Introduction to Poem “Philosophy” :
Poem “Philosophy” is one of Nissim Ezekiel’s reflective and introspective poems in which he explores the nature of poetry, thought, and human understanding. Written in Ezekiel’s characteristically simple yet penetrating style, the poem examines how abstract ideas, philosophical questions, and everyday experiences often collide in the poet’s mind. Rather than offering rigid answers, Ezekiel presents poetry as a space where uncertainties, contradictions, and evolving thoughts can coexist.
The poem highlights Ezekiel’s belief that poetry does not exist merely to solve philosophical problems; instead, it expresses the poet’s ongoing struggle to understand life’s complexities. Through gentle irony and thoughtful self-examination, the poem suggests that true wisdom may lie not in final conclusions but in the honest process of thinking, questioning, and creating.
Poem “Philosophy” appeared in the fourth volume of Nissim Ezekiel’s poetry, titled Exact Name, which came out in 1960. Ezekiel had nurtured a deep interest in philosophical thought for many years. During his stay in England, he often found himself accompanied chiefly by poverty, poetry, and philosophy. In this poem, he ultimately asserts that poetry holds a higher place than philosophy.
Summary of the poem “Philosophy”:
Stanza 1:
There is a place to which I often go,
Not by planning to, but by a flow
Away from all existence, to a cold
Lucidity, whose will is uncontrolled.
Here the mills of God are never slow.
Explanatory Word – Meanings:
Place = spot. Here it means Philosophy. Often go=frequently study. Flow= by natural inclination. Lucidity = transparency.
Paraphrase:
In the opening stanza, the poet explains that he often drifts toward the study of philosophy, not through any deliberate plan but simply because he feels drawn to it. Whenever he engages with philosophy, he realises that it carries him far from the world of living beings, for it deals less with life itself and more with intangible concepts. In this realm, ideas chase one another and arguments unfold endlessly. It is like a divine mill that never slows down, allowing discussions on a single philosophical topic to continue indefinitely. This realm feels cold and detached, a place ruled entirely by ideas.
Stanza 2:
The landscape in its geologic prime
Dissolves to show its quintessential slime
A million stars are blotted out. I think
Of each historic passion as a blink
That happened to the sad eye of Time.
Explanatory Word – Meanings:
Landscape= scene. Geologic = of Geology. Prime = primary. Slime = soft. Quintessential = highly refined extract. Blotted out = perished.
Paraphrase:
In the poem’s second stanza, the poet reflects on the rapid passage of time. He explores the enigma of human existence through both philosophical and scientific perspectives. The poet envisions the prehistoric era when human beings had not yet appeared and the earth was still in its earliest form. Yet time continued to move forward. Countless stars and planets emerged and disappeared. Gradually, humanity evolved and advanced.
Human beings are stirred by many emotions and impulses, but these experiences are fleeting when measured against the vastness of infinite time. Viewed on a larger scale, such feelings appear almost trivial. Time is so immense and boundless that every phase of human history seems insignificant beside it. Since the beginning of creation, geology, astronomy, history, and every other field of knowledge become small fragments in the endless stream of time. The poet powerfully conveys the insignificance of human emotions by suggesting that, compared with eternity, they scarcely exist at all. Though this idea may sound intense or even exaggerated, its underlying truth remains undeniable.
Stanza 3:
But residues of meaning still remain,
As darkest myths meander through the pain
Towards a final formula of light.
I, too, reject that clarity of sight:
What cannot be explained, do not explain.
Explanatory Word – Meanings:
Residues = remaining. Meander = perplexity.
Paraphrase:
Science and philosophy may illuminate much of our world, yet a vast realm still resists their explanations. They shed light on many dimensions of human behaviour and experience, but certain shadowed myths and concealed truths lie far beyond their grasp. These mysteries remain hidden, untouched by logic or analysis. To approach them, we require a deeper kind of understanding—one that reason alone cannot supply. This is the wisdom poetry offers. Where argument reaches its limits, poetry steps in. Philosophers often conclude that some truths lie outside human comprehension and see no purpose in pursuing them further, but poetry keeps those questions alive.
Stanza 4:
The mundane language of the senses sings
Its own interpretations. Common things
Become, by virtue of their commonness,
An argument against the nakedness
That dies of cold to find the truth it brings.
Explanatory Word – Meanings:
Mundane = earthly. Interpretation = explanation.
Paraphrase:
The role of poetry stands apart. Its supremacy over philosophy is powerfully conveyed in the final stanza. Poetry speaks in the language of human emotion. Like philosophy, it may express itself in tones both intense and subdued, yet its words awaken our senses and feelings. It sheds light on truths that lie beyond the grasp of science and philosophy—truths they often dismiss as mere myths shrouded in darkness.
Poetry examines simple, everyday things through the lens of human relationships, and in this it surpasses philosophy. Abstract ideas are lifeless and cold—like a man stripped bare—and therefore offer little value. Poetry, on the other hand, is warmed by human connection. It becomes a source of vitality and understanding.
Critical Analysis of the Poem “Philosophy”:
Introduction:
“Philosophy” reads like a contemplative poem. In the opening stanza, the poet reveals his deep affection for philosophy, suggesting that his attraction to it is instinctive. He has always felt drawn to philosophical thought, and during his days in London, Philosophy, Poetry, and Poverty were his constant companions, sharing the cramped basement room with him. Thus, he approaches philosophy not through deliberate intention but almost unconsciously—just as naturally as water finds its way downward.
He acknowledges that the philosophical realm is ruled by ideas. One idea leads to another, and every argument unfolds into fresh possibilities. Whenever he immerses himself in philosophy, he feels lifted out of the ordinary world of human experience. It is a cool, detached realm where the thinker enjoys boundless freedom to explore and articulate thoughts. Because philosophy deals chiefly with abstractions, the poet likens it to the mills of God—ceaselessly grinding, endlessly at work. This metaphor captures the true nature of philosophers and their discipline: a pursuit centered on ideas rather than on the practical realities of everyday life.
The Poet’s Making A Survey of Time:
In the poem’s second stanza, the poet briefly reflects on the vastness of time, suggesting that when measured against eternity, all things—including individual subjects and human emotions—lose their significance. This stanza, however, feels somewhat detached from the poem’s central philosophical theme. The poet does not clearly explain how the boundlessness of time is meant to connect with his main philosophical argument. As a result, the reference to human passion and infinite time appears somewhat unrelated to the core discussion.
Limitations of Philosophers and Scientists:
In the third stanza, the poet highlights the shortcomings of philosophers and scientists, noting that although they can clarify much, there are still countless mysteries they cannot grasp. When thinkers find themselves unable to resolve a question, they often end the debate by claiming that some truths lie outside human understanding and are not worth pursuing further.
Superiority of Poetry over Philosophy:
In the final stanza, the poet asserts the dominance of poetry over philosophy, noting that poetry engages directly with the simple, everyday realities of human existence. Where philosophy and science fall short, poetry offers clarity, illuminating what they cannot explain. It explores the bonds between people, speaking in the voice of genuine human emotion and carrying the warmth of lived experience.
Style of the Poem:
The poem unfolds in a structured, almost argumentative manner, engaging with ideas that are subtle and intellectually demanding. Its language itself is not complex; rather, it is the depth and intricacy of the concepts explored that make it one of Ezekiel’s more challenging works. Even so, the poet succeeds in demonstrating the greater imaginative power of poetry when compared with philosophy or science. The poem also reveals that Ezekiel is not confined to light or trivial themes—he is equally capable of addressing weighty and substantial subjects.
