Philosophy involves the mind turning upon itself and becoming explicitly aware of the modes of its own action, which will have been in operation for some time before their philosophical reappropriation.
what does author mean by "philosophical reappropriation"?
Here the term philosophical reappropriation is used to define the moment when one consciously starts to look at his own thoughts and actions from a philosophical perspective. These thoughts/actions may have been in operation for quite some time although in a sub-conscious manner but now the person has decided to view these thoughts through a philosophical lens.
