"Considered subjectively, philosophy always begins in the middle, like an epic poem"
- Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
About this Quote
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel's quote recommends that philosophy is not a direct procedure, however rather a cyclical one. It suggests that viewpoint is not a direct progression from one indicate another, however rather a continuous cycle of ideas and concepts. This idea is similar to the principle of the "eternal return" in which the exact same occasions and ideas are duplicated in a limitless cycle. Schlegel's quote suggests that approach is not a linear process, but rather a constant cycle of concepts and ideas that are constantly being re-examined and re-evaluated. This idea is more strengthened by the contrast to an impressive poem, which is typically composed of numerous stories and characters that are linked and repeated throughout the poem. By comparing approach to an impressive poem, Schlegel is suggesting that philosophy is a complex and ever-evolving process that is constantly being re-examined and re-evaluated.