Philosophy is useless?

[taoskin99]

A short definition of philosophy (probably the shortest which isn't a direct translation of it's greek roots) :
the art/discipline of pursuing wisdom.

Wisdom : the knowledge that leads to an improved and rational happiness when used. (wikipedia it for more details)

That being said, is philosophy useless thinking or can a proper use of philosophical theory and thinking can actually make us wiser and allow us to lead a better and happier life?
most importantly, if you agree or not, give examples and arguments!

You have a very strange philosophy I must say!

IMO philosophy is just arguing ones subjective reality against another.

So the only way philosophy is technically useful by your standard would be to create your own , or to "adopt " on that might "fit" onto your subjective reality.

I prefer examining the objective reality

[Ond]

Originally Posted by twotimintim

IMO philosophy is just arguing ones subjective reality against another.

So the only way philosophy is technically useful by your standard would be to create your own , or to "adopt " on that might "fit" onto your subjective reality.

I prefer examining the objective reality

Pretty much. Moral philosophy shapes your decisions, and collectively society's.

You need to distinguish between philosophy and pseudo-intellectual bullshit.

A lot of people who claim they are talking about philosophy are just spewing useless pseudo-intellectual bullshit. Of course they aren't going to tell you that and will act highly insulted if you accuse them of such. But ultimately they are a boring waste of time.

Beware of the Sophists. There are lots of semantic word games played where you end up arguing about the words instead of what you are supposedly talking about.

DT

[The Methematician]

Originally Posted by dal7timgar

You need to distinguish between philosophy and pseudo-intellectual bullshit.

A lot of people who claim they are talking about philosophy are just spewing useless pseudo-intellectual bullshit. Of course they aren't going to tell you that and will act highly insulted if you accuse them of such. But ultimately they are a boring waste of time.

Beware of the Sophists. There are lots of semantic word games played where you end up arguing about the words instead of what you are supposedly talking about.

DT

Quoted as an example of useless semi-intelected bs from a pseudo-intellectual b-shitter ....

[Ond]

Originally Posted by The Methematician

Quoted as an example of useless semi-intelected bs from a pseudo-intellectual b-shitter ....

Hahaha. He does have a point, though. It's what they call "vain learning."

Originally Posted by The Methematician

Quoted as an example of useless semi-intelected bs from a pseudo-intellectual b-shitter ....

The supposed philosophers have to prove they are good at math or physics before I'll pay attention to their philosophy. Kind of like Bertrand Russell. LOL

DT

[Ond]

Originally Posted by dal7timgar

The supposed philosophers have to prove they are good at math or physics before I'll pay attention to their philosophy. Kind of like Bertrand Russell. LOL

DT

That's the beauty of philosophy in terms of the persuit of wisdom: that unlike the sciences which require that one has knowledge in a particular field, like the mathematicion must be proficient in mathematics for him to be labeled one, philosophers are deemed philosophers only on the basis of their virtue to become wise.

You make a good point though, and I'd emphasize its importance. In regards to natural philosophy, that is inquiry into the physical objects of nature, how do philosophers cope with scientific progress? One almost must to be a scientist to be a natural philosopher, and a natural philosopher that rejects scientific discoveries in his field of inquiry is no more than a theologist.

if you ever wonder about shit, then you are a philosopher.

[Ond]

Originally Posted by alooha from hell

if you ever wonder about shit, then you are a philosopher.

You can paraphrase.

Originally Posted by Ond

You can write sentences.

[The Methematician]

Originally Posted by dal7timgar

The supposed philosophers have to prove they are good at math or physics before I'll pay attention to their philosophy. Kind of like Bertrand Russell. LOL

DT

Philosophy is all the application of logic...asshole. Seems like you don't understand what philosophy is about......

Physics and math are only a branch of logic....and the use of logic itself doesn't require any form of mathematical/physics knowledge...

You can say...or postulate why gay and incest is wrong and why we shouldn't do it without knowing what e=mc2,.....or p=3.142 is....just like plato did some 2000+ years ago...

[taoskin99]

That's the beauty of philosophy in terms of the persuit of wisdom: that unlike the sciences which require that one has knowledge in a particular field, like the mathematicion must be proficient in mathematics for him to be labeled one, philosophers are deemed philosophers only on the basis of their virtue to become wise.

You make a good point though, and I'd emphasize its importance. In regards to natural philosophy, that is inquiry into the physical objects of nature, how do philosophers cope with scientific progress? One almost must to be a scientist to be a natural philosopher, and a natural philosopher that rejects scientific discoveries in his field of inquiry is no more than a theologist.

