When a guest goes to see a philosopher, then the guest is presenting a
topic, a life-question of one or the other kind; it might be a human problem or
an interest.
The philosophical counselor will then seize the topic by pointing out, that
there only is one answer to the question: the guest must himself look at the
topic, observe and feel the question in an entirely new way, not absent by
seeking an answer through evaluations – that is the old way – but present in
passive listening, just like when you listen to the birds, to classical music,
or to a child.
Only in this way you may create the wonder, the mix of critical
investigation and unprejudiced freedom, which in philosophy is a necessity, if
you shall learn how you, yourself, can think, and discover something new.
And by seeing the things as they are, then the answer perhaps will come
to you.