On Non-Academic Philosophy

The article explores the problem of the existence of philosophy outside academic institutions in a contemporary context. Three key forms of philosophy are identified: everyday philosophy as a spontaneous worldview; academic (educational and institutional) philosophy; and genuine philosophy, which can exist both inside and outside the academy. The main thesis of the article is that the essence of philosophy is determined not by its institutional status, but by the quality of thought – rigor, depth of inquiry, and connection with life experience. The author analyzes the risks of philosophy: for the academy, scholasticism and abstractness; for the non-academic sphere, it is superficiality and the substitution of philosophy with pseudo-intellectual surrogates. Thus, philosophy should avoid extremes, both the snobbery of the academic elite and populist simplification. As a solution, the principle of philosophical mastery is proposed, synthesizing the study of classical texts, critical reflection, and ethical responsibility. It is emphasized that the Digital Age promotes the dissemination of non-academic philosophy (blogs, online courses), but does not eliminate the need to preserve its high-quality content core.