Practice Passage Test - 12 | Practice Passages for MCAT PDF Download

The following essay explores the concept of philosophy as an "immanent practice," as described by French philosopher Gilles Deleuze. This practice stands in contrast to philosophies that aim to transcend or go beyond life. Deleuze argues that thought is a form of creation rather than a pursuit of absolute truth. In this context, Buddhism is not considered a philosophy because it does not operate with the idea of transcendent states of being, such as the divine or a God. Instead, Buddhism focuses on awakening and experiencing an enlightened consciousness. Buddhist thinking and practices are guided by the pursuit of truth and the demands of an enlightened consciousness. On the other hand, pessimism, as described by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, posits that suffering is the central aspect of life and that happiness is merely the absence of pain. Pessimism aligns with Buddhism in the belief that life is inherently filled with suffering. However, the difference lies in the Buddhist belief that happiness can be attained through following the teachings of the Buddha, whereas pessimism does not hold such a belief. Despite their similarities and differences, the underlying assumptions of both Buddhism and pessimism are questioned, particularly regarding the idea that all humans seek a predefined meaning and that suffering is the primary essence of life. The metaphysical problem arises when comparing the authenticity of pain and suffering versus joy and happiness. The author argues that religions and rigid pessimistic philosophies are less receptive and open because they adhere to a fixed notion of truth. On the other hand, an immanent philosophy, as presented here, remains open to what lies beyond our current knowledge and experience. It acknowledges ignorance and seeks to expand knowledge through questioning. By inventing problems and engaging in philosophical inquiry, one can move beyond pessimism and Buddhism to become a philosopher. The creation of philosophy begins with identifying problems and embracing the unknown, unlike pessimism and Buddhism, which claim to possess absolute truths. The statement in the second paragraph, "Evil is precisely that which is positive," is intended to illustrate that ...