C'mon, guys, where did you put your eyes? Philosophy is one of the most practical tools man can use in restricting or expanding his sphere of behaviour. It allows him to search da vast space, and it allows him to decry superstitions. It also forbade him from searching the vast space during some other historical eras, and also allowed man to burn each other at the stake for drummed up reasons.

Philosophy is an organic, inseparable part of human endeavor, thinking and way of life. He will form opinions on the afterlife, on the before life, on the life. That's not chopped liver, for his views on these lives will affect his behaviour, and if he or she is smart and adamant enough, s/he can convince a large chunk of earth's population to live their lives, together with the freedoms and restrictions, as accorded to his own private opinion.

And please don't discount its entertainment value, either. Humans live to attain pleasures and happiness. Films, plays, feasts, etc. are all such things, which produce nothing but entertainment, and therefore they are some of the final goals in a man's life. If it's philosophy that turns him on, so be it. Even if the philosophy he pursues is useless as a practical aid in life, it always will fulfil a role as an entertainment device.

Philosophy opens your brain to new thoughts . It is a wonderful tool to seek the truth and be realistic at all times . Some philosophers exaggerate something when they say that we know nothing in this life, it is better to teach a homeless than helping him......and other non sense on the horizon of views and ideas . Science is more immune from mistakes and it helped humanity more as well .
When technologists use science in peaceful elements of life it is wonderful and when they use it in the aspects of destruction it is very sad .

of course one doesn't have to read or hear a philosophy that someone else has come up with, invented, adheres to or whatever. we each are capable of philosophizing. i've read very little about the popular philosophies, buddhism, taoism, the religions, etc., and yet i have what i think is a very sensible philosophy by which i live my life. it does parrallel certain philosophies such as buddhism and humanism but neither describes my philosophy exactly. but i don't like to associate myself with any group so i'm quite happy to think that my philosophy is unique to me. i suppsose the same can be said of everybody.

I just want to shake into your minds, guys, to reverse your conviction to, and to disattach yourselves from the generally accepted view of "philosophy is useless, especially as a practical tool for anything". You guys talked right over my first post on this. You're philosophers; think for yourselves. Why must you accept a fallacy just because everyone (well, almost everyone) is parroting it? It's so obviously a fallacy, as I have proved that, so why still stick to that view? ESPECIALLY since you (we) are all philosophers?

Philosophy is not useless .The more philosophy you read the more you discover things . Reading other philosophers help you find the points you missed or underestimated .

Who said philosophy was useless? I don't think that is a "generally accepted view" at least not in my circles.

well said. i've often pondered that the less one reads and studies popular philosophies, hell any philosopy, the less practice one gets at being a philosopher. i think moral values are worth mentioning here. as with my "home grown" philosophy, i have had to develope my own moral and ethical standard. my parents were both presbyterian, racist bigots and i early on rejected their teachings and of course that of the church. so i've had to derive my morals from my own experiences and thoughts. it's been somewhat of a trial and error process but after close to a third of a century i'm quite proud of the result. i'll put my values up against anybody's and you can feel free to measure.


because i've labored long and hard in creating my philosophy of life and my moral compass, i've experienced that when i'm faced with a new situation where i might not have considered the moral ramimfications, that i am better able to adjust and come to a quick action that works out to be a moral action. having pondered many moral issues on my own it's not much of a task pondering one more. but i often find those that adhere to a philosophy that they had been taught, pick any religion as an example, are not always as adept at making such adjustments when confronted with a delima that their scripture or teachings have not covered. indeed, as history shows, the doctrine is often misinterpreted and atrocious behavior results "in the name of god" or "allah" or whatever. i can do wrong as well of course but i cannot misinterpret my own thoughts. their my thoughts. my morals. where i am accustomed to deciding my own moral values, the god fearing often have derived all or most of their moral values from scripture and their church and of course their parents which often as not teach us to hate; as mine did.

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UNDOUBTABLY, Philosophy is much fun -- especially when one hasn't got anything better to apply him/er-self to... (it really is a futile endeavour!)

The trouble with Philosophy is that it's too general, too intangible and unspecific -- which makes it accessible to virtually Any-fahcken-body capable of such a mundane task as "thinking". (that is about the only positive characteristic of Philosophy!)
But what's the logical deduction worth if it lacks any practical confirmation??? (Zipo, zilch...)

Yes, Philosophy provides an intellectual framework for various social and personal issues... However, it's not something that's absolutely necessary for a person to survive and prosper... (as jrborgie realistically noted, " Why must you accept a fallacy just because everyone (well, almost everyone) is parroting it? "

P.S. I doubt Donald Trump has ever even heard of any of the great ancient philosophers... Yet, he's managed quite well without any such knowtion. * * * Certainly, it can be argued that he is intellectually and emotionally deprived... (which he might very well be ) Though I doubt he's even familiar with any of the dating sites -- even the ones with the Philosophy Forum!!!

Donald trump inherited lots of money . I just wonder what his life is today if he didn't . Philosophy opened my eyes towards religions, politics, humans, life.....etc .Unfortunately sometimes with my open eyes I still can not figure out the answers..... .

Certainly, without the initial (inherited) capital it would've taken him much longer... But he's already doubled/trippled the initial amount...



Because Philosophy alone is not meant to provide any answers -- the only thing it provides is a FRAMEWORK (i.e. a standpoint) from which you search for the answers...

But if the answers are beyond comprehension, you might want to examine your base framework, or your approach (or, finally, get a new "search" engine).