ABSTRACT
Can text offer wisdom? Can a discussion? What sort of investigation or discussion can help us to understand and achieve moral knowledge? This section will examine the examination itself and the methods which might help us achieve wisdom. The epistemology of (moderate) moral learning will be analysed here and a focus will be given to the supposed dichotomy between theoretical and practical knowledge. In particular, the model of philosophy as a way of life which has already been introduced will be compared with some ideas and methods traditionally associated with social anthropology. Participant observation or the process of learning about life by living with others will be key to an ongoing conception of philosophy as a way of life and an argument will be made here for understanding philosophy and participant observation as being coextensive. Moral learning and learning about life and how it can be lived will be examined as both abstract objects and as the activity which this text (and the research behind it) represents.
