“What is the basic stuff of the universe?” A simple query of Thales of Miletus unraveled new mysteries for the world. Kept in the dark for ages, people found it an anomaly. But was religion really sufficing all the needs of people?
Philosophy gave the human race a new dimension to think, paved the way for new theories. They started to admire realistic ideas after wandering in abstract art for a long time. So we bring you valid reasons why philosophy is important.
Philosophy took us on a rollercoaster to where we stand now. The influential ideas penetrated movies, featuring old philosophical issues like the trolley problem in Man of Steel and The Dark Knight.
15 Benefits Of Philosophy For Your Mind & Soul
Many people fascinate philosophy for its richness. What, why, and how ignites the fire to hunt for answers. Contrary to what many believe, here are 15 reasons why philosophy still matters:
1. Philosophy Asks For Questions
Gabriel del Carmen argues in Odyssey. “Science, I am sorry to say, does not have all the answers. Just like every other field, it has its limits. We cannot derive everything from experience, and philosophy is not dead.”
It is human nature to find logic in every aspect. Our curiosity demands an answer. No other discipline can beat philosophy when asking questions.
Philosophy has its importance when it comes to conscience and knowledge. Whether it’s to ponder over the universe, find the meaning of existence, or justify human rights, philosophy sparks your inner detective. It provides you answers.
2. Philosophy Guides The Thought Process
Thought processing is a pillar of philosophy. We expand our perspective through thinking.
We observe things differently. The debate of categorizing different styles of thinking is never-ending. But the ability to think is common in all. Philosophy reconstructs a viewpoint fair to the author’s ideas and understandable to ones unfamiliar with the topic.
Critical thinkers analyze and assess each aspect. They skim through a set of ideas. Instead of wasting their time on inherently weak arguments, they focus on the main prospects. It helps them navigate through life.
3. Philosophy Enhances Your Research
Fact-finding can be overwhelming; you want a plausible explanation to agree or disagree with a point. Your brain reviews things analytically. Philosophy gives sound arguments to solve the puzzle. It sorts out useful data for you.
Philosophy is important because it provides clarity and conciseness to your arguments. You can reach conclusions easily and determine the pace of any debate. It helps you think critically. Your research is compact. It provides a clear picture.
4. Philosophy Is Problem Solving
We face many problems in our lives. And philosophy helps us in solving them! It allows us to observe, think, and tackle them.
Like puzzle pieces that complete a jigsaw, your questions work to find answers, providing you the solution. Your intuition and logic force you to understand the nature of the problem.
Hence, answering those big and small questions help you reach a solution. You solve your problems effectively through techniques of philosophy.
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5. Philosophy Teaches Persuasion
Studying philosophy has its perks. You master the art of persuasiveness.
Why do many people fail to bring audience to their views? They have the arguments, the valuable facts but no delivery. They are unable to channel the audience to their path. Philosophy comes in handy here! The eloquence and rhetoric help you deliver your arguments effectively.
Many poets, politicians, and writers persuasively assert their thoughts. Engaging your audience with your ideas that appeal to them is a vital talent you can learn from philosophy.
6. Philosophy Improves Your Mind
Philosophy works as an antidote to a world saturated with information. It provides you the gist and crux of the text or the idea. The things we give our attention to determine the course of our lives. Philosophy defines an attention span for us. Hence our mind focuses on the important factors.
7. Philosophy Includes Every Discipline
Whether you are a student of science or arts, philosophy enhances your learning experience. The questions like “What” and “Why ” make you seek the truth. You enjoy finding answers. Your brain assesses every aspect critically, helping you organize the ideas.
Confucius has remarkable work in this regard. His theories are helpful for students of political science, diplomacy, and international relations. So, philosophy is more or less a need in every aspect.
You study in-depth. Learning becomes more rewarding through philosophy.
8. Good Foundation for Careers
Philosophy transcends the barriers of classrooms. It focuses on learning. As a tool essential for many career fields, philosophy solves complex problems quickly.
Science offers you laws and theories, but philosophy provides you evidence through experience. Most people relate to them easily than those postulates.
