philosophy is for everyone philosophers should know lots On the
Question of Questions by Stephen Lewis Russell's dictum that "in
philosophy, what is important is not so much the answers that
are given, but rather the questions that are asked" is often
cited but less often explored. As usually given (and as
reproduced here), the final clause is, in fact, ambiguous.
Questions are not important in and of themselves, as might be
uncritically assumed, but because of the way they can be
constructed: either well or poorly. Questions have the ability
both to reveal and to conceal. Their importance does not lie in
the mere fact that they can be asked but that those asked should
be asked appropriately. Thus, from this dictum, we have an
indirect description of a key role played by philosophers:
posing questions and posing them properly. As human beings, our
fundamental relationship with the world is one of wonder and
puzzlement. Questions about what surrounds us seem to come
freely and naturally. As a result, it appear