What Is Philosophical Intelligence? (And How to Practice It)

One of the most powerful tools we have to navigate life’s uncertainties and complexities is philosophical intelligence. It’s deeper than analytical reasoning—it touches on the issues of being, verifiability, knowledge vs. belief, good vs. right vs. necessary, and reality. It allows us to examine our beliefs, challenge assumptions, examine issues from several perspectives, and assemble a set of beliefs coherent with others.

So, what is philosophical intelligence, and how does one practice it?

Picture this: You stir from sleep, inhale deeply, and as you let out your exhale, consciousness sets in. You become aware of your presence, aware of a connection with the world you inhabit—a surety that you are alive. That is the first step toward pondering philosophical intelligence.

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you don’t need to worry that you are not a living person. You are, and so you qualify for possessing philosophical intelligence.

But a philosophical intelligence is more than just an awareness that one exists. Being alive is an entirely different condition from having a philosophical intellect, which, if you are reading this, you already have.

Philosophical intelligence is about pondering the mysteries of life, delving into the realm of abstract concepts that lie at the heart of human existence. Questions like “Does God exist?” or “What happens to us after death?” are not just idle musings but indicators of a curious mind seeking deeper understanding.

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to know all the answers to be considered wisely intelligent. The important part is asking the important questions and reflecting on those thoughts. In fact, they say that true wisdom is knowing how little you actually know.

Religious beliefs and spiritual practices are clear expressions of philosophical intelligence. They provide frameworks for exploring ultimate truths and grappling with life’s complexities. However, being nonreligious and nonspiritual, one still shows philosophical intellect, expressing itself differently in some of the same ways.

One could delve into the study of philosophy itself, losing oneself in the pages of Aristotle or Descartes, or immerse oneself in the beauty and meaning of art, poetry, or music.

Persons with strong philosophical intelligence harbor a profound curiosity for the world and are willing to survey the expanse of human knowledge. Philosophically intelligent persons think using a complex set of rules and are mindful of their own cognitive biases.

The development of philosophical intelligence consists of several central factors. Each of these is integral in cultivating our capacity to reason logically or in encouraging the inquisitive bent humans often harbor, which can be directed toward posing ever more profound questions concerning existence.

Some of the primary elements are:

Metacognition

Metacognition, the ability to reflect on and be cognizant of one’s own cognitive processes, facilitates belief formation, fostering rationality in thought at the level of the individual and the community.

When someone engages in such metacognitive reflection, they consider whether the belief is warranted according to one’s own reasons and the strength or weight of those reasons.

This self-awareness enhances our capacity as thinkers to adapt, making us more sensitive to potential flaws in the process of inference.

For example, engaging with timeless, philosophical questions such as “What is truth?” or “Do we have free will?” metacognition will remind one to expose the assumptions beneath his or her answers–so as not to take them unawares.

Critical Thinking

The essence of philosophical intelligence is critical thinking. This means analyzing information in a careful, open-minded, thoughtful way.

It means questioning assumptions, looking for evidence, evaluating and weighing up arguments, drawing only warranted conclusions, basing them on valid empirical evidence, and considering competing counterarguments before settling on an answer or a belief.

For example, consider a person presenting an argument for the existence of God based on empirical evidence of the complexity of nature.

A critical thinker would scrutinize the empirical grounds for his or her assertion, the presence or absence of logical fallacies in that person’s argument, and the counterargument before coming to a conclusion.

Epistemology is the study of how we acquire knowledge and what justifies us in believing that we have knowledge. When we encounter claims holding in fact about a state of affairs, epistemology cajoles us into asking, “Is it true?” and “How do we know?”

For example, suppose we discover two or more of our friends disagree on the issue of climate change. In that case, epistemology urges us to inquire about the basis of their beliefs to make an informed decision about that state of affairs.

Conceptual Analysis

Normally, philosophical discourses entail critical understanding development when dissecting a complex concept to identify its meaning and implication.

The conceptual analysis allows us to clarify concepts via the logical relationship these concepts possess and their linguistic detail and presupposition background ideas examination.

Suppose we face an ethical question, “Is it ever morally right to lie?” Conceptual analysis helps us define lying, survey the ethical theories supporting truth-telling, and examine situational variables affecting moral assessments.

The Importance of Developing Philosophical Intelligence

The development of philosophical intelligence also becomes important in a world that often requires nothing more than quick fixes and superficial understanding.

It enables us to look beyond the surface and intricately explore basic questions like existence, truth, morality, and meaning. Here are reasons why developing philosophical intelligence is so important:

Enhanced Critical Thinking

Philosophical intelligence enhances our critical thinking abilities. It refines our ability to evaluate ideas, arguments, and evidence.

By thinking logically and analyzing ideas vigorously, we become proficient at recognizing fallacies, oversights, inconsistencies, and instances of wishful thinking in both our own thinking as well as the thinking of others.

Therefore, this skill becomes highly practical in our everyday lives—helping us dissect political claims or assisting us in making decisions that are most important to us.

For example, if we stand somewhere in the middle of two friends who disagree about physician-assisted suicide for end-stage terminal illnesses, a highly developed philosophical intelligence will allow us to logically consider the merits and demerits of the two perspectives.

