you are focused on a particular aspect ie goal. Over the centuries many philosophers have tried to unlock the mysteries, tried to simply the basic questions; ie

where do we come from,

is there a God,

is there a difference between humans and animals,

Is our reality just an illusion,

What leads a person to kill,

etc etc

Each question in a sense is a goal, we must have a question, an inquiry before we can begin seeking answers. If there is no question there is no answer, and then there is simply no concept of philosophy!

The underlying base is 'curiosity, it is our curiosity that leads as to inquire, which then becomes a goal, something we need the understanding of. So among many things Philosophy is also basically 'curiosity' - as it is our curiosity that compels us to seek answers!