--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: philosophy teaches us and unsettles us by…" description: "\"“philosophy teaches us and unsettles us by confronting us with what we already know; there's an irony: the difficulty consisted in this course is that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/michael-j-sandel-32311_inspiring_philosophy-teaches-us-and-unsettles-us-b_1581048.jpg" --- # philosophy teaches us and unsettles us by confronting us… ![“philosophy teaches us and unsettles us by confronting us with what we already know; there's an irony: the difficulty consisted in this course is that it teaches what you already know; it works by taking what we know from familiar and unquestioned settings and making it strange. that's how the…” quote by Michael J. Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/michael-j-sandel-32311_inspiring_philosophy-teaches-us-and-unsettles-us-b_1581048.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/michael-j-sandel-32311_inspiring_philosophy-teaches-us-and-unsettles-us-b_1581048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58a/michael-j-sandel-32311_inspiring_philosophy-teaches-us-and-unsettles-us-b_1581048.jpg) > ““philosophy teaches us and unsettles us by confronting us with what we already know; there's an irony: the difficulty consisted in this course is that it teaches what you already know; it works by taking what we know from familiar and unquestioned settings and making it strange. that's how the examples work. ... philosophy estranges us, not by providing us with new information, but by inviting and provoking a new way of seeing. The risk is once the familiar turns strange it is never quiet the same again. Self-knowledge is like a lost innocence, however unsettling, you find it; it can never be unthought or unknown.”” [Michael J. Sandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sandel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy makes familiar ideas feel strange, prompting deeper self‑knowledge and a lasting shift in perspective. **In simple terms:** Philosophy unsettles us, revealing new ways to see what we already know. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to gain deeper insight. Themes philosophy self‑knowledge perspective discomfort Mood thoughtful provocative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - college courses - personal reflection - therapy - creative brainstorming Key Concepts epistemology critical thinking existential reflection Questions to Reflect On - How does making the familiar strange change your self‑view? - What benefits arise from sustained discomfort? A Different Perspective The unsettling effect may cause anxiety or resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Estranges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-estranges-2476390/) [Philosophy Teaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-teaches-1108035/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) [Teaches Unsettles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaches-unsettles-5972255/) [Unsettles Confronting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unsettles-confronting-5972256/) ## Related quotes > [The God to whom depth in philosophy bring back men's minds is far from being the same from whom a little philosophy estranges them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/the-god-to-whom-depth-in-philosophy-bring-back-men-s-minds-is-far/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [“I had not then learned the philosophy which teaches that he who would attempt enterprises of great command, must begin his government by laying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-reynolds/i-had-not-then-learned-the-philosophy-which-teaches-that-he-who-would/) [William Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-reynolds/) > [Philosophy teaches us to look at the world again. 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