The meaning of the word philosophy, from the Greek philo (which means "love") and sophia ("knowledge") already gives a clue to the answer to the question about its usefulness.
Moved by this “love of knowledge”, the first philosophers sought to break with common sense and mythic consciousness. Philosophy was born with the aim of developing a critical awareness of the world, finding answers no longer based on belief and authority.
Since then, philosophy has become an area of knowledge that aims to question any and all aspects of the world, life or whatever is relevant to individuals. For this, logical and rational answers are given to the questions.
The very question "what is philosophy for?" it brings reflection, a questioning spirit and a critical and philosophical attitude. Philosophy represents the escape from ignorance and the search for knowledge of oneself and the world through critical thinking.
1. Philosophy creates concepts and grounds for other knowledge
Philosophy is concerned with the construction of concepts that will serve as a basis for different areas of knowledge. Thus, it is the philosophy's task to create and develop concepts, being a field of knowledge that aims to produce knowledge.
Because of this characteristic, philosophy is said to be an autotelic activity. In other words, the telos (objective) of philosophy is itself (self).
As an autotelic area of knowledge, philosophy ends up becoming the target of prejudice. It can and should address all topics that might be relevant to humanity in general and produce as much knowledge as possible about these issues.
In this way, it breaks with the prejudiced idea that it is useless, presents itself as the root of all the knowledge already produced and tends to anticipate the next issues to be developed.
For example, science, an area of knowledge that has a privileged role in the contemporary world, was only possible to be developed based on the methodological bases created by philosophy.
See more at: what is philosophy?
2. Philosophy helps to reflect on life
Philosophy has a strong connection with people's daily lives and causes a critical reflection that creates a distance from everything that is common and trivial. This distancing is important so that life does not become an automatic practice and that conscious choices about actions can be made.
The accelerating pace of contemporary life has a detrimental effect on the freedom of individuals. Without proper reflection on life, people tend to become alienated from themselves and not realize what their real needs are.
The motto "Know thyself" found in the temple of the god Apollo, in ancient Greece, has been one of the engines of philosophy since its birth and is attentive to the need for reflection and self-knowledge.
Otherwise, an unreflective life generates the emptying of the meaning of its own existence, which, in general, becomes a source of frustration and unhappiness.
This existential emptiness accompanied by frustrations tend to be filled by consumerism. According to the Frankfurt School philosophers, this entails the process of commodity fetishism and the reification of individuals.
Commodity fetishism occurs when products take on human characteristics that are lent to individuals. While people undergo reification, they become things, a dehumanized product that starts to be identified through what they consume.
See more at: know yourself.
3. Philosophy is the basis of ethics and politics
It was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who defined human beings as social animals. Thus, life in society poses questions about everyday life and the relationship between people.
About these interpersonal relationships and the definition of the common good that develops ethics. Ethics serves to define the principles that sustain life in society, without it, it would be difficult to understand what is good, justice, virtues and other principles that guide actions.
Likewise, philosophy serves to develop knowledge about the State, the best forms of government and the participation of individuals in these social processes.
Thinking about the best ways of life and building a just society for its citizens has been a concern of philosophy since ancient Greece.
The development of the concept of democracy, foundation for contemporary forms of government, is based on philosophy, as well as the different ideologies adopted by States.
In turn, scientific and technological advances and their influence on people's lives are targets of intense bioethical investigation.
Bioethics seeks to provide the basis for these advances so that people are not harmed and are guaranteed respect for human life and its sustainable development in the world.
See too:
- ethic
- What is policy?
- Political Philosophy
- What is a philosophical attitude?
- What is philosophical knowledge?
- knowledge theory
