[4] What Do Philosophers Actually Do?

1 Thinking for a Living

If I had to define a philosopher in one line, it would be this: someone who thinks for a living. When you start searching for answers to questions like who you are, why we live, or what justice is, one question inevitably leads to another. Honestly, this way of life can be exhausting. Yet, philosophers willingly take on that fatigue because they seek an answer that is even slightly better than yesterday’s. They are people who devote their entire lives to that extra inch of truth.

In ancient Greece, philosophers were called “lovers of wisdom.” Not “wise men,” but those who love wisdom—and that distinction matters. Love always has an object; for philosophers, that object is wisdom itself. Wisdom is so vast that no matter how long you pursue it, it can never be fully possessed. This is why a philosopher’s craving never truly ends. The famous maxim, “Know thyself,” was born from this very spirit.

Socrates realized that this phrase ultimately points to one thing: knowing that you do not know. When he spoke with the so-called "wise men" of his time, he found they didn't actually understand what they claimed to know—they merely believed they did. A person who admits their ignorance and never stops longing for wisdom: that is a true philosopher.

Socrates remains a household name largely thanks to his student Plato, who featured him as the central character in his dialogues. Socrates used a method called maieutics (or "midwifery") to expose cracks in his opponents' arguments and push toward the truth. But he paid for it with his life. No matter how noble the intention, few people enjoy being publicly cornered. Of course, that was no fault of Socrates.

2 Always True, Everywhere

Philosophers are ambitious. They chase ideas that must hold true across time and space—past, present, and future. If an answer only works for me, it isn’t truth; it’s just an opinion. This quality—staying true regardless of time and place—is called universality, and it is the gold standard of philosophy. In trying to explain complex phenomena with a single, solid concept, philosophical language naturally becomes more condensed and rigorous.

For example, before discussing "What is justice?", a philosopher first defines the word justice itself. Only after establishing a logically grounded definition do they ask, "Why is justice so hard to achieve?" or "How can it be realized?" They examine different cultures, eras, and circumstances one by one to find the common thread.

Even after thinking ten times harder than most to reach a conclusion, a philosopher must remain humble enough to say, “This may not be absolute.” Their labor is heavier than it looks. If philosophy feels difficult, that’s because it is. There is no such thing as "easy philosophy." In satisfying so many rigorous conditions, philosophers can seem like they’re from another planet—but they didn't set out to speak in riddles from the start.

3 When the Weight Shifts

Human life rests on two pillars: survival and meaning. Philosophers tend to place more weight on the latter. Of course, both are essential, and the balance shifts differently for everyone. One side is not universally more precious than the other.

I was no different. There was a time when I felt philosophy could no longer give meaning to my life. In that moment, my lifelong commitment to being a philosopher felt hollow.

But that wasn’t the end. As life goes on, the weight shifts again. We make countless choices and never stop asking what they mean. Sometimes we return to what we once walked away from. I did, too. Since then, I have published two philosophy books and am currently planning my next. My challenge toward philosophy remains a work in progress.

Losing Your Way to Find Yourself [Book Introduction]

This book invites readers into the timeless questions that define human existence — “Who am I?”, “Why was I born?”, and “Why must I live?” For those who carry deep and restless questions, Losing Your Way to Find Yourself offers a moment of quiet contemplation — a pause between one step and the next.

바스락 basolock김대근 DAEGEUN KIM

[1] 나를 휘감은 무엇

어릴 때부터 나에겐 나를 휘감는 듯한 일종의 공허함이 존재했다. 마치 어떤 행성의 위성처럼 띠를 두른 듯 내 몸을 자전하는 그 정체 모를 무엇. 늘 그랬다. 누군가에게 설명할 길 없는 내가 나에 대해 느끼는 낯설음, 그리고 그것에 대해 끊임없이 자각하는 나, 그 메울 수 없는 간극 속에서 살아가야 한다는 건, 꽤 고통스러운 일이었다.

바스락 basolock김대근 DAEGEUN KIM

사색이 필요한 당신, 이 책들과 함께

사색이 필요하신가요? 그렇다면 김대근의 책들과 함께 하세요. 온오프라인 서점에서 구매할 수 있답니다.

바스락 basolock김대근 DAEGEUN KIM