Thursday, October 25, 2012
"Philosophy is BS"
I was in the cafe today and this guy asked me my major. I told him I double major in Philosophy and FPA with a concentration in theatre, and he asked me why? I told him because I like the idea of rationally investigating the truths of being,knowledge or conduct. He told me I was a bullshitter and that philosophy was bs and not needed in everyday life. I thought back to our previous classes conversation about what shouldn't and should be taught in schools, then I thought evolution. I asked him what do you know about biology or the human body? He told me that human beings went thoroughly the process of evolution. I asked him did he believe that? He told me yes. I laugh at him and ask do you know that evolution is a theory? It isn't actually facts but it cannot be disregarded. You learned about that in school and you believe it. So how can philosophy be bs? I didn't get a response.
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I definitely agree that a lot of people outside the realm of what we classify as philosophy today would stereotype it as "bs." Honestly, I can say that philosophical classes and the academia that it fosters creates the most self rewarding atmosphere I have ever experienced. At the root of that atmosphere, is discovering not only what you believe to be true, but WHY you believe so. In an increasingly globalized and interdependent world, I think we tend, with the help of an ever present media, to oversimply things, for the sake of classification and efficiency. Being able to rationalize independently is one of the most crucial things philosophy has taught me.
ReplyDeleteAnti-intellectualism is rampant; I would pay no attention to those who heap abuse on your commitment to thinking, unless they're willing to give up thought themselves -- including the reasons they give for philosophy being worthless.
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