This text explores reflection as the defining characteristic of philosophical inquiry, while noting that reflection alone is insufficient for the establishment of philosophy. Philosophy emerges through the invention of concepts, which introduced a drive for systematicity, a focus on fundamental principles, and a radical distinction between appearance and true reality. The author identifies three essential traits of any genuine philosophy: its systematic nature, its focus on principles, and its radicality. However, the text warns against the risks of esoteric abstraction that neglects concrete reality. While various forms of empiricism attempted to address this, they often relied on artificially constructed foundations. The proposed remedy lies in a deeper, more extensive reflection that re-examines the very basis of experiential approaches. Ultimately, the author calls for a renewal of the dialogue between major traditions of European thought based on a new formulation of problems, while challenging Heidegger's conception of language by arguing that meaning cannot be reduced to the mere mechanical assembly of signs or the external addition of logos.