A business, for instance, calls for skillful people to execute the best strategies for success. Any career related to science or arts benefits from it. Hence philosophy is not just academia but a practical subject. It is applicable in real life.
9. Philosophy In The Modern World
The fast-paced technology and AI-based techniques have revolutionized the world. We have a lot of information scattered across the internet. Various sources give you valuable facts over a single topic. Philosophy comes in handy to unify them all and clarify these new concepts.
10. Importance In The Business World
Business requires quick responses to maintain good ties. You need to look through complex issues, provide arguments for proposals, filter out the information in a quick manner. These skills of rigorous analysis and critical examination are derived from Philosophy.
11. Philosophy Is The Fuel for a Change
Human intellect is a fantastic thing. We feel, think, and respond to any change through it. Philosophy loves to predict consequences. So it drives us to a change. Thinking provides you with valid points to uphold new ideas or discard them.
No change can occur if you are unable to look deep into matters. History’s revolutionary changes- whether political, cultural, or educational- were fueled by philosophical ideas.
Philosophy looks for ideas to better the situation. It ensures the progress of a nation. Hence, we find the importance of Philosophy in crucial circumstances.
12. Philosophy Is important For Navigating Through Your Beliefs
Philosophy urges minds to ponder and find their way. The set of beliefs we follow are a result of logic. We do what we find acceptable. Many people never try to practice this in life.
Asking questions is necessary. There is no shame in looking for reasons in life. And philosophy offers more of that.
You become confident and firm in your beliefs. The quest to find the truth adds more to your knowledge, and you can convince others too.
13. Philosophy Is A Learning Process
Education is necessary for any society. However, we need to inculcate in individuals some moral and ethical values too. This is where philosophy helps us. We understand our environment and recognize the divergence of our society.
It flourishes the culture of tolerance and acceptance. We can build a constructive society for ourselves.
14. Philosophy Is A World Influencer
We cannot ignore the influence philosophy has on our lives. Every emotion and strategy we use is a consequence of philosophy. It has gifted us what we have today. We value democracy and moral values- and they are philosophical ideas. Most ideas we hold dear have a root in philosophy.
Although many consider Plato and Aristotle more like Dead White Males, yet Publishers Weekly insists that they are very much alive. “Twenty-four centuries ago, they laid the foundation of Western culture, and their ideas still dictate essential features of our world right now, from what we eat to what we see on the internet.”
15. Philosophy Helps The Public Institutions
Public institutions have a deep connection with philosophy. The philosophical ideas suffice human needs. Over the decades, we have forgotten the true spirit and force behind such institutions. We live in an era where 40% population is pursuing higher education. But people do not have any idea why they are going there.
Philosophy, for instance, defines the university as a place to find your soul and help others. It provides you with goals you need to set for your life. The idea was marginalized in the past few decades. People consider it wishful thinking. However, we trace it back to 2400 years in Plato’s Academy. It is the role of any institution to develop people’s characters.
Importance Of Philosophy-Conclusion
Philosophy profoundly addresses our issues. It looks for the answer in areas of justice and God, beauty and death, good and evil, and truth and morality.
It provides the principles for a good society. It promotes human understanding, helping students construct clear arguments with apt examples.
A child’s first intuition is the philosophical ideas he kneads in his brain. Philosophy drives us to humanism. In short, philosophy helps us find ourselves.
Philosophy drives us to humanism. In short, philosophy helps us find ourselves. As David Calhoun puts it, “Science helps us live longer, whereas philosophy helps us live better.”
References:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/trolley-problem-moral-philosophy-ethics
- https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-philosophy-is-still-relevant-in-scientific-world
- https://www.biography.com/scholar/confucius
- https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/60264-5-reasons-why-plato-and-aristotle-still-matter-today.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_Academy
- https://www.davidbcalhoun.com/2012/why-is-philosophy-still-important
A sophomore in engineering, I’m a budding writer and an adventure enthusiast. My passion leads me on to try my hands on different things. I enjoy music, food, and good company. Making my way through life in my own ways, you’ll find me holding a camera and capturing what this world has to offer.
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