When it comes to philosophy book lists, there is a tendency to recommend the same ones over and over again. However, it is not the materials that need preparation, but our mentality when approaching them. We should not adopt a mindset of “I’ll read this material and then I’ll understand philosophy,” or “As long as I read enough good materials and get a good score on the test, I’ve learned philosophy.” Rather, we should approach philosophy with a mentality of exploration.

A cow is chewing grass in a field. In the background, there is a large library with books on philosophy. The caption reads: 'Philosophy is like cows eating grass. First the grass is chewed and stored in the stomach. It will take endless time in the future to slowly ruminate and digest it. What goes in does not count, only what is digested after rumination counts.'

What is the difference? Those who explore philosophy with an open mind do not believe that they understand it simply because they have finished reading certain materials. Those who “study philosophy,” on the other hand, cannot be satisfied until they feel that they have pinned on the red flower of “understanding a little philosophy.”

In the end, those who explore philosophy gain far more than those who simply study it. Those who study philosophy often fail to gain any real benefits, and may even develop significant flaws in their personality, social skills, and cognitive abilities.

A cow is standing in a field, looking up at a tree with branches that are full of different colored leaves. The leaves represent different philosophical concepts, such as love, truth, and freedom. The caption reads: 'Philosophy is a journey of exploration. We can learn from the wisdom of others, but we must ultimately find our own way.'

Philosophy is like a cow eating grass. First, the cow chews the grass and stores it in its stomach. It then takes a long time for the cow to ruminate and digest the grass. What matters is not how much grass the cow eats, but how much it is able to digest.

The greatest harm to Chinese people studying philosophy is the subconscious worship of “classic works” and “mainstream views” caused by the intense need for unified thought that has been predetermined by our historical circumstances. Philosophy is closely related to theology and ethics, and it is impossible to separate the three. Political science, law, and sociology are the flesh and bone born of ethics. The depth of political correctness involved in these things has already penetrated deep into the soul of the Chinese philosophy education system, and has become so internalized that it is no longer noticed or talked about.

A cow is lying down in a field, chewing its cud. The cud represents the philosophical ideas that we have ruminated on and digested. The caption reads: "The greatest benefit of philosophy is not the knowledge we gain, but the way it changes our minds and hearts."

Even now, after a few generations, some academic leaders have begun to only talk about issues above the second floor, with the attitude that “those questions already have definite answers.” I am not criticizing this as being wrong or bad. Frankly speaking, this is the inevitable fate that history has assigned to China. It cannot be seen as any kind of “conspiracy” or “academic misconduct.”