Philosophy and Chess

My philosophy tutor, David Efird, likes to say that doing philosophy is like playing chess.

In chess, you make your opening move and wait for your opponent to make his. Then you reply to his move and wait for him to reply to your reply. Sooner or later, you reach the end of established theory. At this point, you evaluate the position thus far and come up with a move of your own.

In philosophy, you present your opening argument and wait for your opponent to present his. Then you reply to his argument and wait for him to reply to your reply. Sooner or later, you reach the end of established literature. At this point, you evaluate the discourse thus far and come up with an argument of your own.

The difference between philosophy and chess is what is at stake. In chess, one wrong move and the worst that can happen is that you lose the game. It is hardly a matter of life and death. In philosophy, one wrong move and the worst that can happen is that you lose your knowledge of things from a Christian perspective, lose your knowledge of God and ultimately lose your soul.

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Of course, true faith is faith which perseveres until the end.

"They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us." - 1 John 2:19 (NIV)