The Problem of the Philosophical Person
in this paper, take a fresh look at the philosophical and personal meta morphoses of two well-known philosophers, William James and Socrates. I also examine the philosophical person in the role of teaching philosophy students in a contemporary setting. Xenophon reports that Cicero called Socrates s philosophical muse an "immanent divine something" (Xenophon, Memorabilia) that takes up resi dence in the person. It speaks and directs, remains silent when it wants, and has, I dare say, a personality of its own. How well does it get along with the other person in whom it resides? Let us imagine the desiderata for becoming a philosopher. One knows that there is such a thing as, or imagines the concept of, a "philosopher." One acknowledges that the philosopher has attributes that make him dis tinct. Alternately, one learns of or imagines the definition of a philosopher as a distinct kind of being. In any case, the would-be philosopher aspires to become one.