History Main / ThePhilosopher

Many people find this type of character to be annoying or heavy-handed, but keep in mind [[TropesAreNotBad that this trope is not, intrinsically, a bad thing]]. When written well, this character can give another layer of importance, or meaning, to the overall story. When done sloppily, however, this can fall into FauxlosophicNarration, which can often contain an overload of SesquipedalianLoquaciousness. When writing about people like this, tread carefully, for it can be a very fine line.

* Classic literary example: Dr. Pangloss in Voltaire's ''Literature/{{Candide}}''. His insistence that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" leads his faithful student Candide to wonder [[CrapsackWorld how horrible the other worlds could be]].

* ''Film/StealingHeaven'': Abelard, who is a famous teacher at the University of Paris. Héloïse is to a lesser degree too, with her questions impressing him. In reality, they were both renowned philosophers, and their work is still read, with lasting influence.

* [[GeniusBruiser Ham]] in the ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' books is prone to annoying his friends by constantly musing about philosophical questions at them. His favorite victims are [[DeadpanSnarker Breeze]] and [[spoiler:Lord Cett]], because [[VitriolicBestBuds they always argue with him]].
** It doesn't go unnoticed by the characters, though, that he is more fond of posing philosophical questions than actually trying to answer them, and it is implied at various points that he is not as genuinely philosophical as he first appears- most notably, when Vin gives a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Kelsier and the crew about how, since they are all wealthy and well-off [[GentlemanThief gentlemen thieves]], their lives and experiences are as far removed from the harsh realities of Skaa life as can be and their devotion to the cause of Skaa liberation is more than a little shallow; Ham, alone of the crew it appears, seems to act like she [[CompletelyMissingThePoint had just spoke in a foreign language]] and doesn't understand what she was talking about.

* [[TheDragon Ishamael]] from ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' is a very creepy villainous version. Once he was Elan Morin Tedronai, one of the most respected philosophical minds of the Age of Legends, but as he delved deeper into esoteric knowledge he became aware of [[EternalRecurrance the true nature of time]] and was driven into despair and madness, feeling that nothing anyone did could ever matter in such a world. He proceeded to ally with [[GodOfEvil the Dark One]], at first because if everything was meaningless he might as well grab power, but later as his evil began to weigh increasingly heavily on him, he decided it would be best to [[DeathSeeker end his own existence]]- and [[OmnicidalManiac all existence]] while he was at it. He remains prone to waxing philosophical and theological to the end; the other [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Forsaken]] think he's a madman as a result, though it's more a case of his interests being esoteric beyond their ability (or desire) to follow.
** Later in the series, [[TheChosenOne Rand]] also wrestles with nihilism in a very similar way, but comes to [[TheAntiNihilist the opposite conclusions]], showing that he has surpassed Ishamael at his own game.

* ''Film/StealingHeaven'': Abelard, who is a famous teacher at the University of Paris. Héloïse is to a lesser degree too, with her questions impressing him. In reality, they were both renowned philosophers, and their work is still read, with lasting influence.

* Besides the regular {{God}}-gazing sinners and saints of ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'', a sphere in Heaven is dedicated to those who in life embodied wisdom and knowledge of God. This includes the likes of Doctor Thomas Aquinas, Saint Francis, Saint Dominic, and the many scholars and writers from the history of UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}} up to 1300.

-->'''Woland''': "Would you remove all trees and living things from the world to realise your fantasy of basking in naked light?"

'''Dole Office Clerk:''' Oh, a bullshit artist.

* ''Webcomic/OutThere'': The whole cast occasionally takes turns playing this role.
* [[SmellySkunk Andy]] from ''Webcomic/HodgesPond''.

Compare TheFatalist. The WarriorPoet may have aspects of this... Indeed, if the Philosopher holds his own in combat, they'll often overlap. He may also be an EruditeStoner. If he holds a position of power, he would be a [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]].

* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'': Galatea uses alien tech to create a superhuman artificial intelligence -- and is then dismayed to find that he's more concerned with abstract philosophical questions than any of the tasks she wanted him to do.

* ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'': Galatea uses alien tech to create a superhumanly intelligent artificial intelligence -- and is then dismayed to find that he's more concerned with abstract philosophical questions than any of the tasks she wanted him to do.

* Chris Stevens spun many philosophical musings between records on ''NorthernExposure.''

* These characters are staples of the films of MamoruOshii, at times taking up the majority of the cast.

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* Classic literary example: Dr. Pangloss in Voltaire's ''Literature/{{Candide}}''. His insistence that "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" leads his faithful student Candide to wonder [[CrapsackWorld how horrible the other worlds could be]].
* Most of the characters in ''Literature/TheBrothersKaramazov'' do their fair bit of philosophizing when any topics subject to an AuthorTract come up in polite conversation, but Ivan Karamazov and Father Zosima come across most strongly as the Philosopher in their discussions with the protagonist.
* Pierre Bezukhov falls into this characterization often in ''Literature/WarAndPeace'', and is made more tragic in that he attempts to enact his ideals on the real world only to be deceived into thinking he's making a difference.

* Marco Polo and Kublai Khan in ''Literature/InvisibleCities'', who spend most of their time sitting around and talking about cities rather than trading and ruling, respectively.

* ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'' is full of them. However, special mentions goes to the Three Deep Thinkers, leaders of the Star Cloister of Ghigam, who head an entire order to monks who are dedicated to knowledge and the discovery of the secrets of Fantastica.
* In Creator/RobertEHoward's "Literature/TheTowerOfTheElephant" Literature/ConanTheBarbarian remembers listening to their disputes. He was unimpressed. When he references them again in a later story, though, he has [[CharacterDevelopment grown more respectful of them]], probably because he himself had had his share of experiences with [[EldritchAbomination the things]] of which they spoke.

* [[GeniusBruiser Ham]] in the ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' books is prone to annoying his friends by constantly musing about philosophical questions at them. His favorite victims are [[DeadpanSnarker Breeze]] and [[spoiler:Lord Cett]], because [[VitriolicBestBuds they always argue with him]].
** It doesn't go unnoticed by the characters, though, that he is more fond of posing philosophical questions than actually trying to answer them, and it is implied at various points that he is not as genuinely philosophical as he first appears- most notably, when Vin gives a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Kelsier and the crew about how, since they are all wealthy and well-off [[GentlemanThief gentlemen thieves]], their lives and experiences are as far removed from the harsh realities of Skaa life as can be and their devotion to the cause of Skaa liberation is more than a little shallow; Ham, alone of the crew it appears, seems to act like she [[CompletelyMissingThePoint had just spoke in a foreign language]] and doesn't understand what she was talking about.

* Professor Narayan Godbole from ''Literature/APassageToIndia''.
* There's also the philosophy professor from ''Literature/DecisionOfFate'', who spends the first third or so of the short story giving a lecture on [[SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVsFate fate]].

* ''Literature/AlienInASmallTown:'' both protagonists, the human woman and the StarfishAlien, would qualify as this. Part of why they are such close friends is that they're the only people with whom they can engage in conversations like this.

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* One of the most magnificent scenes in anime displays one of this in ''Anime/HellsingUltimate''. Captain Bernadotte's late grandfather displays not just a magnificently directed and executed speech in his brief scene of origin, but in the same time showers tropes with everithing it touches on; Grandpa is a [[ThePhilosopher philosopher]] who probably [[TheMeaningOfLife set the entirety of Bernadotte's life expectations down]] in a GoldenMoment of many levels. Grandba is being [[CruelToBeKind painfully truthful]] with his grandson, and tells him [[ChronicVillainy why eight generations of their family were mercenaries, and also, why will he be one as well.]] With his speech grandpa also turns out to be the, and describes himself, the family as [[CompleteMonster the scum of society]] while foreshadows the same for Bernadotte. Grandpa goes over a whole range of [[MoralDilemma moral dillemmas]] that could probably give him and the family an excuse, but then throws all of those out, deeming [[HumansAreBastards any people acting based on any of the mentioned morals as just a bunch of clueless folks who would be okay with chump change that could give them basic comfort, thus averting them from killing eachother]]. At this point, [[AtLeastIAdmitIt being honest about only fighting for money]] already seems like [[AboveGoodAndEvil an almost positive feat, but at least it elevates the mercenary family and company out of the clueless masses]]. But Grandpa tops everything off by stating, [[CodeOfHonour deliberately choosing their profession and sticking to it]], is understandably frowned upon by others, so Bernadotte is left alone to deal with the [[RousseauWasRight peer pressure in either direction]] but [[IAmWhatIAm calmly, and seemingly comfortably]] [[KnewItAllAlong claims the inevitable]].

* Sostratos in ''Literature/OverTheWineDarkSea'' is this. He is an amateur of course and his job was as an IntrepidMerchant. Though when you think about it a number of famous philosophers were "dabblers" held jobs that had little relation to philosophy. Socrates was a farmer and Marcus Aurlerius was an Emperor and Creator/CSLewis was a Literature professor and so on.
** Not surprising, since, except for philosophy professors and the now-obsolete job of court philosopher, no one is going to pay you to sit around and philosophize. Viewed economically, even full-time sages have the "job" of beggar or monastery factotum.
*** There is still the job of Philosophy Professor.

** It doesn't go unnoticed by the characters, though, that he is more fond of posing philosophical questions than actually trying to answer them, and it is implied at various pointa that he is not as genuinelly philosophical as he first appears- most notably, when Vin gives a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Kelsier and the crew about how, since they are all wealthy and well-off [[GentlemanThief gentlemen thieves]], their lives and experiences are as far removed from the harsh realities of Skaa life as can be and their devotion to the cause of Skaa liberation is more than a little shallow; Ham, alone of the crew it appears, seems to act like she [[CompletelyMissingThePoint had just spoke in a foreign language]] and doesn't understand what she was talking about.

* There are a worrying amount of philosophers in the ''{{Pokemon}}'' games -- every third person you meet will wax lyrical about the nature and origin of Pokemon and the right way to train them. Most of these musings are useless, but some provide a clue as to what you should do next, or hint at a secret location.

* Wobbly Headed Bob in the works of JhonenVasquez is an example of the tragic philosopher, an incredibly intelligent and enlightened individual trapped in a land of happy-go-lucky morons.

* A surprising number of these moments can be can be found in the film ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'', first with Conan's father (whose speech becomes a [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Sword]]), and later in various conversations with Subotai.

* In Creator/RobertEHoward's "Literature/TheTowerOfTheElephant" ConanTheBarbarian remembers listening to their disputes. He was unimpressed. When he references them again in a later story, though, he has [[CharacterDevelopment grown more respectful of them]], probably because he himself had had his share of experiences with [[EldritchAbomination the things]] of which they spoke.