What is the goal of philosophy

[chaource]

When I was a student, I was told (in the mandatory philosophy course) that philosophy is a study of "the most general laws governing the universe". This was, of course, incorrect. What is philosophy, then

Comments

[duchifat]

Excellent essay, makes a good point, and by itself serves a good example of a philosophic rhetoric text that discusses extremely vague and abstract questions in such a way that the contemporary (and sufficiently educated) audience feels psychologically convinced that your essay provides meaningful answers to those questions.

[chaource]

No.

[duchifat]

You ask the abstract question "Why philosophy exists?" Then you come with a long answer with precise quotes from some earlier thinkers (using technical terms such as "being and becoming") and show familiarity with the subject and literary skills to satisfy reader's expectations of what an educated person should know and be able to do. And after al that you reach a conclusion which is vague and cannot be tested or applied in practical manner ("Philosopher's work consists of documenting the patterns of idle and ill-directed thought, as manifested in a particular language and culture among the highly educated").

[chaource]

I disagree with every sentence of your response

[duchifat]

But that's precisely the point of your essay: "A philosopher might claim that their philosophy actually is "objectively true", or "the scientific picture of history," or "that and only that which can be said without doubt." If such phrases are convincing to their intended audience, philosophers will use them."

For your intended audience, the phrases like "the conclusion is testable" and "We can apply the results..." are convincing.

You presented here some de-construction of philosophy in a post-modern manner (which means here: you claim that philosophy is a game of words rather than of deep meanings). The next logical step after that is to claim that your own viewpoint could also be de-constructed. I am not that well-versed in philosophical texts, but I though this is what Jacques Derrida has done.

[chaource]

Well then, if you think it makes sense to deconstruct everything - we need to understand that your own replies are also just a game of words, right?