← See the axis · The point of philosophy

To heal oneself, or to seek the truth?

Making philosophy a medicine for the soul risks reducing it to a consolation, one that prefers inner peace to truth.

Objects to Transforming oneself

Socrates · Apology of Socrates

1. Philosophy-as-exercise is judged by its effect on the one who practices it: it is worth something if it soothes, heals, helps one live better.
2. But what consoles is not necessarily what is true: a comforting illusion 'heals' better than a bitter truth. To measure philosophy by its benefit is to risk preferring what soothes to what is.
3. And turning toward one's own salvation may turn one away from the world: while one works on one's serenity, injustice remains. The art of living risks being merely a retreat, a care of self that abandons truth and others.

Therefore So philosophy cannot be reduced to a therapy: the search for truth may disquiet rather than soothe, and to think is not first of all to heal oneself.