I like your post, Ond.
I'd say that a philosopher who ignores any knowledge is missing out on something. They change human behavior, and thus they must be questioned.
Simply put, only philosophy can tell us what to do with the atom bomb and what it means for humanity. Historically put, that philosophy would be Sartre's.

I've got a question for you people. Was there a time in your lives where the wisdom gained from philosophy came in handy to make you happier or to save you from pain?

[nshanin]

Originally Posted by taoskin99

I've got a question for you people. Was there a time in your lives where the wisdom gained from philosophy came in handy to make you happier or to save you from pain?

Moral relativism set me free.

Originally Posted by nshanin

Moral relativism set me free.

"it is of my personal moral judgment that you, sir, are not a fit person to be living, and that in the name of justice and moral concern, i must kill you. and because whatever i think is right, and whatever you think is right also, it's perfectly okay for me to kill you."

[Zay]

Originally Posted by nshanin

Moral relativism set me free.

You'll never get anywhere without objectivity. Moral relativism is a step away from strong nihilism, and nihilism is for full-blown faggots(in the derogatory sense, nothing against homos). Objective morals can sway to accommodate for new overwhelming evidence and whatnot, with those that refuse to change being as irrational as nihilists. Once you hit the relativist brick wall, you find yourself living a life of contradicting yourself. A nihilist that doesn't STFU is just a confused emotional retard.

Now I doubt you're an emotional retard, or want to become one. My advice to you is that it's ok to understand that people are products of their circumstances/environment, that there's no such thing as a self-made person, etc. That's all fine, but just because randomness led people to believe what they do doesn't mean that everyone is right. Some practices/behaviors are aesthetically preferable in people, others are universally preferable, and others should just be avoided. Everyone isn't right. Some cultures are more enlightened than others. No cult is fully there yet.

[Zay]

Originally Posted by taoskin99

A short definition of philosophy (probably the shortest which isn't a direct translation of it's greek roots) :
the art/discipline of pursuing wisdom.

Wisdom : the knowledge that leads to an improved and rational happiness when used. (wikipedia it for more details)

That being said, is philosophy useless thinking or can a proper use of philosophical theory and thinking can actually make us wiser and allow us to lead a better and happier life?
most importantly, if you agree or not, give examples and arguments!

Well it's a given that as needs are fulfilled people always look for another carrot to chase. It's involuntary. If you're starving, you put food above philosophy(unless you're on a hunger strike). Philosophy can absolutely improve your overall mood. Take the meaning of life, for example. Whenever we're in a moment of pure bliss, the last thing on our mind is the meaning of life. The meaning of life is just an imaginary carrot dangling in front of our deluded faces. Once you realize that there is no meaning to life, you can find pleasure in a myriad of other things. Like wisdom.

[nshanin]

Originally Posted by Zay

Once you hit the relativist brick wall, you find yourself living a life of contradicting yourself.

"To get along, go along.

...but keep your beliefs to yourself."

What do you have against nihilists?

[Martian Luger King]

Once you realize that there is no meaning to life, you can find pleasure in a myriad of other things. Like wisdom.

Truer words haven't ever been said by anyone (especially you, nshanin) on this website.

[~son~of~random~]

I think there are concepts far more complex and simpler than everything human and its advances in everything known and unknown.
Human thinking has been somewhat bounded or ramified by communications capacity or limit to convey to one another.

Everyone needs something to believe in. The world as we know it is only as we know it. The unknown cannot be taken into account when making "rational" decisions. Unless you want to be regarded as insane, scary or retarded of the like. Even something as simple as relativity is regarded as a finite in its own relative way.
The paradoxical concepts such as "moral relativity" and other devices of enlightenment are "in my mind only" a conceptual price of flight. For example,

A "simple" man can say after living his life thoughtfully for 99 years the meaning of life is to burn ants with a lighter and then masturbate over the charred remains.

While on the other hand a "complex" mind after 99 years can conclude the meaning of life is to "live"

I really don't know anymore, after thinking so much my logic now disregards itself and my thoughts have become somewhat disvolatile. Nothing can now be everything and vice versa . Which brings me so conclude (and to my subjective logic conclusions are merely the product of a tired mind) that all i know is that i know nothing.

*another emotional teenage ranting off*

[nshanin]

Originally Posted by Martian Luger King

especially you, nshanin

If you want to flame me you can do it in B&M.

[Martian Luger King]

Originally Posted by nshanin

If you want to flame me you can do it in B&M.

I can do it here as well.

Philosophy is only worthless if you use it to speculate without facts. Then it's just semantics. In other words, if you use it to better understand the world around you, then by all means.

Metaphysics (speculating on the "nature of reality") on the other hand, is bullshit.