This course examines a range of philosophical discussions of the nature of philosophy, such as Socrates’ “Apology,” Descartes’ “Meditations on First Philosophy,” Kant’s “What is Enlightenment?,” Dummett on analytic philosophy and systematicity, Laozi and Zhuangzi on the dao, and Deleuze and Guattari’s definition of philosophy as the "invention of concepts." We will trace the relationship between a philosopher’s vision of philosophy, their method and style of inquiry, argument and analysis, and their ontology (understanding of the nature of being). No philosophical knowledge is assumed in the course. Emphasis will be on class discussion and debate of students’ interpretations of the texts. The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the origins and diversity of different approaches to the generation, interpretation, and critique of ideas. The course also aims to develop skills in interpretation, analysis and argument by putting these approaches into practice in class. The course is team-taught by UNSW scholars with expertise in the philosophers chosen for discussion. It provides invaluable background in the art of thinking and, hence, in research methods for text-based research projects.