Why Philosophy Doesn't Matter
Stop Overthinking and Start Doing
I am writing this for my fellow leftists in mind when I say that philosophy doesn’t matter too much. Why would I say this as someone who wants others to be better educated and informed?
Keep in mind, I am saying this as someone with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and who went halfway through a master’s program on the topic. I love philosophy as a discipline dearly for what it has given me in my life.
In my view, philosophy has value because it enables us to engage in self-reflection. We all have reflexive assumptions about the world around us, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, relationships, and so on. Philosophy allows us to reflect on these fundamental assumptions and puts us to the test.
Bertrand Russal puts it best…
philosophy has a value—perhaps its chief value—through the greatness of the objects which it contemplates, and the freedom from narrow and personal aims resulting from this contemplation. The life of the instinctive person is shut up within the circle of his private interests: family and friends may be included, but the outer world is not regarded except as it may help or hinder what comes within the circle of instinctive wishes. In such a life there is something feverish and confined, in comparison with which the philosophic life is calm and free. The private world of instinctive interests is a small one, set in the midst of a great and powerful world which must, sooner or later, lay our private world in ruins.
The Value of Philosophy by Bertrand Russel
Self-reflection is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world. Philosophy can encourage us to think and contemplate more deeply. However, sometimes we get so stuck in contemplation that we forget the reason we started contemplating in the first place.
For instance, I began my studies in philosophy due to my curiosity and thirst for knowledge. However, deep down, I wanted to learn philosophy to dominate others with my knowledge. I thought that if I had the perfect philosophical argument, I could bully others into intellectual submission.
Why would I want to do this? The short answer is I wanted control.
I wanted to know and account for everything in my life because growing up, I never felt in control. I moved around constantly as a kid because we were homeless, so the only refuge and certainty I knew in life was academic. No matter where I went, my books went with me.
Deep philosophical contemplation can be an easy way to rationalize our experiences, but it can also be a form of escape. It allows us to avoid dealing with a situation that’s bothering us and can help us delay action.
The more I read, the more I felt lost, as every philosophical school of thought had holes and deep-rooted problems that couldn’t be solved. It didn’t matter whether you subscribed to utilitarianism, existentialism, liberalism, or other philosophical schools; every philosophical school in all the major philosophical disciplines had its counterarguments.
How could we be sure about anything?
I remember contemplating this with my neighbor, who makes a living as a bass player. The man is brilliant and wise, but sometimes he has his head in the clouds and is indecisive. Living life, traveling the world, and playing an instrument for a living definitely gives you a more removed experience from the average person.
However, he said something I will never forget.
He looked at me as we were practicing bass in his basement and said, “The problem is you want to understand all the philosophies, but in life you have to choose one and go with it.”
After all the reading and contemplation, we have to actually live life. This means choosing a philosophical school of thought, flaws and all, then proceeding with that in mind.
It’s like the famous Marx quote, “The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.”
The point of philosophy is self-reflection, and the point of self-reflection is to change the world you live in. Because why reflect or contemplate if you’re not trying to make any changes?
This is why I took up Marxism, perceived flaws and all. If I want to change the world, then what sort of world do I want to live in?
I want to live in a world where people do not struggle to make ends meet, where people are not bombed because of where they live, where we do not put numbers on a graph over the lives of people. I want to live in a world where we fight for a better tomorrow in the best way possible, together.
We read theory and history not to dominate others with our intellect. We as leftists read theory to help make sense of our experiences and to change the world around us. The point of philosophy is to gain the tools for change.
This change will never happen in the halls of academia or a government agency. This change will require the bodies of the masses, educated and organized. We don’t need complicated philosophical discussions or morality to know that genocide is wrong. We don’t need complicated economic theory to understand that the average billionaire does not work harder than the average worker. While education is important, it should serve only to enhance our understanding and provide guidance towards our goals.
The problem is that some of us are looking to understand all the philosophies, while others have not even considered their own philosophy.
We need to reflect on our experiences while also using the tools that something like Marxism can give us to liberate ourselves from what exploits us.
Too often knowledge is a way to dominate. When I share knowledge others go ..."you think you're better than me?" Maybe it's assumed all knowledge is elite. Heh.
Information without organization is near meaningless. ...and yet I persist.
Not be pedantic but it sounds like philosophy does matter, you picked one and used thought to come up with a reason as to why you should go with it. To me, the most interesting part of what you've written here is your belief that the point of philosophy is self reflection....I've just never heard that one before personally. I agree that a lot of leftists get lost in theory and many develop an ego about it. I think the real problem you were running into was asking "what is true" when you should have been asking "what sustains liberation, interrupts systemic evil, restores humanity, generates meaning" type questions. Then taking practical action towards whatever that is which seems to be Marxism for you. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Marxism more of a political ideology than a personal philosophy? I'm not deep into Marxism but my understanding is that it doesn't tell you how to live.