The Value of Philosophy in Education and Modern Culture

Introduction

Throughout history, philosophers have been alternatively lauded, vilified, or ignored altogether depending on the exigencies of the day. While the significance of philosophy was clear to the ancient Greeks, its value may seem less relevant in the 21st century, particularly to young adults who have grown up with technology that provides instantaneous answers to important questions rather than requiring deep analytical thinking about what is real and what is not. To determine the facts, this paper reviews the relevant literature to explain the real value of philosophy today, followed by a discussion concerning whether philosophy is an important part of the college education, or whether it is just a lot of useless arguing. In addition, an analysis concerning whether philosophy opposes or reinforces common sense is followed by an assessment of whether philosophers can be deemed experts on anything. Finally, a discussion concerning the extent to which philosophy plays a role in the broader culture is followed by a summary of the research and important findings about the significance of philosophy today.

The Value of Philosophy

Some authorities argue that philosophy is no longer relevant in a modern world and has only limited value for certain purposes. For instance, Marino maintains that, "We do not need philosophy to underwrite our views of justice, knowledge, or almost anything else. If it is good for anything, it is for the rather marginal purpose of squaring apparently inconsistent theories" (12). Likewise, Cahn points out that there is growing skepticism about the value of philosophy in an increasingly pragmatic world where science holds the answers to humankind's big questions. In this regard, Cahn notes that, "Many men, under the influence of science or of practical affairs, are inclined to doubt whether philosophy is anything better than innocent but useless trifling, hair-splitting distinctions, and controversies on matters concerning which knowledge is impossible" (418).

The dictionary definition of philosophy, however, suggests that it is more relevant today than ever before. Derived from the Greek philosophia ("love of knowledge"), philosophy simply means the "pursuit of wisdom [through] systematic investigation" (Word origin and history for philosophy 4). Indeed, Cahn suggests that those who question the value of philosophy today are misguided concerning its true significance. As Cahn notes, "This view of philosophy appears to result, partly from a wrong conception of the ends of life, partly from a wrong conception of the kind of goods which philosophy strives to achieve" (418). When the purpose and goal of philosophical inquiry is understood, it is reasonable to suggest that most people would agree that it remains valuable today, even as part of a college education.

The Relevance of Philosophy as Part of a College Education

The very manner in which people in the West think and understand the world around them is based on the philosophical tenets established by the ancient Greek philosophers, so studying these origins represents a timely and valuable addition to any college education. In fact, even when classroom discussions degenerate into outright shouting matches between students with opposing views, these exchanges serve as a catalyst to insightful reflection and the clarification of what people really think. In many cases, people may not even know what they truly think about something until they articulate their thoughts in these types of exchanges. Even science majors — perhaps especially science majors — can benefit from this type of discourse, since it can result in questioning the common sense that most people possess, as discussed below.

The Relationship Between Philosophy and Common Sense

There is a clear relationship between philosophy and common sense, and the extent to which the goal and purpose of philosophy are understood will likely determine the degree to which it results in the questioning of common sense approaches to surviving the human condition. For instance, according to the definition provided by Black's Law Dictionary, "common sense" means "sound practical judgment; that degree of intelligence and reason, as exercised upon the relations of persons and things and the ordinary affairs of life, which is possessed by the generality of mankind" (276). In some cases, however, meaningful philosophical inquiry can oppose even long-held and mainstream common sense. In fact, Cahn believes that this is the true value of philosophy: "The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the co-operation or consent of his deliberate reason" (419).

Lacking other information, common sense told people in the Middle Ages that the world was flat and that the sun orbited the earth. Although it was the scientific method that disproved this type of common sense, it was philosophical inquiry into the true nature of the universe that generated interest in these questions in the first place. Therefore, although philosophy can reinforce common sense when supported by evidence, the real value of philosophy is derived from its ability to oppose common sense in ways that create innovation and original thought. In this regard, Cahn concludes that, "Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom" (419). Given these desirable outcomes, the question turns to whether philosophers are experts on anything.

Conclusion

The research showed that the English word "philosophy" comes from the Greek philosophia, or "love of knowledge." Strictly applied, philosophy means the "pursuit of wisdom through systematic investigation," a definition that resembles the scientific method, which has widespread credibility in a pragmatic world. By contrast, the value of philosophy has been increasingly questioned by skeptics who argue that circuitous reasoning and abstract arguments do little or nothing to advance humankind's progress. Indeed, some critics maintain that philosophy no longer has relevance in a modern world. The research also showed, however, that the value of philosophy does not relate to the same types of outcomes achieved through the scientific method, and the extent to which these differences are understood will be the extent to which modern observers recognize its true value.

Works Cited

Black's Law Dictionary. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company, 1991. Print.

Cahn, Steven M. Exploring Philosophy: An Introductory Anthology. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print.

Marino, Gordon D. "Shattering Philosophy's Mirror: A Conversation with Richard Rorty." Commonweal 121(9), May 6, 1994: 11–14. Print.

"Word origin and history for philosophy." Dictionary.com, 2015. Web.