Poll: Philosophy: Important or a Waste of Time?
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In some regards you could say it's completely useless. For the most part, however, that's a silly statement at least, or a completely ignorant and retarding one at worst.
In many fields Philosophy is the basis upon which scientific inquiry is based. In some they are inseparable. Take as an example Daniel Dennet and his work in the Philosophy of Mind (which can be related to AI and such).
Learning about "dead Greeks" probably isn't much use if you study science. There is a difference between analytical Philosophy of the sort used in science, and historical Philosophy. They are more relevant to finding out why we in the (Western) modern world think as we do today, much the same as studying history.
In many fields Philosophy is the basis upon which scientific inquiry is based. In some they are inseparable. Take as an example Daniel Dennet and his work in the Philosophy of Mind (which can be related to AI and such).
Learning about "dead Greeks" probably isn't much use if you study science. There is a difference between analytical Philosophy of the sort used in science, and historical Philosophy. They are more relevant to finding out why we in the (Western) modern world think as we do today, much the same as studying history.
Philosophy and Psychology = Colossal waste of time. Shit that was polarising. I'm sorry but unless you want to teach these subjects there is no endgame. For personal learning and fulfillment I get it but not as a career.
F@#k no! Well, kinda depends on your definition of ethical decision. For me the only valid ethical action is the one made for the sake of the act itself.Dinwatr said:
Also, well... civil engineers use more calculus than algebra (although you are right, most of it is college level).
And our OP seems to be a little skinny on his reading, but nothing that good links to books can't solve, go and read some Jose Saramago
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Saramago)
It's important so you learn how to create an identity. What do you like? What don't you? Who are you? All of this is easily answered by philosophy, which searches for meaning in life. Science will never make you feel as good as philosophy will, simply because it tries to find reason when some times, though very rarely, can it be explained. For example, why do humans exist? Science would claim random mutation that resulted in Homo Sapiens Cromagnon but that does not explain our purpose. You dig?
Without philosophy, there is no science. Science was derived through a long tradition of philosophical thought. Those dead greek guys are the foundation for pretty much all modern thought, for better or worse. Sure, their conclusions were often incorrect, but that isn't the point. It's their way of thinking that helped revolutionize society. Much of our government and moral ideas come from philosophy. Democracy? Could only exist with philosophy. The Constitution? Based heavily off the ideas of John Locke.
And yes, they got many things wrong, but they also got many things right. Think of the atomists, who long before it was even possible to build a microscope (let alone one powerful enough to see atoms) believed in atoms.
Philosophy, like education, is a major pillar of civilization.
And yes, they got many things wrong, but they also got many things right. Think of the atomists, who long before it was even possible to build a microscope (let alone one powerful enough to see atoms) believed in atoms.
Philosophy, like education, is a major pillar of civilization.
As it's taught in college? Mostly irrelevant. To quote a movie:
"See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in 50 years you're gonna staht doin some thinkin on your own and you're gonna come up with the fact that there are two certaintees in life. One, don't do that. And Two, you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a fuckin education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library."
Don't get me wrong, the study of philosophy is a great and necessary thing... but it's also a very personal thing. Taking the classes is like paying an obscene amount of money for a discussion forum on the subject.
"See, the sad thing about a guy like you is in 50 years you're gonna staht doin some thinkin on your own and you're gonna come up with the fact that there are two certaintees in life. One, don't do that. And Two, you dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a fuckin education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library."
Don't get me wrong, the study of philosophy is a great and necessary thing... but it's also a very personal thing. Taking the classes is like paying an obscene amount of money for a discussion forum on the subject.
Someone needs to study these. I mean, psychology has numerous practical applications--such as military applications (moral is a HUGE issue for people being shot at for some reason), social applications (how are people going to deal with X? Should we have more police on the streets or not? Should we expect revolts or not?), economic applications (economics can be considered applied psychology), etc. More significantly, you're saying in essence that the mind is not worth scientific analysis. You don't get to do that. If it exists in reality, science can examine it, end of story.
Is that bad to be inconsistent? I am not sold on the idea. AFAIK this world seem to be inapprehensible by logic, so whether you are more or less self consistent is up to you.Fagotto said:
I try not to because it annoys me, but has more to do with an aesthetic choice.
I consider philosophy to be very important. In fact, there are many issues on which I think philosophy has a better grasp. The main example is the (sadly common) idea that science is capable of explaining absolutely everything, and if it cannot be explained by science it is not real; the idea that nothing truly exists outside of what science can directly perceive and explain. That's incredibly ignorant and narrow, and studying philosophy for any real amount of time will point out exactly why.
lol, yeah you're kinda right about this. However, suppose we define "better decision" to be what you consider to be better for you, then yes, I suppose studying philosophy would ultimately give you a better understanding of what you think you ought to do, rather than arbitrarily acting upon emotional impulses.Tanakh said:
We live in an ambiguous world, mate. Nothing is ever black or white, only what we want to be.Tanakh said: