Is philosophy supposed to be “about the real world” or not?
If yes, then we can debate whether it is successful in this attempt.
If no, fair enough. But then I ask why should anyone care about philosophy at all?
Because this seems to me like conveniently shifting definitions (by defenders of philosophy in general). If I decide not to care about philosophy, I am told that philosophy is important for understanding the world, or human thinking, or whatever. But when I start examining how useful philosophy actually is for understanding the world or human thinking, then suddenly no, philosophy is about something else (ability to ask creative questions, or some unspecific noble spiritual activity).
It’s a little more complicated than about the real world or not. Truth about the real world requires empirical confirmation of theories: theories require concepts, ways of expressing concepts, and so on. Science specialises in some of those areas, philosophy in others.
To look at it another way, is this site about reality? Is Clippie real? Are utility functions?
Is philosophy supposed to be “about the real world” or not?
If yes, then we can debate whether it is successful in this attempt.
If no, fair enough. But then I ask why should anyone care about philosophy at all?
Because this seems to me like conveniently shifting definitions (by defenders of philosophy in general). If I decide not to care about philosophy, I am told that philosophy is important for understanding the world, or human thinking, or whatever. But when I start examining how useful philosophy actually is for understanding the world or human thinking, then suddenly no, philosophy is about something else (ability to ask creative questions, or some unspecific noble spiritual activity).
It’s a little more complicated than about the real world or not. Truth about the real world requires empirical confirmation of theories: theories require concepts, ways of expressing concepts, and so on. Science specialises in some of those areas, philosophy in others.
To look at it another way, is this site about reality? Is Clippie real? Are utility functions?