--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here is the beginning of philosophy: a…" description: "\"Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg" --- # Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the… ![“Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement.” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg) > “Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement.” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy starts by recognizing human conflicts, seeking causes, rejecting mere opinion, and finding a judgment standard. **In simple terms:** Philosophy begins with conflict and seeking truth. Key Takeaway Pursue objective judgment. Themes ethics logic critical thinking Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - personal dilemmas - public debates - academic study - media analysis Key Concepts stoicism epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What conflicts shape your view? - How do you test opinions? A Different Perspective Finding universal standards may be impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Beginning Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-philosophy-3405957/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Condemnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemnation/) [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Conflicts Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-men-4182603/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-recognition-3802513/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [The beginning of philosophy is the recognition of the conflict between opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/the-beginning-of-philosophy-is-the-recognition-of-the-conflict/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [The Beginning of Philosophy is a Consciousness of your own Weakness and inability in necessary things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/the-beginning-of-philosophy-is-a-consciousness-of-your-own-weakness/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [At the very moment when someone is beginning to take philosophy seriously, the whole world believes the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/at-the-very-moment-when-someone-is-beginning-to-take-philosophy/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“We assert now that Being is the proper and sole theme of philosophy. This is not our own invention; it is a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heidegger/we-assert-now-that-being-is-the-proper-and-sole-theme-of-philosophy/) [Martin Heidegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heidegger/) > [For this feeling of wonder shows that you are a philosopher, since wonder is the only beginning of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-this-feeling-of-wonder-shows-that-you-are-a-philosopher-since/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [If a culture treats a particular illness with compassion and enlightened understanding, then sickness can be seen as a challenge, as a healing crisis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/if-a-culture-treats-a-particular-illness-with-compassion-and/) [Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/) > [We feel the urge to tell the truth as we see it. But we should try to accomplish this without judgemental condemnations that hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/we-feel-the-urge-to-tell-the-truth-as-we-see-it-but-we-should-try-to/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [“We suffer not from the events in our lives but from our judgement about them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-suffer-not-from-the-events-in-our-lives-but-from-our-judgement/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“as then the condemnation of sinners extended to others who approved of them, and joined in their society; so also is it the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/as-then-the-condemnation-of-sinners-extended-to-others-who-approved/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [“The mind, stretched to new dimensions by images, thoughts and ideas, can never return to its former shape.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-luedke/the-mind-stretched-to-new-dimensions-by-images-thoughts-and-ideas-can/) [Travis Luedke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-luedke/) > [A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/a-father-may-turn-his-back-on-his-child-brothers-and-sisters-may/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [If it is not strong upon your heart to practice what you read, to what end do you read? To increase your own condemnation?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-it-is-not-strong-upon-your-heart-to-practice-what-you-read-to-what/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Bring everything up to the surface. Accept your humanity, your animality. Whatsoever is there, accept it without any condemnation. Acceptance is transformation, because through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/bring-everything-up-to-the-surface-accept-your-humanity-your/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Author describes that a failed sea captain, "vacillated miserably between self-recrimination and defensiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wheelan/author-describes-that-a-failed-sea-captain-vacillated-miserably/) [Joseph Wheelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wheelan/) > [“Jesus came to give his righteousness not to condemn the unrighteous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-canoza/jesus-came-to-give-his-righteousness-not-to-condemn-the-unrighteous/) [Mac Canoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-canoza/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. If you would be free, then, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-at-the-mercy-of-whoever-wields-authority-over-the-things-we/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Do not laugh much or often or unrestrainedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-laugh-much-or-often-or-unrestrainedly/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-are-not-disturbed-by-what-happens-to-us-but-by-our-thoughts-about/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Don't be prideful with any excellence that is not your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/don-t-be-prideful-with-any-excellence-that-is-not-your-own/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You know yourself what you are worth in your own eyes; and at what price you will sell yourself. For men sell themselves at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/you-know-yourself-what-you-are-worth-in-your-own-eyes-and-at-what/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Crows pick out the eyes of the dead, when the dead have no longer need of them; but flatterers mar the soul of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/crows-pick-out-the-eyes-of-the-dead-when-the-dead-have-no-longer-need/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [As a man, casting off worn out garments taketh new ones, so the dweller in the body, entereth into ones that are new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/as-a-man-casting-off-worn-out-garments-taketh-new-ones-so-the-dweller/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“For it is not death or pain that is to be feared, but the fear of pain or death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/for-it-is-not-death-or-pain-that-is-to-be-feared-but-the-fear-of-pain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? 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The wise see all blame as foolishness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/small-minded-people-blame-others-average-people-blame-themselves-the/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/all-philosophy-lies-in-two-words-sustain-and-abstain/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Explore all 577 Epictetus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## More Beginning quotes > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) [Adam Imad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-imad/) > [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [The only vocal training I had was playing with a tape recorder as a kid, and you know, doing the beginning of the 'Lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/the-only-vocal-training-i-had-was-playing-with-a-tape-recorder-as-a/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [January is the beginning of a new year for us in the Western world. Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [When God made the world, all things began with him. Life, death, it all began when he said so. That includes you and me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manae-poet-of-carisis/when-god-made-the-world-all-things-began-with-him-life-death-it-all/) [Manae Poet Of Carisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manae-poet-of-carisis/) > [From the beginning at Intel, we planned on being big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-noyce/from-the-beginning-at-intel-we-planned-on-being-big/) [Robert Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-noyce/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [Some projects feel like the stars are aligning for them from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-smith/some-projects-feel-like-the-stars-are-aligning-for-them-from-the-very/) [Gregory Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-smith/) > [Do not judge me by my beginning, Only by my end, Nor by the path I took, But where it led me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacklyn-h-lucas/do-not-judge-me-by-my-beginning-only-by-my-end-nor-by-the-path-i-took/) [Jacklyn H Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacklyn-h-lucas/) [Browse all 3,566 Beginning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a condemnation of mere opinion .. . and the discovery of a standard of judgement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Epictetus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-recognition-of-the-conflicts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beginning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-recognition-of-the-conflicts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/epictetus-413_causes_here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-re_2098690.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here is the beginning of philosophy: a recognition of the conflicts between men, a search for their cause, a…” — Epictetus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Epictetus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Here is the beginning of philosophy:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-recognition-of-the-conflicts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/here-is-the-beginning-of-philosophy-a-recognition-of-the-conflicts/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```