[Serious] Generally speaking, is philosophy a worthwhile subject of study?

[vulcanlogician]

I think you put those less interested/educated with all things philosophy on a pedestal below yours.

I'll be honest, it's not necessarily a dislike of which ever philosophy but more often the philosophers. They often spend to much time/energy trying to impress others, i.e. using 100 words when 10 will do. You did it just now with the name dropping.

No, Brew. They actually give a shit about what they are discussing. You don't give a shit. And that's cool, man. But impressing people with 100 words isn't what's going on generally with philosophers.

Philosophers like to be thorough and accurate with their statements. They like their arguments to be air-tight (or at least water-tight). They like to anticipate objections. Sometimes these things lead to lengthy explanations. These are marks of honesty. It's better than glossing over or dodging problematic objections, isn't it? "Let's get this objection out in the open and respond to it."

And, yes, sometimes people use too damn many words. 

Sometimes, I am high on my own petard when I discuss an idea I find very interesting. I suppose that could come off as arrogant if viewed a certain way. But it isn't. When I write such things I'm usually very excited about the idea itself and could care less about being better or worse than others. I just would like to transmit my enthusiasm to others, really.

@Belacqua 

There actually is something you said somewhere in this thread (I can't find it) that might have come off as elitist. 

I know that it wasn't you. It was Aristotle talking about how working people can't properly philosophize. You were just communicating what Aristotle said. I'm very familiar with this idea of Aristotle's. I've always found it bothersome... like, I've always found it disheartening because I am of a low socioeconomic status. I didn't really have an excellent childhood education. But!-- back to your remarks about love-- I've always loved thinking about the big questions. As Plato put it, love is made of two gods: wherewithal and want. (poverty and plenty in some translations). I've got the want part down. But I lack the wherewithal. I still consider myself undereducated.

But as we've both said before, academic philosophy isn't the whole of philosophy. And several replies could be made to Aristotle's notion that working people somehow can't philosophize properly.

1. Spinoza supported himself by working long hours as a lens grinder. Is Spinoza some kind of shitty philosopher? Absolutely not.

2. With the advances made in technology in modern times, even working people could be said to "live like kings" compared to ancient Greek elites.

3. Aristotle (and Plato) were Greek elites. And this possibly prejudiced their thinking on the matter.