Q0490
“To philosophize is to be on the way.” — Karl Jaspers (Way to Wisdom / Introduction to…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Way to Wisdom / Introduction to Philosophy. Theme: inquiry.
English
To philosophize is to be on the way.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Way to Wisdom / Introduction to Philosophy and files it under Existentialism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Karl Jaspers
Karl Jaspers (1883–1969) was a German psychiatrist-turned-existential philosopher who taught at Heidelberg and later Basel. General Psychopathology professionalized descriptive psychiatry; philosophical works treat freedom, communication, and transcendence.
How to read this passage
Socratic elenchus, scientific method, and pragmatist experimentalism treat inquiry as self-correcting. The ethics of inquiry asks for intellectual honesty. This passage enters that discussion through inquiry.
Concepts in this quote
- Inquiry
- Inquiry is the disciplined pursuit of better questions and answers—philosophy as method rather than dogma.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Karl Jaspers. (n.d.). To philosophize is to be on the way. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0490
MLA: Karl Jaspers. “To philosophize is to be on the way..” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0490.
Chicago: Karl Jaspers. “To philosophize is to be on the way..” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0490.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “To philosophize is to be on the way.”?
The passage is attributed to Karl Jaspers, Way to Wisdom / Introduction to Philosophy. The archive attributes this English wording to Way to Wisdom / Introduction to Philosophy and files it under Existentialism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Karl Jaspers mean by inquiry?
Socratic elenchus, scientific method, and pragmatist experimentalism treat inquiry as self-correcting. The ethics of inquiry asks for intellectual honesty. This passage enters that discussion through inquiry.