Introduction:
The essay entitled On Not Being A Philosopher is an extract from It's Fine World written by Lynd. This essay is serious, instructive and full of humour. This is indeed a personal essay in which the essayist puts his own views on his not being a philosopher. He develops intimacy with the reader and tells him that he could not become a philosopher because he could agree with Epictetus or other philosophers of that school, but for the purpose of practice, he found himself incapable of agreeing with them. The essayist tells frankly that by following the theory of Epictetus, he found himself unable to comfort even in the small matters of life. The principles formed by the philosophers were difficult to be followed. The essayist accepted the philosophy of humanity given by the philosopher but he presents an argument that if the waiter is his kinsman, then why the offspring of Zeus should wait so badly. In this essay the essayist presents a great difference between theory and practical. In his opinion, philosophical things are worth reading but they cannot be applied in practical life.
Thought - content:
The essay begins with a conversation held between two persons in a room of hotel. In this conversation; one person was recommending to read Epictetus to another in order to grow wise. Hearing this conversation a sort of curiosity arose in the heart of the essayist to read Epictetus. The essayist wondered greatly to know about this book of wisdom because he was always looking for the book of wisdom since his school days. The essayist had a great faith in the fact that the wisdom could be derived from some books. He had a great desire to get wisdom like Solomon. The essayist had no time and energy to put himself into hard labour to learn philosophy. He wanted to get philosophy in the same way as he purchased eggs, apples, and medicines by giving money. There was a great difficulty with the essayist that when he read the philosophers, he agreed with their views, but he was unable to apply them. The same thing happened with the essayist when he read Epictetus with great enthusiasm. The essayist felt death pain and poverty in real way except those moments while reading the books of the philosophers. The essayist admitted that he was an armchair philosopher, but at the moment of danger or crisis, he found himself feeble both in spirit and body. The essayist tells us frankly that by following the theory of Epictetus, he found himself unable to comfort even in the small matters of life. The philosopher, Epictetus advises to have patience and control over anger, but according to the essayist, these things cannot be applied in real life. The essayist agrees with one of the principles delivered by Epictetus that one should not run after materialistic things. The essayist believes that a wise man can be happy in a small amount. The essayist is entirely convinced with this fact that as the philosophers are worth reading; in the same way the material things are also worth bothering about. The essayist believes that it is as though the people enjoy wisdom as a spectacle on a stage, but they do not follow it. If they try to follow, it will be unseemingly for them. Ultimately the essayist says that if someone, without making any effort and only by listening to a voice or by reading a book, wants to grow wise, it will be just like an exciting dream.
Presenting Some Universal Facts:
The essayist presents some universal facts about world of materialism. Materialistic people can listen and read the principles of the philosophers, but in real life they cannot apply them. While reading the books of philosophers, they wander in the world of philosophers and ponder over all those things mentioned by them, but later on midst the crowd of practical world, they forget everything. To control over great passions and anger is much difficult in the practical world. Man cannot preserve patience for longer. In some matters the philosophers may be right such as wisdom can provide man a small amount of happiness. Man's Curiosity to get Wisdom: The essayist observes that man has ever been curious to get wisdom. He likes the principles and philosophy of the philosophers. He reads their books carefully. He heeds their words very cautiously. He likes the behaviour, nature and conduct of the philosophers. He is greatly inclined to the ways of philosophers. He wants to grow wise like them. But man takes only interest in their principles and philosophy. He does not apply their theory in his real life because their ways are very difficult to be followed. The philosophers advise to follow the path of humanity, brotherhood, love and affection.
Language and Style:
The essayist has used personal style. There is found no extravagant ornamentation of words. In the present essay, he discovers some universal facts. He has avoided the difficult words and phrases. Humorous touches are also rampant in it to add the charm. For instance, it is laughable when he says that he wants to get wisdom in the same way, as he gets eggs from the farmer, apples from the fruit - grower, medicines from the chemist. There are many places where the essayist adopts philosophical attitude. He has also used the figure of speeches.
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