RE: Generally speaking, is philosophy a worthwhile subject of study?
February 10, 2022 at 9:19 pm
(February 10, 2022 at 8:59 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: Philosophers are more concerned with principles and truth and stuff like that.
I suspect this is true of a lot of philosophers in academia.
There are many many non-academic, real-world issues which require philosophical thought, however.
~ abortion
~ capital punishment
~ limits on government / limits on individual freedom
~ right to autonomy over one's body -- Is it OK to choose self-destructive behaviors like taking heroin? Is it OK to change your gender?
~ Do animals have rights, or is it OK to destroy their habitats for profit?
~ Do religious principles have a place in political debate?
~ Do living people have a moral obligation to preserve certain things for future generations?
~ What should be taught in public schools?
There are many others. (I'm not asking for the answers to these questions here -- only pointing out that to get an answer demands philosophical thinking.)
None of these is likely to be settled, in a particular case, by a professional philosopher. But deciding each issue, even for your local district, demands philosophical thought. And the better the quality of the thought is, the better the decision will be.
