1/31/26
I went to a philosophy focused book store. It kinda made me question that entire field.
A lot of the statements I see when I google this question in its defense seem pretty outdated. It’s talked about as foundational to science and governance, but I wonder if those fields have superseded it.
Someone did compare it to an artistic work and I accept that. It’s not art I care about though, but there’s plenty of that so fair enough.
Idk why it also has to be a bout dead white men.
I guess it’s just kind of a history lesson.
There are a lot of other benefits that people ascribe to studying philosophy that I don’t think have anything to do with philosophy proper. Things like mindfulness, argumentation, giving others the benefit of the doubt.
Just a lot of things that I do think ARE philosophical in nature, but really associated with Socrates or whatever the fuck. Just lots of living with and reckoning with the human condition.
I guess I don’t rail against Philosophy itself so much as the weird academic fetishization of it.
I suspect assertions of Philosophy’s always-relevant-ness are the same as any experts opinion of their own field. Silicon Valley tech bros solving every problem with a computer. Poets changing the world. And my own feelings on systems and such things. I suppose a lot of my negative reaction is due to feeling uncomfortable in a place not meant for me. It’s never fun to be in the out group!