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What importance do you place on philosophy?

Many times I hear from people "oh, that is just a philosophical argument", using the term "philosophical" in as something bad. I would like to ask, what role do you think philosophy plays in the development of today's society. In ancient Greece, I hope we can all agree on this one, it had an enormous impact, but does it still have an impact today?

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NataliaT · F Best Comment

It's a good question, to which I wish I knew the answer! Quite clearly there have been times in human history when radical thinking has changed the course of that history. We can see that in retrospect: I doubt they saw it at the time.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Samuel Huntington wrote that classic book "The End of History" Great read, and wildly wrong. But I think currently a book entitled "The End of Philosophy" might have a greater longevity. Its arguable that, a little like many aspects of science, where, after the huge advances of the 19th and 20th century, progress, new knowledge, advances in baby steps, and the "know unknowns" become less and less important. It's arguable that the same applies to philosophy: that new thinking is of a diminishing marginal utility.

Just a thought. I tried to study Philosophy via adult education courses three times, and failed abysmally to understand it on each occasion!.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@NataliaT Maybe there is just a little pause in the progress of philosophy, as it was for physics at the end of the 19th century until Einstein came along and later on the quantum physicists broke everything into pieces :).

So I hope there is a new "quantum leap" waiting for us for philosophy as well.

NataliaT · F

You have expressed what I was trying to say very succinctly. But I am much more pessimistic that such a leap is as certain, either scientifically or philosophically!

I am not deluding myself that everything there is to be discovered has been discovered!!! But our understanding of both known unknowns, and even better guessing at unknown unknowns, tends to suggest incremental rather than quantum leaps.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@NataliaT Oh yes, sorry if I sounded so certain about the quantum leap. This is just my wish, not anything that is based on reality :).

I am also very much in favor of incremental growth, but what I have currently is a fear of degradation of knowledge - so maybe I am even more pessimistic in reality than you are :)

Sicarium · 46-50, M

It still has a major role, but most people don't realize it. It's, ultimately, the source of the various cultural conflicts going on in the West. Few people seem willing to actually think through beliefs and where those beliefs come from. But if they did, they'd see they're living the various philosophies.

DDonde · 31-35, M

@Sicarium Yep. It's almost impossible to avoid. We take a lot of ideas about how society should be for granted sometimes.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@Sicarium that is more or less exactly how I feel, that is why I asked the question. I feel that people are not aware enough of the importance of philosophy.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@DDonde definitely, that benefits the current politicians, since the established elites do not want people to notice that there are other options :). Sorry, maybe this sounded a bit "conspiracy theory", I am not going in that direction :).

Miram · 31-35, F

Yesterday's philosophy is in every aspect of life. It is the basis of all human sciences and ethics.

But today philosophers seem to be expected to follow rigid intellectual rules or face being ridiculed by the assumed cognoscenti. By it's very nature, philosophy must have no social boundaries or it is self-defeating. It is by pushing beyond them that it helps us develop as species.

The day we define and thereby restrict philosophy is the day that philosophy admits to being moribund.

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sumojumo · 36-40, M

@Miram No, the ones imposed by the society of course not. But those imposed by the fact that there is quackery. Isn't that a legitimate reason to follow certain rules?

Miram · 31-35, F

@sumojumo That's a different topic. I consider all idealism quackery and the products are still a part of the body of knowledge.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@Miram hm, well I am sure our views would diverge at a certain point if we focused on classifying what is quackery and what is not :). But I am also sure that there is a huge body of "philosophers" that we would both acknowledge the quackery. And I think it is more productive to focus on those first.

The main thing that I want to expose in this discussion is the fact that there is objective truth, and that some things are objectively crap. I think that I am so eager to deliver this message because of the current anti-science movements, which present themselves as "alternative". Of course, we might have a discussion on the methodology of establishing what is the truth, but again, not every opinion on this is equally valid.

Ryannnnnn · 31-35, M

I think it does more for the individual than it does for society as a whole, though we are a society of individuals. It takes the form of critical thinking today i think. It's good to have awareness of your actions in relation to your values, and to be able to question those values and see if you or others are consistent or trustworthy.

It had more of an impact back then I think because their societies were heavily based in religion and mythical beliefs, so it was pretty revolutionary for the time to think outside of the gods.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@Ryannnnnn So you live in a more secular society? Because I do too, so we probably have a similar view. But I also think that in some societies the mythical beliefs are still the most prevailing factor, so philosophy has still A LOT of work. I am completely baffled by the discrepancy between certain societies (and sometimes even in the same society). In the sense that some societies are in the realms of Daniel Dennet (i.e. modern intellectualism), and some societies have not even left the caves yet - I do not want to degrade anyone, i am talking solely from the viewpoint of the philosophical thinking.

SillySpyro · 26-30, F

Philosophy is definitely something worth teaching. It's not about seeing the bigger picture it's about seeing the person taking the picture and why. It's almost getting really meta. Like breaking the fourth wall so to speak. Like going to the moon. People never thought it was possible to do so and when we started to, people started to ask why. What's the point? What's there that we want? Philosophy is kinda like a... building block of sort to scientific thought. Ask why you would do it and then start to make plans to actually do it. Interesting thing really

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@SillySpyro I would start with epistemology in primary school... the problem is that currently teachers are not suited for the job.

valobasa4ever · F

My Philosophy is simple Live earn and pay taxes regular basis . That's it.

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valobasa4ever · F

@sumojumo And Im a great netizen too ;-)

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@valobasa4ever Nobody can deny that :D, you are the champion we should all look up to 😘

valobasa4ever · F

DDonde · 31-35, M

I would say it's important for your own personal development.

sumojumo · 36-40, M

@DDonde So the change for the society comes "bottom-up", whereas in the history it was "top-down", since the main revolutions were held by certain philosophies?

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sumojumo · 36-40, M

@SW-User Often this term "masturbation for the mind" is just used as a derogatory term. But don't you think that exercises in thinking are just as important as the real deal (I mean "real" thinking) ;).

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