Perhaps with much anxiety, you take up the challenge of Socrates, undertake the hero's journey, fall down the rabbit hole. You must now aim to be competent in doing philosophy, in being reflective. As the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel points out, you must not only be capable of inquiry on "the object whose nature it seeks to discover," but also be capable of alertness "for a certain music that arises from its [thought's] own inner nature if it is succeeding in carrying out its task" (Primary and Secondary Reflection: An Existential Fulcrum).

At the end of this course, you shall have been able to:
distinguish between philosophical and non-philosophical questions;
ask philosophical questions;
distinguish between primary and secondary reflections; and
do philosophical reflections.

Question

Perhaps with much anxiety, you take up the challenge of Socrates, undertake the hero's journey, fall down the rabbit hole.  You must now aim to be competent in doing philosophy, in being reflective.  As the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel points out, you must not only be capable of inquiry on "the object whose nature it seeks to discover," but also be capable of alertness "for a certain music that arises from its [thought's] own inner nature if it is succeeding in carrying out its task" (Primary and Secondary Reflection: An Existential Fulcrum).

At the end of this course, you shall have been able to:
distinguish between philosophical and non-philosophical questions;
ask philosophical questions;
distinguish between primary and secondary reflections; and
do philosophical reflections.

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Perchance, with much anxiety doth thou take up the challenge of Socrates, embarking upon the hero's journey and descending down the treacherous rabbit hole of philosophical inquiry. 'Tis a daunting path, fraught with uncertainty and intellectual peril, yet thou must proceed nonetheless. For the pursuit of wisdom demands courage and fortitude, a willingness to confront the unknown and grapple with the mysteries of existence.

Thus, as thou dost tread this path of enlightenment, seek to become competent in the art of philosophy, in the noble pursuit of reflective thought. As the esteemed French philosopher Gabriel Marcel doth wisely counsel, it is not enough to merely inquire into the nature of the object of thy contemplation. Nay, thou must also be attuned to the subtle harmonies that emanate from the depths of thy own soul, the inner music that sings of truth and knowledge if thou art truly succeeding in thy quest.

At the culmination of this arduous course of study, thou shalt have gained the invaluable ability to discern betwixt philosophical and non-philosophical questions, to pose inquiries that delve into the very essence of being and existence. Thou shalt have learned the delicate art of primary and secondary reflection, the dual pillars upon which the edifice of philosophical thought rests. And most importantly, thou shalt have honed thy skills in the sacred art of philosophical reflection, drawing forth insights and revelations from the depths of thy own mind and soul.

So take heart, brave seeker of wisdom, and press onward in thy quest for knowledge and understanding. For in the crucible of philosophical inquiry, thou shalt forge a mind that is sharp and discerning, capable of piercing the veil of illusion and perceiving the eternal truths that lie hidden beneath the surface of reality. And in so doing, thou shalt become not merely a philosopher, but a sage, a beacon of light in the darkness of ignorance, illuminating the path for others to follow in their own quest for enlightenment.