Why Study Philosophy

"You have long been aware of what you mean when you use the expression 'being.' we, however, who used to think we understood it, have now become perplexed."- Plato Sophist

When I posted that I was reading Martin Heidegger a friend commented "Why not slam your head into a wall, it will be quicker and less painful, but with the same result." In one sense it was a ridiculous statement as he specialized in engineering in college while I specialized in professional philosophy. It might be like me suggesting that since I, myself, never understood calculus that it must be without meaning and not worth another person studying.

But really it might be thoughtful to ask if philosophy (or metaphysics more specifically... or ontology much more specifically) has any value as a study. A common American, pragmatic, response is "What is the practical application of philosophy?" but this question has an unstated (and rarely explored) assumption concerning what it valuable. The pragmatic who says "What is the practical application of your study" actually means "Can your study produce technology* by which I might use for my own purposes?" This question might be valid, especially if I am asking for funding from the pragmatic, but as it is stated disguises itself as a moralistic question whereas the question as I believe it to be is not concerned with right or wrong but the application of power.

It saddens me to answer in the affirmative, philosophy has displayed powerful practical (that is technological) for the use of those who grasp it. It is without great reflection that we learn that between 1600 and 1800 monarchy was near completely eliminated in Western Europe and without reflection the role "ideology" has played in the mobilization for war since then. In no time in human history has what people believe been as influential, powerful or dangerous and this has occurred through the application of philosophy. Of course if you were to ask the people affected by the application of philosophy they would not recognize themselves as such. They would see themselves as motivated by the truth, be it "freedom" "racial purity" "revolution" or whatever. They would see themselves merely as "on the right side."

Certainly history has shown that those who have no interest in philosophy can be influenced, if not controlled, by it. But this is not why I value philosophy. Neither is it to resist the power others might have on me through the application of philosophy, though this would be one of the other practical advantages of philosophy. Certainly if my motivation was power (or even just for protection against the power of others) philosophy as a primary means would be one of the more round-about means to that end. It would be more expedient to study law, warfare and economics with just enough philosophy to ensure you are autonomous enough to not "drink the cool-aid" than to make philosophy the the focus of the advancement of my own purposes.

The reason I study philosophy and Heidegger is because (despite its possible round-about practical applications) that philosophy is a means for approaching meaningfulness. Granted, philosophy is not an absolute means to approaching meaningfulness. One need only meet a wise and learn'd philosopher quite capable of distinguishing between Kant and Descartes but who is little more than a dusty and little read collection of quotations. But still there is another kind of stereotype which is typified by the young idealist who is searching for truth. That idealist often finds himself drawn towards philosophy and though it might lead him in circles and to all kinds of intellectual fantasies we must admit there is something particular about philosophy, as a subject, which naturally attracts those who are interested in what is actually true.

It should come to as no surprise that philosophy, as a means to meaningfulness, is something which must be left behind or rejected as an ultimate path in favor of a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ... but my Bible study starts soon so I'm out of time.

*by "technology" we could include non-physical techniques of persuasion such as advertising.