Raymond Tallis says mystery is the heart of philosophy.
https://philosophynow.org/issues/125/Problems_and_Mysteries
Problems & Mysteries
Re: Problems & Mysteries
I found this was a really useful article, as it provoked in me a lot of thought about the purpose of philosophy.
And, for me, the point of doing philosophy is for it to be useful. It is about finding some answers, and not just defining problems. Or, at least, only defining problems because that helps.
I felt that this article was useful in setting out a case for philosophy as an end in itself, and at the same time communicating how unsatisfying that would be.
There has to be a point to it. The only reason to examine life is to make it better. A life lived without a pressing desire to be examined is probably a life that's working well already. An examined life is probably one yearning for improvement, and hoping that conscious understanding with reveal a way of doing that.
And, for me, the point of doing philosophy is for it to be useful. It is about finding some answers, and not just defining problems. Or, at least, only defining problems because that helps.
I felt that this article was useful in setting out a case for philosophy as an end in itself, and at the same time communicating how unsatisfying that would be.
There has to be a point to it. The only reason to examine life is to make it better. A life lived without a pressing desire to be examined is probably a life that's working well already. An examined life is probably one yearning for improvement, and hoping that conscious understanding with reveal a way of doing that.