" I've come to the conclusion that philosophy is useless, or very nearly so. Anything that philosophy can do is better done by either science or art. In the long run, philosophy is unnecessary, and is made unnecessary by the ongoing march of science and the undying value of art."Peter Saint-Andre (Named himself a writer)
I just put the text before, cause I´ve heard it so many times. I want to know what do you think, do you agree with this guy?
2007-03-12 11:53:53 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
People say that because there's no immediately obvious practical use for philosophy. Most people also don't really know what philosophy as a discipline is. They think philosophy is just a bunch of weird people sitting around thinking about "deep stuff".
Philosophy isn't only useful, it is, I think, the most important discipline in post secondary education, and in the top three most important of all disciplines. The only things more primary are pre-algebraic math and language. Once you can read and write, and can do simple math, philosophy should be the next thing on the list, because it teaches you how to think independently and logically. If everyone studied logic throughout their education the way they study math and English (or whatever language, depending on the country), politicians might have to start telling the truth, because most people would be able to see through their rhetorical B.S. Commercials would also have to be changed to be more straightforward and honest, and so would news coverage, because all of those warped statistics and logical fallacies would be shot right down if only logic and reasoning were as common an area of knowledge as reading.
2007-03-12 12:16:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
I strongly disagree with that writer & others who claim that philosophy is useless.
Whether they realize it or not, everybody on this planet lives according to a philosophy of life. Most of us subconsciously adopt & create our own philosophies of life & reality from our culture, society, family, peers, and our experiences. Even those who think life is just about "having fun & enjoying life" are operating under a philosophical model (Hedonism) that they assume to be true.
Philosophy is the endeavor to make our life "conscious", so that we can consciously choose for ourselves which model of life to live by.
The less thoughtful & reflective among us are basically living on auto-pilot, which often leaves them more unprepared down the road for mid-life crises, aging, regrets, repeated mistakes, failure, disaster, suffering, loss, & death. (This is why there are extremely few elderly Hedonists.)
What is happiness? What is wisdom? What is a good life? What is a good society? What is progress? What is the relationship between reality & ideas? These are only some of the practical, critical questions that neither science nor art can answer.
2007-03-12 12:42:35 · answer #2 · answered by sky2evan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think many people do not wish to see a "bigger picture" and philosophy challenges that wish at every level. If you don't want to know why you do the things you do or why things happen to you you will be be made very uncomfortable by philosophy and philosophers
2007-03-13 05:03:37 · answer #3 · answered by paula d23 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its a trap!
science is a disciplin strongly informed by philosophy. most practicing scientists are philosophers to some extent.
most artists are people who think independently, and to that extent can also be descibed as philosophers of one stripe or another.
my contention is therefore that the author of that quote was either
1 - a moron.
2 - a non english speaker.
3 - some sort of IRL troll.
2007-03-12 13:17:10 · answer #4 · answered by richard 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what a mouth-breather
all science and art grew from philosophy
2007-03-12 12:01:58 · answer #5 · answered by slippped 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Philosophers are people who at least try to figure things out for themselves rather than than just being brainwashed by someone elses ideas.
2007-03-12 12:10:44 · answer #6 · answered by stedyedy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
beacuse the layman believs in doing the things straight away and end up getting nowhere
so philosophers THINK y they r they u r u me me nd y does man keep falling.........
am not a philosophy student, i read this for the frst time -d above statement i dunno whether i am rite or wrong plz comment on my answr as well thnx!
2007-03-13 05:29:11 · answer #7 · answered by priya t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because, as someone once said, "Philosophy involves finding unintelligible answers to imponderable questions."
2007-03-12 13:21:54 · answer #8 · answered by clicksqueek 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Philosophers are just people talking common sense. We could use more common sense in this world. No, philosophers are not useless.
2007-03-12 11:59:05 · answer #9 · answered by lisateric 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's true. Philosophy is useless. So is religion.
2007-03-12 12:57:48 · answer #10 · answered by isis 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