A shout out for ἀπορία

One of my favourite experiences when studying philosophy is that state of confused potential which the Greeks called ἀπορία [aporia]. Socrates reckoned that a good dose of aporia could be likened to the labour pains you experience when giving birth to wisdom.

Before causing too much confusion myself, I ought to explain exactly why I feel being confused can be a good thing.

Aporia is an important experience to have now and then, because it means you end up considering things from a new angle, perhaps seeing a new way around a previously insurmountable paradox. If you haven’t felt the pull or puzzlement of a paradox, you won’t be inspired down a new path.That is, provided you get beyond the confusion eventually.

One way to make sure you get past confusion and onto wisdom is by allowing yourself to get confused in the first place. So often these days we hear the injunction ‘just Google it’, where typing a search query is preferred to asking someone, or, heaven forbid, trying to work it out yourself.

In my BA studies, I found that the ‘instant answer’ nature of online resources has crept into academic work, too. With JSTOR and other resources, I could chase up a reference without stepping away from my desk. An impressive development, but not without its dangers. Unless you are careful, you can fall into the trap of piling up unread secondary literature without adequately reflecting on the main piece you set out to read in the first place.

Another pitfall I encounter when studying is the temptation to begin writing too soon. Getting words on the page feels helpful, but it can be a mistake to pull the plug on your ἀπορία bath too soon, before you really have a grip on the problem. Stay confused a bit longer – you might learn something.