Know Thyself

Plato's philosophical view of the self, Know Thyself in the form of a dialogue, is filled with wisdom that promotes 'thinking' for one discover the self. The beginning of life, is where one is willing to think, and learn about himself / herself before they are able to learn all things around them. Know Thyself has works interpreted & reinterpreted over an umbrella of topics ranging from education to palmistry etc. It is a dialogue to be digested, not understood at a glance and a mere 'read' at one sitting. It is to be read time and again, then put into practise within one's capacity in 'finding the self', and understanding fully of his/her own limitations.

From the aspect of education, the will power and motivation comes from thyself, hence, learning is birthed when one dares to think about thinking, think beyond the thinking. An interesting finding in all his dialogues are that he is never a participant. It is his style, as in a way to get his readers to think by themselves, if not, to decide for themselves. That is to 'build one's own life, and truly live it' as how one should know and understand himself/herself.

In Know Thyself, based on hypotheses, has a full-fledged reasonableness in why others cannot decide another's life, but the owner himself/herself. The meanings of life begins from one knowing himself / herself, and not from others.

Take for example, to use and understand the English Language, one only makes sense of the language if equipped with it's standard basic knowledge - grammar. Without grammar, there is no structure in a sentence, resulting in a loss of meaning within a group / string of words. Vocabulary, are those with specfic meanings to objects and things and conditions around us. The acquisition of vocabulary increases over time, and with practice it makes sentences more meaningful, giving communication it's accuracy and sprinkled with spice and variety.

Likewise, let's use this analogy of grammar by equating it to 'knowing thyself'. With grammar, the structures of sentences are in place, as in an analogy to understanding the basics what the self is like in order to organise thoughts and logos in one's mind and heart. Organised thoughts in one's life finds the respect for rules, regulations and laws unomitable. While vocabulary, as in different wisdoms learned in 'life', brings one's walk in life surer. A confidence, a little less fear of the unknown, more guidance since the pathway is litted, and not forgetting, a wisdom to gauge the future by understanding different choices.

Imbedded in this dialogue, is the correlation between how much one knows oneself to logos ('speech' & 'reason' amongst many other meanings in Greek). The prominence of one's logos, the self is defined by oneself, and perceived likewise by others. The aspect of language as an analogy earlier do make sense so far, I hope?

Bear in mind, this is not a piece on training one to be wise, or sophoi, but to have a love for wisdom as in being 'lovers of wisdom', philoi. How do we define the differences between being 'wise' and being 'lovers of wisdom'? There's a ceiling to being wise or sophoi, but to have philoi, one knows that there's so much wisdom in life that it's a neverending learning curve.

Eventhough one is equipped with a physical tool, the brain, doesn't necessarily mean that mental processes, the mind must come together with it. The mind is developed through stages of inquisition, exposure, wisdom, and not forgetting, the thirst for knowing of oneself - capabilities.

Memory, as a means in retaining information is also another form of 'capability' of the mind. It is not really a 'gift' that comes together with the brain either, as it's part of the processes within the mind. It is too, developed and trained as how thyself wants it. The will to remember, is the will to retain, to make comparisons, to make the right decisions comparitively... Hence, education, in it's formal or informal form, is the key to the development of the mind. It's no wonder why those who know themselves end up being more confident?

The whole complexity of the self is further enhanced by the works of the heart, where the gift of feelings are found. The heart plays a part in making the mind decisive or indecisive. Such are the works of feelings. Still, this doesn't call for ruthlessness, in whether should the mind operate in the absence of the heart! In the past philosophies, the dualism portrayed are just of the brain and the mind, but these days, we have more complications where the heart is involved - a trilism?

Knowing thyself can arrive to one in many ways. Some believe they are their own Gods and Devils in life. While another group believe in the existence of God, in knowing and helping themselves 50% and giving God's ruling another 50%. The other group believe in a 100% of the Will of God, where no matter how much one knows oneself, Thy Will will be done on earth.

In my opinion, all philosophical weavings in the past, the dire researches by Scientists, Philosphers, Wise Men and all alike, is to 'find the truth'. As a believer of God, the Holy Trinity is the truth, the way and the life. What makes life worth living for those who believe is the balance among an unwavering trust in God, the intervention of the Holy Spirit in one's mind and heart towards the sensitivity of knowing oneself and interactions with the world. All these within the 'self' could be meaningless without the obedience, and submission to the Sovereign. Instead of the secular trilism, perhaps we should include God and consider quatrolism?