For starters, Apt choice of title. Thinking for yourself is an act in itself. Thank you for writing on topics which seem trivial to many but are enough to cause serious existential crises. This validates the mere feeling of not knowing or reading enough. Reminds me of your earlier piece on 'Everything I read or Write or Hear Slips Through My Fingers'. I share the same fears of even approaching certain topics. Over the time, I have also realized how the most complicated works are comprehensible when read in original. So it is easier (Yes it is!) to read Foucault or Marx in originals than read commentaries or essays written by scholars in this regard. Though this might not be true for other philosophers. Thank you Johanna, for constantly validating those fears and opinions- I honestly don't think anybody can ever know enough but then you are right- we need to trust and put our points ahead. Even philosophers had inconsistencies so what is stopping us from venturing ahead? What is the worst thing that could happen at the end of the day! Thank You once again. Looking forward to your next piece
Hi Johanna, thank you so much for this vulnerability!! I have also been in the place where I've felt like "I'm not yet good enough," and yet, we have done so much to cultivate the knowledge to have an opinion on a topic. Just wanted to to say that you're not alone in learning how to move forward through the doubt. Thanks again for a great piece of writing!
For starters, Apt choice of title. Thinking for yourself is an act in itself. Thank you for writing on topics which seem trivial to many but are enough to cause serious existential crises. This validates the mere feeling of not knowing or reading enough. Reminds me of your earlier piece on 'Everything I read or Write or Hear Slips Through My Fingers'. I share the same fears of even approaching certain topics. Over the time, I have also realized how the most complicated works are comprehensible when read in original. So it is easier (Yes it is!) to read Foucault or Marx in originals than read commentaries or essays written by scholars in this regard. Though this might not be true for other philosophers. Thank you Johanna, for constantly validating those fears and opinions- I honestly don't think anybody can ever know enough but then you are right- we need to trust and put our points ahead. Even philosophers had inconsistencies so what is stopping us from venturing ahead? What is the worst thing that could happen at the end of the day! Thank You once again. Looking forward to your next piece
Hi Johanna, thank you so much for this vulnerability!! I have also been in the place where I've felt like "I'm not yet good enough," and yet, we have done so much to cultivate the knowledge to have an opinion on a topic. Just wanted to to say that you're not alone in learning how to move forward through the doubt. Thanks again for a great piece of writing!