Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

For all things philosophical.

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simplicity
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Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by simplicity »

If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there [although it can point in the correct direction]. I don't know about the rest of you, but in my experience, the intellectual folks are almost always over there in the corner hiding from just about everything [that matters].

The intellect is a wonderful tool for practical matters, but as a portal to something beyond getting the toast right, the intellect has little to nothing to offer.
Veritas Aequitas
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by Veritas Aequitas »

simplicity wrote: Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:28 pm If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there [although it can point in the correct direction]. I don't know about the rest of you, but in my experience, the intellectual folks are almost always over there in the corner hiding from just about everything [that matters].

The intellect is a wonderful tool for practical matters, but as a portal to something beyond getting the toast right, the intellect has little to nothing to offer.
The above depend on how you defined 'what is philosophy'.
In the above you confined 'philosophy' to intellectualizing, which realistically is not philosophy-proper.
I agree intellect alone [philosophy to you] is limited without its interaction/complementarity with the practical.

The etymological origin of 'what is philosophy' is 'the love of wisdom' and we should revert back to this original definition instead of insisting on is bastardized definition.

The etymological origin of 'what is science' is 'to know' i.e. acquire knowledge which it to be combined with experience into philosophy, i.e. love of wisdom. i.e. optimal application of knowledge.
This 'love of wisdom' must be for some purpose, i.e. for the well being of the individual and humanity.
So 'philosophy' as intended originally is 'your friend'.

There are many who take philosophy as a way of life which is implied to be done in an effective positive manner, so cannot be negative, e.g. Pierre Hadot and others.
https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Way-L ... 0631180338

It is stated there are as many definitions of 'what is philosophy' as the number of people who attempt to define it.
I suggest your read up at least 200 different sorts [categories] of definition of 'what is philosophy' as abstract the core essence from the whole range of definitions. Then you will get to the definition that is similar to mine.

You have to be specific to do avoid hasty generalization, so your OP should be,
"The bastardized-version-of-Philosophy alone Is NOT Your Friend"
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

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Veritas Aequitas wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:12 am
simplicity wrote: Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:28 pm If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there [although it can point in the correct direction]. I don't know about the rest of you, but in my experience, the intellectual folks are almost always over there in the corner hiding from just about everything [that matters].

The intellect is a wonderful tool for practical matters, but as a portal to something beyond getting the toast right, the intellect has little to nothing to offer.
The above depend on how you defined 'what is philosophy'.
In the above you confined 'philosophy' to intellectualizing, which realistically is not philosophy-proper.
WHY do you add the word 'proper' after some words, like in the example above, and say it like you KNOW, without ANY doubt at all, what the one and only true, right, and correct definition and meaning is for those words?

Just adding the word 'proper' after words does NOT make 'it' proper.
Veritas Aequitas wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:12 am I agree intellect alone [philosophy to you] is limited without its interaction/complementarity with the practical.

The etymological origin of 'what is philosophy' is 'the love of wisdom' and we should revert back to this original definition instead of insisting on is bastardized definition.

The etymological origin of 'what is science' is 'to know' i.e. acquire knowledge which it to be combined with experience into philosophy, i.e. love of wisdom. i.e. optimal application of knowledge.
This 'love of wisdom' must be for some purpose, i.e. for the well being of the individual and humanity.
So 'philosophy' as intended originally is 'your friend'.

There are many who take philosophy as a way of life which is implied to be done in an effective positive manner, so cannot be negative, e.g. Pierre Hadot and others.
https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Way-L ... 0631180338

It is stated there are as many definitions of 'what is philosophy' as the number of people who attempt to define it.
I suggest your read up at least 200 different sorts [categories] of definition of 'what is philosophy' as abstract the core essence from the whole range of definitions. Then you will get to the definition that is similar to mine.

You have to be specific to do avoid hasty generalization, so your OP should be,
"The bastardized-version-of-Philosophy alone Is NOT Your Friend"
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Dontaskme
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

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simplicity wrote: Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:28 pm If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there [although it can point in the correct direction]. I don't know about the rest of you, but in my experience, the intellectual folks are almost always over there in the corner hiding from just about everything [that matters].

The intellect is a wonderful tool for practical matters, but as a portal to something beyond getting the toast right, the intellect has little to nothing to offer.
What really matters, is that once the tool has served it's sole purpose, it is wise to discard it to it's rightful place, in the compost heap from where it first originated. The problem arises when one clings to the tool for dear life, like one who is falling through empty space is mistakingly thinking and believing that there is a special foothold one can tether itself to in the hope that groove will secure it's existential existence.

.
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

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Veritas Aequitas wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:12 am It is stated there are as many definitions of 'what is philosophy' as the number of people who attempt to define it.
I suggest your read up at least 200 different sorts [categories] of definition of 'what is philosophy' as abstract the core essence from the whole range of definitions. Then you will get to the definition that is similar to mine.
I truly understand that you can slice and dice anything anybody says [and you can also win any argument if you understand how thinking works], but this is just a friendly forum where people get together to chat about whatever occurs to them.

It is also my appreciation that we humans mis-use our intellect to a degree where it completely fucks-up most people's lives. So I advocate for people to consider becoming much less dependent on it [and concentrate on accepting what we can know as reality]. In this way, at least people have a fighting chance to experience some sort of contentment in their lives [it doesn't take a genius to ascertain that mankind is spinning out of control, as even the great majority of so-called successful people are a complete mess,the rest appearing to be on life-support].
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by Terrapin Station »

"If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there "

What if philosophical inquiry in itself is one of the things that makes you happy and content?
Veritas Aequitas
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by Veritas Aequitas »

simplicity wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:18 pm
Veritas Aequitas wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:12 am It is stated there are as many definitions of 'what is philosophy' as the number of people who attempt to define it.
I suggest your read up at least 200 different sorts [categories] of definition of 'what is philosophy' as abstract the core essence from the whole range of definitions. Then you will get to the definition that is similar to mine.
I truly understand that you can slice and dice anything anybody says [and you can also win any argument if you understand how thinking works], but this is just a friendly forum where people get together to chat about whatever occurs to them.

It is also my appreciation that we humans mis-use our intellect to a degree where it completely fucks-up most people's lives. So I advocate for people to consider becoming much less dependent on it [and concentrate on accepting what we can know as reality]. In this way, at least people have a fighting chance to experience some sort of contentment in their lives [it doesn't take a genius to ascertain that mankind is spinning out of control, as even the great majority of so-called successful people are a complete mess,the rest appearing to be on life-support].
The problem why mankind is spinning out of control to SOME degrees is due to a lack of a "compass" to guide them toward the optimality of their well being so thus contribute to the overall well being of humanity.

To do so, it is essential we dig, slice and dice into the origins of our thoughts so we can reach the proximate root causes and therefrom establish the effective compass to enable improvements.

That is the only way humanity had been able to produce results for the rest of humanity albeit at the present; it is not up to expectations but nevertheless there is a trend of improvements since 200,000 years ago and we must continue on this path in the future.

I don't expect the 95% of population to follow up on serious digging, slicing and dicing, but I believe such THIS forum is the place for those who are serious to discuss such a methodology.

Btw, this is not a merely 'friendly' forum for small talks but a place for serious philosophical discussions [evident from the main theme of this forum, i.e. the Philosophy Now Magazine], which unfortunately not many are doing so.
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by Veritas Aequitas »

Terrapin Station wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:06 pm "If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there "

What if philosophical inquiry in itself is one of the things that makes you happy and content?
Putting the precision of it aside, let say the purpose of life is X.
Happiness/contentment is a guiding mode towards whatever is X but only with consideration of positive morality and ethics, i.e. no evil.

Nature is such that there is a wide range of necessary positive human activities that will generate happiness and contention in different degrees for different people.
The most common activities for 99.9% of humans that generate contentment is eating, sex, ability to breathe, and the likes.

