The shape of thinking to come

‘There is no consciousness without philosophising, just as there is no philosophising without consciousness, and we are all philosophers at heart.’ Benjamin Davies

By any account, The Shape of Knowledge: An introduction to paraphilosophy by Benjamin Davies (Iff Books, September, 2023), is a remarkable work, profound and far-reaching in its philosophical, psychological, and indeed, existential implications.

It’s the result of nearly a decade of ‘study, struggle, and striving’, and, I might say, of notable critical sagacity, and Davies hopes it will provide some value to the world, this, he says, having been his intention from the outset.

Claiming boldly that paraphilosophy heralds the end of traditional philosophy, Davies suggests a turning point in human understanding is at hand, and he provides a cogent, painstakingly argued 350 pages to explain why he thinks so. Although one can’t help but sense he has a formidable edifice to scale, his work really ought to be taken on board by the academic philosophical community.

So what is paraphilosophy — and what’s wrong with philosophy today that it should now crumble? ‘Paraphilosophy is neither a theory nor…