wisdom

I want to tell a story

Of what has been going

On inside my head,

Full of philosophies

By the great sages

Who has an answer to every thing.

 

Know thyself by Socrates,

Fear is what makes us weak by Plato,

Faith, Hope and Love according to Aristotle.

 

Cogito ergo sum by Descartes,

Knowledge has both a priori and a posteriori by Kant,

Tabula rasa by Locke,

We are all egoists stated by Hobbes,

No! there is goodness in us by Butler,

We are egoists ethically by Rand,

Yes we are utilitarians by Mill,

Existence before essence by Sartre,

We are all absurd by Camus,

The end will always justify the means.

Death is just the beginning by Marcel.

 

All these philosophers from different

Schools of thought,

Wanting to answer a doubt or a query,

About life and death or vice-versa.

 

Is there really reincarnation?

Is there life after death?

Do we have to undergo rebirths

To attain salvation?

 

Nirvana is supposed to be in a corner,

Man is inherently good,

Confucius said so.

There is the TAO to guide us.

 

Let Yin-Yang prove to be

In an equilibrium

In accordance with the

Doctrine of the Mean.

 

The passion for seeking answers

To endless queries continues,

Baffling one’s mind,

Challenging one’s soul.

 

Philosophy is what it is.

 

Reviews

[Declan]

Great references. An enjoyable read.

[Neville]

Let's not get too philosophical about it but from where I am sitting, it seems you just about got the lot....Nicely penned my friend........ N

[sette]

thank you for appreciating and caring my friend

[peter Duggan]

Hi Sette, I enjoyed reading your poem. I used to read all the philosophers and the spiritual stuff. I found that looking within ones own soul is the way to truth, and now I am a transformed man. Great write, my friend...Peter

[sette]

thanks for appreciating my friend peter

[Alfred Kukitz]

wow! scholarly inception. i remember some of these writers when i was young inquisitive and stupid. thank you sette!

regards,
al

[sette]

thanks for dropping by al and thanks again for the kind review

[Madeira]

Absolutely love philosophy and love this poem's journey through some of it's history

[sette]

thanks for dropping by and the appreciation too

[Pete]

what is true wisdom? who holds the keys? thought-provoking. all those philosophies and philosophers seeking to answer what we all search for every day of our lives through the ages. nice job ... :)

[sette]

thank you pete for the kind review

[...]

Very nice bunch of layers through the history. Each philosop take another route . I just wonder why you don't include any modern or postmodern philosops

[sette]

actually i am not fond of modern philosophers so i really omitted them. but next time i will try to write at least one of them

[...]

I was just wondering you don't need to write at least your really want to. But you can maybe check this two names Michel Focault and Jean baudrillad . Both they make very nice reflections of modern times.

[sette]

okay will try to look into that

[Earl Schumacker]

Hi sette, Nicely done. You covered many of the bases in this one. "Nirvana is supposed to be in a corner", is interesting. I don't know what it means but it is interesting. I'm still trying to figure that one out. Philosophy is an on going evolutionary thing. You clearly pointed out the divergent views here. Good job. Earl

[sette]

yes because for me happiness is just around the corner it is that man can be complex that happiness must be complex too

[Earl Schumacker]

Thank you for clearing that up. Now I understand. Have a great day.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

It certainly is dear sette... And our quest for guides and answers elevates mankind. Your poem is very well-written and your references on-point. Each eloquent verse is balanced, flows well, and provokes thought and discussion. Merits and flaws in each philosophy- we search for the “Mean”. The answers are inside of us already. Superb write.

[sette]

thanks my friend for the kind words and review

[Maxwell Ryder]

I always like poems in which I can learn something. Thanks!

[sette]

thanks for that maxwell