However there are some small % who derive happiness and contentment from activities [not immoral ones] which are very risky without fear, i.e. the risk seekers.
Risk seekers are a very natural small % of humans who are 'programmed' with such a mode and it is such a mode that enable humans to explore the frontiers to facilitate the expanding human populations.

Despite the unknown and high risks, risk seekers [explorers of all kinds] are driven to seek contentment and happiness in such adrenaline charged activities.
If not for them these small % of explorers, humans would have been stuck in Central Africa and not present all over the world to the most remote and harsh places.

It is not only risk seekers but there are many positive human activities that are only confined to a very % of humans such that their focus on being specialists can contribute to the well being of the whole.

I believe serious philosophical-enquiries is a natural potential and proclivity that is programmed in a small % of humans so that they can dig, slice and dice into human mental activities to establish knowledge that will increase the wisdom of the individuals and therefrom the average. In the future the majority should be influenced and developed to follow suit in seeking the deeper knowledge of human nature.

Thus "Simplicity" overly simplified & and very general conclusion leading to condemning 'philosophy' as unproductive is not effective for humanity.
simplicity
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by simplicity »

Terrapin Station wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:06 pm "If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there "

What if philosophical inquiry in itself is one of the things that makes you happy and content?
I would suspect that such an individual has many other things going on in their lives which provide that comfort. Again, in my experience and the limited exposure I have had to "professional" philosophers, most of these folks [including myself] were brought to such an inquiry through very difficult life experiences.

Is your experience at odds with my own?
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by simplicity »

Veritas Aequitas wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 6:57 am
simplicity wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:18 pm
Veritas Aequitas wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:12 am It is stated there are as many definitions of 'what is philosophy' as the number of people who attempt to define it.
I suggest your read up at least 200 different sorts [categories] of definition of 'what is philosophy' as abstract the core essence from the whole range of definitions. Then you will get to the definition that is similar to mine.
I truly understand that you can slice and dice anything anybody says [and you can also win any argument if you understand how thinking works], but this is just a friendly forum where people get together to chat about whatever occurs to them.

It is also my appreciation that we humans mis-use our intellect to a degree where it completely fucks-up most people's lives. So I advocate for people to consider becoming much less dependent on it [and concentrate on accepting what we can know as reality]. In this way, at least people have a fighting chance to experience some sort of contentment in their lives [it doesn't take a genius to ascertain that mankind is spinning out of control, as even the great majority of so-called successful people are a complete mess,the rest appearing to be on life-support].
The problem why mankind is spinning out of control to SOME degrees is due to a lack of a "compass" to guide them toward the optimality of their well being so thus contribute to the overall well being of humanity.

To do so, it is essential we dig, slice and dice into the origins of our thoughts so we can reach the proximate root causes and therefrom establish the effective compass to enable improvements.

That is the only way humanity had been able to produce results for the rest of humanity albeit at the present; it is not up to expectations but nevertheless there is a trend of improvements since 200,000 years ago and we must continue on this path in the future.

I don't expect the 95% of population to follow up on serious digging, slicing and dicing, but I believe such THIS forum is the place for those who are serious to discuss such a methodology.

Btw, this is not a merely 'friendly' forum for small talks but a place for serious philosophical discussions [evident from the main theme of this forum, i.e. the Philosophy Now Magazine], which unfortunately not many are doing so.
I would not disagree with anything you stated above. Because my path has been different than most, I try to give my perspective so it might eventually give somebody [wondering aimlessly] a reason to look elsewhere for some "answers" ....whatever path that might be.

Meditation [as a very serious path] is not something that many are going to take-on, but it can serve as a wonderful avenue to help-out folks in all kinds of ways...to provide a degree of clarity, calmness, leading to increased levels of physical and mental well-being.
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by Veritas Aequitas »

simplicity wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 9:54 pm
Veritas Aequitas wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 6:57 am
simplicity wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:18 pm
I truly understand that you can slice and dice anything anybody says [and you can also win any argument if you understand how thinking works], but this is just a friendly forum where people get together to chat about whatever occurs to them.

