ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that philosophy is not a method, a subject of study, a type of science, or a form of critical thinking; therefore, there is no “philosopher-guru” who can transmit wisdom to students. This elusive identity of the philosopher makes it difficult to distinguish him/her from the sophist, since both the philosopher and sophist employ the “Socratic method”: dialectic, eristics, etc. The only way to discern whether one is philosophical is to examine a person’s distinct spiritual orientation towards transcendent growth as a process of dying or the enlargement of one’s ego for power and domination. The chapter concludes with some thoughts on how to relate these questions to today’s classroom: how can we identify and teach philosophers and what are the pitfalls and pleasure in pursuing such a pedagogy?
