Karl Jaspers Quotes about Philosophy

the essence of philosophy is not the possession of the truth but the search for truth. ... Philosophy means to be on the way. Its questions are more essential than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question.

the essence of philosophy is not the possession of the truth but the search for truth. ... Philosophy means to be on the way. Its questions are more essential than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question.

Karl Jaspers

Philosophy, Answers, Way

"Way to Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy". Book by Karl Jaspers, 1951.

The Greek word for philosopher (philosophos) connotes a distinction from sophos. It signifies the lover of wisdom (knowledge) as distinguished from him who considers himself wise in the possession of knowledge. This meaning of the word still endures: the essence of philosophy is not the possession of the truth but the search for truth. ... Philosophy means to be on the way. Its questions are more essential than its answers, and every answer becomes a new question.

Karl Jaspers

Wise, Philosophy, Mean

"Way to Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy". Book by Karl Jaspers, 1951.

At the present moment, the security of coherent philosophy, which existed from Parmenides to Hegel, is lost.

Karl Jaspers

Philosophy, Hegel, Moments

Philosophy as practice does not mean its restriction to utility or applicability, that is, to what serves morality or produces serenity of soul.

Karl Jaspers

Philosophy, Mean, Motherhood

Only then, approaching my fortieth birthday, I made philosophy my life's work.

Karl Jaspers

Birthday, Philosophy, Made

The great philosophers and the great works are standards for the selection of what is essential. Everything that we do in studying the history of philosophy ultimately serves their better understanding.

Karl Jaspers

Philosophy, Understanding, Essentials

As a universal history of philosophy, the history of philosophy must become one great unity.

Karl Jaspers

Philosophy, Unity, Universal

The history of philosophy is not, like the history of the sciences, to be studied with the intellect alone. That which is receptive in us and that which impinges upon us from history is the reality of man's being, unfolding itself in thought.

Karl Jaspers

Philosophy, Reality, Men

If philosophy is practice, a demand to know the manner in which its history is to be studied is entailed: a theoretical attitude toward it becomes real only in the living appropriation of its contents from the texts.

Karl Jaspers

Attitude, Philosophy, Real