Philosophical Interpretations of the Old Testament by Seizo Sekine

Author:Seizo Sekine [Sekine, Seizo]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: De Gruyter
Published: 2014-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

3.2.3 Wonder (thaumazein) is the Beginning of Philosophy (philosophiā)

Plato is the first philosopher, at least within the extant texts, to say that wonder (thaumazein) is grounded in philosophy (philosophiā). This expression appears in the dialogue of Theaetetus, where he speaks of “wonder” in the sense of intellectual curiosity.274 Instead it is in Phaedrus where he discusses wonder in relation to Ideas, which fundamentally transcend us, which are the archetypes of being in this world, and which bring things into being. Plato also attests to the importance of recovering that wonder. In that context he does not use the well-known term thaumazein, but ekplēttō (amazement).275

As is well known, philosophy means the love of knowledge. Ultimately, criticism of democracy is also based on a philosophy of love directed toward such knowledge of Ideas. The fallen state of democracy forgets love, loses sight of Ideas, which are the basis of this world’s existence, and idly doubts and sneers at the basis of ethics, thereby turning into something destructive. Plato was voicing a warning and criticism against these things based on a philosophy of the love of knowledge. Both the suggestion to return to love of knowledge and the importance of awakening to love are implied here.

In Aristotle’s Metaphysics, the expression “it is wonder that is the beginning of philosophy [love of knowledge]” is repeated numerous times.276 The task of metaphysics is to recognize that which transcends us and gives us being. I think this is an example, therefore, of philosophy providing us with insights that point to the fact that we have been given our existence by something that transcends us, or to the importance of recognizing the invisible magnetic field of love.

This is the second path, that of philosophy. Other examples from philosophy are too numerous to mention, and they are often obscure and perhaps of little benefit for elementary and junior high school moral education, so I shall move on to the next section.

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