It is also my appreciation that we humans mis-use our intellect to a degree where it completely fucks-up most people's lives. So I advocate for people to consider becoming much less dependent on it [and concentrate on accepting what we can know as reality]. In this way, at least people have a fighting chance to experience some sort of contentment in their lives [it doesn't take a genius to ascertain that mankind is spinning out of control, as even the great majority of so-called successful people are a complete mess,the rest appearing to be on life-support].
The problem why mankind is spinning out of control to SOME degrees is due to a lack of a "compass" to guide them toward the optimality of their well being so thus contribute to the overall well being of humanity.

To do so, it is essential we dig, slice and dice into the origins of our thoughts so we can reach the proximate root causes and therefrom establish the effective compass to enable improvements.

That is the only way humanity had been able to produce results for the rest of humanity albeit at the present; it is not up to expectations but nevertheless there is a trend of improvements since 200,000 years ago and we must continue on this path in the future.

I don't expect the 95% of population to follow up on serious digging, slicing and dicing, but I believe such THIS forum is the place for those who are serious to discuss such a methodology.

Btw, this is not a merely 'friendly' forum for small talks but a place for serious philosophical discussions [evident from the main theme of this forum, i.e. the Philosophy Now Magazine], which unfortunately not many are doing so.
I would not disagree with anything you stated above. Because my path has been different than most, I try to give my perspective so it might eventually give somebody [wondering aimlessly] a reason to look elsewhere for some "answers" ....whatever path that might be.

Meditation [as a very serious path] is not something that many are going to take-on, but it can serve as a wonderful avenue to help-out folks in all kinds of ways...to provide a degree of clarity, calmness, leading to increased levels of physical and mental well-being.
In general, there are two main types of meditation, i.e. based on concentration [focus or letting go] and mindfulness.

However there are a wide variety and sub-types of the above which cater to those from the extreme of being hermit to those who are very active in society.

So there are types of meditation that are specifically suitable for those who are serious into philosophy.
There are many notable Eastern philosophers who engage in serious philosophy.

Note the 6 Types of Yoga Philosophy
https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/pra ... es-of-yoga
which cater for people of different inclinations.

Raja yoga. Meaning: 'Royal', 'Chief' or 'King', alluding to being the 'best' or 'highest' form of yoga. ...
Jnana yoga. Meaning: Wisdom or knowledge. ...
Tantra yoga. Meaning: The root word of Tantra is 'Tan' meaning 'to expand' or 'to weave'. ...
Hatha yoga. Meaning: 'The Yoga of Force'. ...
Bhakti yoga. ...
Karma yoga.

Note Jnana Yoga which is for those who have an inclination for deep inquiry.
2. Jnana yoga
Meaning: Wisdom or knowledge. This is the yoga of ‘knowing’, of realising the truth of oneself. First mentioned around 400BC, this is thought of as one of the most direct paths to insight and illumination, but also as one of the most difficult. Priests and scholars are most likely to be considered Jnana yogis through their practise of constant inquiry. Study of philosophical and yogic texts, along with discrimination and inquiry are the ways these practitioners understand the depths of the body, mind and spirit.
Even in Zen [your path] there are two main types to cater for different people with different inclinations.
Northern school of Zen [北宗禅] ( Hokushū Zen): One of the two schools formed by the first schism in the Zen (Ch’an) school in China. The other school is called the Southern school of Zen. The fifth Chinese Zen patriarch Hung-jen had two capable disciples.

One was Shen-hsiu (606–706), who propagated Zen in northern China and upheld the traditional doctrine of gradual enlightenment. His school became the Northern school of Zen.

