SUMMARY OF THE VALUES OF PHILOSOPHY It is necessary to know the values of philosophy, whether it affects the
person studying it in a positive way or not, and whether
philosophy needs to be studied or not. We also have to consider the tendency that many people see philosophy as useless and full of controversies on matters that are of impossible knowledge. But all these conceptions are based on the wrong conception about what philosophy is, and what it tends to achieve. According to Russell, because physical science made ways for inventions, it is said to be useful for many people, not only to the science student. But the value of philosophy, if it has one can only indirectly affect others, through the lives of those who study it. This is so by most people because they tend to ignore the goods of philosophy thrives to achieve, the food for the mind.
Philosophy is basically the study of knowledge. By critical examination a knowledge that will open one’s eyes to reality. But unfortunately, philosophy has not recorded enormous success in delivering this knowledge. Many fields today in the world, like Mathematics, Physics, and the rest have something to take home on the achievements in their fields. But to the philosopher, there has not been a good result as compared to the other sciences. It was for this reason that once a philosophical knowledge has achieved results, the subject matter ceases to become philosophy and becomes a separate science.
There are many
questions, if we may consider, about the uncertainty of philosophy. But whether the answers are found or not, those provided by philosophers are true. But the search for the ultimate answer continues, which is one of the aims of philosophy, to ascertain knowledge. Even though the value of philosophy is uncertain, it is something every one must sought to find.
Philosophy also helps one to live a life of subjectivity as opposed to objectivity. It allows one to be calm and free. It makes one think not only about himself and his family, but about the outer world also. Philosophy is not biased, and does not divide the world into friends and foes or good or bad.
Above all in my opinion, philosophy increases ones problem solving capabilities. It helps you to analyze concepts and problems and organize ideas that will help you solve those problems. Philosophy also helps you to better understand other subjects. It makes you to think as a professional in your field. This value of philosophy is of great academic value to every one, and as such every one should seek the knowledge of philosophy. Therefore philosophy should be studied not for the sake of the answers it finds, but for the sake of the questions which seem unanswered. It is from these questions that we get to know what is possible, and we make speculations of what is possible.