Uses of philosophy in contemporary practice

¶ … Philosophy

Admittedly, the academic study of Philosophy is a formal exercise in abstract reasoning that may sometimes seem inapplicable to everyday life. However, the more I study philosophy, the more I realize that philosophical reasoning is useful, even essential, in life. It plays a role in decision-making in business, in school, in interpersonal relationships, and in the perception and analysis of choices in relation to their consequences in many aspects of contemporary life. In the immediate wake of the successful assassination of Osama bin Laden in a United States Special Forces operation last week, philosophical issues have risen to the forefront, particularly in connection with the ethical lines distinguishing justified murder of individuals and unjustified murder of individuals by nation states.

Philosophy and Modern Politics

More than ever before in modern American politics, the era since the election of President Barack Obama has featured political tactics and campaign narratives that raise fundamental philosophical issues. Specifically, the promotion of false narratives such as "death panels" and "government takeovers" by various Republican pundits raise philosophical issues such as the degree to which rhetoric based on knowingly false premises is ethically appropriate in the realm of public discourse on political issues. Similarly, philosophical principles apply directly to the ethical propriety of holding hostage middle class tax cuts and social welfare programs based on an obvious but unofficial quid-pro-quo relationship between lawmakers and their wealthiest benefactors, especially in conjunction with the reliance on the fact that political opponents are less ruthless and would not call any bluff for political gain at the expense of the many innocent pawns who would suffer the price for that political gamesmanship.

Philosophy and Modern Business

Philosophical concepts apply to contemporary business issues, especially with respect to the ethical rightness or wrongness of the growing dominance of local markets by mega-conglomerates such as Wal-Mart and Costco. On one hand, those organizations operate perfectly legally and within the traditional framework of Markey supply and demand; on the other hand, there are fundamental philosophical criticisms that apply. For example, is it ethically appropriate for large companies to maintain their profit margins by dominating the employment opportunities available in the region and then paying such low salaries to their employees that many of them are perpetually part of the class of the working poor who must rely on public assistance programs? In effect, those companies shift the burden of healthcare (for one example) to the tax-paying public while they amass record profits.

Philosophy and Interpersonal Relationships