It will also allow us to balance our moral principles against the demands of practicality and to arrive at a well-considered decision.

Being philosophically intelligent is about being willing to consider other viewpoints and explore other perspectives than one’s own. It is about intellectual openness rather than narrow-mindedness.

It is the willingness to ask profound questions about the nature of human existence or to grapple with ethical dilemmas facing society, national, or global civilization.

By asking those questions, we begin to recognize the world’s complexity to scrape beneath the surface of life.

By studying existentialist philosophy or engaging with existential questions such as “What is the meaning of life?” an individual comes closer to not only their own understanding but also other human experiences, appreciating the rich and diverse values and normative systems in various cultures.

Ethical Reflection

Philosophical intelligence asks us to engage in deep moral reflection and to question and assess our beliefs about right and wrong.

It asks us to think critically, carefully examine the principles guiding our actions toward others, and, above all else, to think deeply about who we are and what we stand for.

Imagining an ethical dilemma at work: Suppose an employee witnesses unethical behavior by a colleague and needs to decide whether to report it.

Philosophical intelligence empowers one with the ability to draw upon their understanding of ethics to make an informed ethical decision—whether that be an understanding of a deontological principle like honesty or a consequentialist notion like the maximization of overall well-being.

Cultivating Wisdom

Philosophical intelligence unfolds into wisdom, which we should understand as a deep insight into the difficulties and complexities of life, as the ability to apply this understanding in practice.

Wisdom gives us the resilience to manage the ethical challenges that arise in business without needing rules to walk us through each task.

Wisdom does more than allow us to overcome our whims or resist a quick payday in favor of long-term flourishing. It helps us to cultivate virtues like patience, empathy, and humility that benefit not only ourselves but also the society around us.

Philosophical intelligence is not only an inborn aptitude but also a talent that practice could enhance. Here are ways on how to develop and do something with philosophical intelligence:

1. Read Widely

Broaden your intellectual horizon by reading seminal philosophical literature, from ancient philosophy to even the ultra-modern thinkers. Reveal the doctrines embodied within different philosophical ideas, movements, existentialism, utilitarianism, or maybe Stoicism.

Reading diverse perspectives allows the opportunity to probe a complicated idea and the arguments behind it. Delving into Socrates’ dialogues or, for that matter, diving into Descartes’ Meditations can sharpen up one’s critical thinking.

2. Reflect on Everyday Experiences

Develop the habit of reflecting on everyday experiences from a philosophical angle. Ask yourself, “Why did I react that way?” or “What does this situation show of a human being?” You can learn something from your thoughts and behavior by philosophically examining small moments.

For example, you might witness an act of kindness between two strangers on a bus and think of concepts like altruism or our natural socialness.

3. Engaging in Thought Experiments

Thought experiments are a way to explore abstract philosophical concepts or ethical dilemmas without worrying about how the real-world results of those ideas would play out. In other words, they can allow us to engage our critical thinking and question our intuitive reactions.

Consider classic thought experiments like the trolley problem–in which you’re faced with diverting a runaway train, making it either run over one person you know or five strangers–that challenge our intuition about moral decision-making.

Engaging yourself in intellectual discussions is fundamental to conducting philosophical intelligence. Register to debate clubs and philosophy groups or join online forums to debate subjects of interest set out for argument purposes and the scarcities of contrary opinions.

By engaging in respectful dialogues with individuals with beliefs and perspectives that differ from yours, you become better at reasoning while expanding your intellectual borders.

5. Look Intently at Philosophical Questions

Probe for questions on the nature of reality or the meaning of life and the existence of God. Deep consideration for existential questions elicits critical philosophical thinking and self-reflection.

For example, the meditation on “Why does a human being exist?” or “What happens after death?” provokes thinking over deep metaphysical and existential problems.

6. Develop Socratic Questioning

Socratic questioning is a procedure of challenging assumptions, digging deeper for meaning from understanding, and clarifying arguments. Be an ancient philosopher, Socrates, and ask strong, powerful questions that lead to the meaning of the idea.

For instance, if someone makes a moral claim, you can ask them to explain the underlying principles or justifications behind it to understand their position better.

Why Philosophical Intelligence Is So Important

Philosophical intelligence is a valuable asset to the ever-changing world today. It allows knowledge beyond the superficial level and compels one to wrestle with deeply thought-out inquiries of existence, truth, morality, and meaning.

Through developing philosophical intelligence, we enhance critical thinking skills, which foster openness of our views on the world, conduct ethical reflection, and facilitate personal growth, as it cultivates wisdom.

In an era where information is all over the place and there is so much polarization, philosophical intelligence is the ultimate navigational tool through which one finds a proper way in all that excessive amount of opinions.

Philosophical intelligence fuels open-mindedness and goes a long way in helping ask the questions that question the assumptions while going deeper into understanding. Finally, it even helps in making more formed decisions grounded in rationality instead of being based upon impulsivity.

In other words, philosophical intelligence also allows us to develop empathy for the experience of others, which promotes dialogue with people from different cultures and ideologies.