The Symbolism of the Comic in the Philosophy of the Ancient Greek Sages and Modern Philosophical Practice

Abstract

The symbolic meanings of the comic beginning of philosophy appear at an early stage of its inception, as a special form of love for wisdom. Philosophical practice, as one of the newest, topical and little-studied trends in modern philosophy, has a direct connection with the ancient tradition of philosophizing. The comic mask of the ancient Greek philosopher-sage is analyzed for the first time as a special model of philosophizing that will help resolve topical issues in the field of modern philosophical practice. The purpose of the article is to study the meanings of the comic model of philosophizing for modern philosophical practice. Based on the material of the life and work of the ancient Greek sages, the methods and techniques of manifesting truth and higher knowledge through comic types of behavior, manifested in the “cunning of the spirit”: ironic trickery, hypocrisy, eccentricity, wit and wit, etc. are shown. The article emphasizes that the comic mask of the philosopher symbolizes the self-deprecation of the subjective spirit, pretending to humble itself before absolute knowledge. This pretense of self-deprecation grows on the basis of the mystical participation of the subjective spirit in the Absolute, which projects a special view of life, seeing through the conventionality, limitation and fluidity of things. As a result, the authors come to the conclusion that the analysis of the verbal and behavioral models of the ancient philosophers-sages, one of which is the comic model, can be used in the process of modern philosophical practice, opening up the possibility of conveying the spiritual Truth in the most possible and accessible form for human perception. The results obtained contribute to the development of the theory of philosophical practice, philosophical anthropology, philosophy of culture and moral philosophy.