TAKING PHILOSOPHY SERIOUSLY: PERFECTIONISM VERSUS MELIORISM. PART 1

Abstract

The article gives an idea about new kind of attitude towards philosophy which lets consider it not only as an educational subject but as a form of spiritual practice outside university. The author analyzes the three interconnected purposes of philosophy: aiming at the truth; getting rid of illusions, superstitions and intellectual egocentrism; aiming at wisdom. To make these purposes clear the author refers to two philosophic traditions: perfectionism («radical» philosophy) and meliorism ( «moderate» philosophy). Both traditions are still alive in academic philosophy and are used in many forms of philosophic counseling. Both traditions are well-grounded and important, however, ignorance of their differences results in strained relations among philosophers-counselors and between philosophers-counselors and scholars.