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In general, there is an unavoidable antithesis between philosophizing and categorizing. Though it is possible to consider knowledge without distinctions in a meditative state, to discuss or study any knowledge requires at least one distinction into at least two categories: The more general the context, the fewer the required distinctions. To communicate any thought, no matter how deep or shallow that thought might be, it is necessary to distinguish the context, perspective, and purpose for making whatever distinctions are made. In common discourse, those participating have a common understanding of the applicable distinctions so that they need not, and usually are not, stated explicitly: They are understood. However, in philosophy, where an attempt is made to understand the source, and to verify the validity, of the distinctions that are made, it is frequently required to state - explicitly - what assumptions the usually 'obvious' distinctions contain implicitly. Though any distinctions that are made are somewhat arbitrary, can be questioned, and made from different perspectives, especially in philosophy, there is some common ground and understanding so that most philosophy forums use very similar categories.
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