The other disciple was Hui-neng (638–713), who became the sixth patriarch and spread Zen in southern China. He formulated and taught the doctrine of sudden enlightenment (also known as abrupt, or immediate, enlightenment), and his school came to be called the Southern school of Zen.
The Northern school rapidly declined, while Hui-neng produced many able disciples and his Southern school became the mainstream of Chinese Zen. The Japanese Zen schools derive from the Southern school.
https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/N/96
simplicity
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by simplicity »

Veritas Aequitas wrote: Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:13 am Even in Zen [your path] there are two main types to cater for different people with different inclinations.
Northern school of Zen [北宗禅] ( Hokushū Zen): One of the two schools formed by the first schism in the Zen (Ch’an) school in China. The other school is called the Southern school of Zen. The fifth Chinese Zen patriarch Hung-jen had two capable disciples.

One was Shen-hsiu (606–706), who propagated Zen in northern China and upheld the traditional doctrine of gradual enlightenment. His school became the Northern school of Zen.

The other disciple was Hui-neng (638–713), who became the sixth patriarch and spread Zen in southern China. He formulated and taught the doctrine of sudden enlightenment (also known as abrupt, or immediate, enlightenment), and his school came to be called the Southern school of Zen.
The Northern school rapidly declined, while Hui-neng produced many able disciples and his Southern school became the mainstream of Chinese Zen. The Japanese Zen schools derive from the Southern school.
https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/N/96
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just read a paragraph or two on the internet and have a deep understanding of the subject-matter?
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by Veritas Aequitas »

simplicity wrote: Mon Nov 22, 2021 7:00 pm
Veritas Aequitas wrote: Sun Nov 21, 2021 4:13 am Even in Zen [your path] there are two main types to cater for different people with different inclinations.
Northern school of Zen [北宗禅] ( Hokushū Zen): One of the two schools formed by the first schism in the Zen (Ch’an) school in China. The other school is called the Southern school of Zen. The fifth Chinese Zen patriarch Hung-jen had two capable disciples.

One was Shen-hsiu (606–706), who propagated Zen in northern China and upheld the traditional doctrine of gradual enlightenment. His school became the Northern school of Zen.

The other disciple was Hui-neng (638–713), who became the sixth patriarch and spread Zen in southern China. He formulated and taught the doctrine of sudden enlightenment (also known as abrupt, or immediate, enlightenment), and his school came to be called the Southern school of Zen.
The Northern school rapidly declined, while Hui-neng produced many able disciples and his Southern school became the mainstream of Chinese Zen. The Japanese Zen schools derive from the Southern school.
https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/N/96
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just read a paragraph or two on the internet and have a deep understanding of the subject-matter?
It is obvious common sense that one can never grasp a deep understanding of the subject-matter from merely reading a paragraph or two on the internet.
But that is possible if one already have a deep understanding of the subject-matter via having grasped the subject from prior readings and extensive research into the subject matter.

If you are referring to my above post, I have done very extensive research and reading on Buddhism and the full range of the subject matter [including Zen].
simplicity
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

Post by simplicity »

Veritas Aequitas wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:20 am
It is obvious common sense that one can never grasp a deep understanding of the subject-matter from merely reading a paragraph or two on the internet.
But that is possible if one already have a deep understanding of the subject-matter via having grasped the subject from prior readings and extensive research into the subject matter.

If you are referring to my above post, I have done very extensive research and reading on Buddhism and the full range of the subject matter [including Zen].
You could read or study about Zen 24/7 for 10,000 lifetimes and still have no realization of what it is in the least. This is the only real teaching in Zen, you must do the work [meditation] to gain the insight.

The dispute between the Northern and Southern schools have no bearing on anything of importance [intellectually]. Do you know the story of Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen?
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Re: Philosophy Is NOT Your Friend

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simplicity wrote: Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:28 pm If the purpose of modern life is in achieving some semblance of happiness/contentment, philosophical inquiry is not going to get you there [although it can point in the correct direction]. I don't know about the rest of you, but in my experience, the intellectual folks are almost always over there in the corner hiding from just about everything [that matters].

