Why Philosophy?

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Every thought begins with a question. That inquiry itself is a thought born from a previous question, creating an infinite regress. My mind is a garden where questions are the roots and thoughts grow like branches and leaves. Just as a tree depends on the quality of its roots, my mind depends on the quality of its questions.

For me, philosophy is not merely an academic subject; it is the cultivation of this garden. It has taught me to find questions I did not know existed, to examine myself, and to explore the reality I inhabit. As Socrates said, “All I know is that I know nothing”. Acknowledging the limits of my understanding has been the soil from which my curiosity grows.

At 17, there was only one subject that inspired me to turn up to school: philosophy. The curriculum of standard education felt confining, but Plato’s Allegory of the Cave had piqued my interest. It illustrated the cyclical nature of ignorance and the comfort of the shadows. Learning this changed the lens through which I was living.

I left school because I sought direction, not just instruction. I was lost, unsure how to best use my abilities, and deeply resistant to the idea of life simply happening to me. Philosophy helped. It did not hand me a map; it gave me a compass.

Most people I knew in school looked up the highest-paying careers and reverse-engineered their path to get there. I never did that. I focused on figuring out who I am and what I truly want.

Early on, I learned to make money, only to discover that conventional “success” held little meaning for me. What mattered was how I spent my time and energy. Money became more of a moral duty; a means to align my life with purposeful pursuits. My goal became to expand my worldview.

Life is a work of art. It is not about discovering predetermined truths as you do in science; it is about designing, experimenting, iterating, and following your curiosity. Greatness cannot be planned. Art is about deep understanding.

Philosophy gave me the sight to see in darkness. Society tends to live day to day like there’s a set path and set rules. I live my life embodying free will itself.

So why philosophy? To live a life that is my own.