Leave Philosophy To The Philosophers - Why Study Philosophy

You may have heard ‘Leave philosophy to the philosophers’ or ‘Philosophy is pointless’ and perhaps ‘it’s just questions that can never be answered’ when talking to people about studying or reading Philosophy. And perhaps there is some truth behind their statements - of course questions like ‘what happens after death?’ are impossible to answer indefinitely (unless you’ve been and done that, obviously!). But does that really make Philosophy pointless? Simply because a question is hard or has no definitive answer, is not a strong argument against philosophical thought.

I’d argue, for that exact reason, Philosophy is so exciting and contagious. Imagine you were to know your entire trajectory of life, to know every choice, place and action you’d take, every thought you’d have and every person you’d meet; just imagine that for a minute. Life would become completely unbearable. You would be longing for a little excitement, a little adventure and God forbid, a little uncertainty - that’s what makes life beautiful. If life were anything other, it would be utterly uninteresting, and the onslaught of pre-programmed days would become unbearable.

It might sound a little far fetched, I’ll give you that, but the concept of Philosophy and life have much in common. As life is a journey of growth, love, friendship, and development, a compilation of mistakes and teachings, a process of understanding who you truly are and how you fit into this game we call life, as is Philosophy. A beautiful dance of reality and thoughts, where life as you know it can meet the eye of another and vice versa - it can open your mind to different ways of thinking, improve your comprehension and articulation of difficult concepts, and most importantly, develop your understanding of YOU!

There are no rights or wrongs (although many will tell you otherwise!), it isn’t something you will ever master and complete (although some think they have!), and it most certainly does not require you to recite the preachings of Philosophers who came before you (as you’ve guessed it, although some will disagree!). So then, I agree with the statement ‘leave Philosophy to the Philosophers’ because everyone is a Philosopher in their own right. To think, to converse, to be makes you a Philosopher. Of course, attending University or furthering ones education in the discipline of Philosophy will equip one with further knowledge of previous Philosophical figures and terminology, and may even improve ones articulation and argumentation surrounding the subject. But this does not make their feelings, thoughts and ideas any more valid than one who hasn’t undergone Philosophical training/practice. And more importantly, the study of Philosophy is a personal journey, delving into what interests you - no one person can read the tens of thousands of Philosophical texts out there, which makes everyone’s specific journey completely individual. In short, don’t let anyone, no matter what level of Philosophical training they may obtain, sway you from studying, reading or thinking about questions/concepts that capture your interest.

Finally, Philosophy or Philosophical thought is in everything we do and is everywhere around us. From the trivial household issues like who’s turn it may be to wash the dishes, right up to dilemmas of paramount importance, including the ethics of artificial intelligence, and governmental power over people’s freedom. And the topics/sub-disciplines are endless, from ethics and morality, to nihilism, theology and Philosophy of mind - there truly is something for everyone, and I don’t believe there is a downside to beginning your Philosophical journey. A journey to better understand people, the world around you and to plum the depths of your own consciousness. The word Philosophy originates from the Greek words Philo (love) and Sophia (wisdom) - so as long as you maintain a love for wisdom, diving into the questions regarding human existence, Philosophy will never become boring.

REMEMBER - Curious Minds Make Interesting People!