The intellect is a wonderful tool for practical matters, but as a portal to something beyond getting the toast right, the intellect has little to nothing to offer.
There is nothing wrong with the human intellect. What's wrong is how philosophers have corrupted it.

The following is from the beginning of an article entitled: "Bad Philosophy—There Is No Good Philosophy"
Image

"Philosophy consists very largely of one philosopher arguing that all others are jackasses. He usually proves it, and I should add that he also usually proves that he is one himself." —H. L. Mencken

Bad Philosophers

With rare exception, the entire corpus of recorded philosophy is utterly useless. The only exceptions are Aristotle, Peter Abelard (with reservation) and John Locke (with reservation). All the rest are not only wrong but so distort truth that to be influenced by any of them is tantamount to self-induced insanity.

All philosophers are bad, but the worst are Plato, Rene Descartes, Spinoza, George Berkeley, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Edmund Burke, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer. Auguste Comte, Søren Kierkegaard, William James, Friedrich Nietzsche, John Dewey, Bertrand Russell, Martin Heidegger, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper, Willard Quine, A.J. Ayer, John Austin, Thomas Kuhn, Paul Feyerabend, Avram Noam Chomsky, Ronald Myles Dworkin, and Roger Penrose.

These are the worst because they have, historically, most influenced what is called philosophy today and are held as authorities in philosophical matters. The philosophy of today, which they spawned and made possible, is a total disaster.

The worst of all philosophy today is what is being promoted in every academic institution, including every logical positivist: including Moritz Schlick, Rudolf Carnap, Herbert Feigl, and Friedrich Waismann; every cultural Marxist: (critical theory, Frankfurt School), including Max Horkheimer, Theodor W. Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, Friedrich Pollock, Erich Fromm, Walter Benjamin. Ernst Bloch, and Jürgen Habermas; and every post modernist: including: Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Jean-François Lyotard, Richard Rorty, Jean Baudrillard, Fredric Jameson, and Douglas Kellner.

Finally there are the millions of little philosopherets—every professor, psychologist, economist, social/political ideologist, pseudo-scientist, and religious teacher who dabbles in, "philosophy."

Bad Philosophy

Philosophy was originally defined as, "love of wisdom," meaning that kind of knowledge required for living successfully as a human being. It originally included all knowledge, like the physical sciences. As the successful branches of intellectual inquiry (like the sciences) were established, philosophy was refined to mean those aspects of knowledge that were fundamental to all other knowledge. While the sciences were discovering the nature of the physical universe, philosophers were attempting to identify the nature of existence itself and what reality is (metaphysics); what the nature of material existence, the physical, living, conscious, and mental are (ontology); what the nature of knowledge itself is (epistemology); what principles determined how individuals must guide their lives to live successfully (ethics); how human beings must relate to each other (politics); and the ultimate nature of purpose, value, and happiness (aesthetics).

While the sciences have been phenomenally successful, philosophy is a complete failure. Instead of discovering and explaining the ultimate nature of existence and reality, philosophy denies the existence the sciences study is real and describes reality as an illusion. Instead of discovering and describing the nature of reality that makes it knowable, philosophy denies that reality can ever be truly known. Instead of discovering and describing the nature of knowledge, philosophy denies that any certain knowledge is possible. Instead of discovering and describing the principles by which individuals can guide their lives successfully, philosophy denies there are such principles or reduces them to some kind of mystic mandates or mere custom. Instead of discovering and describing how individual human beings must relate to one another, philosophy regards individuals as having no value or meaning except as members of some social collectives, from tribes, to states, to mankind. Instead of discovering and describing a life that is worth living and how to achieve it, philosophy denies that true success and happiness are possible and reduces human life to a constant battle against evil.

.....
You are right. That kind of philosophy, which happens to be what is taught and promoted in every academic institution in the world, is not your friend. It is the enemy of all reason, knowledge, virtue and human success.
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