Wannamaker Summary - Chapter 2

Chapter Summary Of The Philosophy Of Freedom
Olin D. Wannamaker

Chapter 2 The Desire For Knowledge
We can best begin our inquiry into this initial problem --the cause of thinking and its nature-- by asking what compels us to seek for knowledge. Introspection answers this question. The search for knowledge is due to the feeling innate in the human being that he belongs to the world and yet is separated from it. We seek for a bridge to reunite us with the world. Introspection reveals that it is our own consciousness which creates the contrast between the self and the world, and yet also senses at the same time that we belong together.

This fact indicates clearly that there must be some element within us which belongs also to the world, and that, if we find this element, we will have found the bridge to unite the human being with the world.

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