Even though our World heavily relies on science and logic to help us explain things we don’t understand, would it be correct to say that Philosophy has run its course in human history? Personally, I believe that philosophy has a lot to teach us about how we live and how we interact with one another. Much like any age in history, philosophy does not become obscure, it makes us ask Questions we didn’t think about before, and our age is not an exception for asking questions.

How useful is philosophy?

On the outside, philosophy may seem as though it’s nothing more than asking questions that may never be answered and looking for answers that may not be there.

Yet, philosophy itself is precisely asking questions and looking for answers in places we never expect it to be. It’s a mental exercise. A way for us to think outside of the box and perceive solutions we never could think of before.

Since human beings are complex creatures in a chaotic and confusing universe, it is natural for us to ask why we are here and what we are to do about it. If we did not ask any questions or didn't take the time to think about things, where would we be exactly? But finding an objective answer is something that will not come easy. We may never know what the purpose of life is, how we should treat our fellow people, or whether there is a correct religion. f we don’t ask those questions, then we can’t strive for anything better than the status quo.

By asking questions and wondering if there is something we can do to improve our lot in life, philosophy is quite vital to humanity since it puts our consciousness to the test by asking what can be done in the most efficient way with the greatest result.

Misconceptions about philosophy

When people hear philosophy, chances are they are thinking about somebody sitting in a library reading a book by Kant or Nietzsche.

While both Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Nietzsche have made significant contributions to the field of philosophy, there are philosophers for every field imaginable and who have made that field what it is today. For example, there are boards in hospitals referred to as ethics committees that attempt to answer questions in regards to certain medical practices and procedures.

These are comprised of people who use philosophical deliberation in order to discern whether the said practice should be conducted and whether it will be of greater benefit or harm to a patient.

These hospital ethics committees are one example of how philosophy can be utilized in the real world in a useful manner. Philosophy is not only about sitting around and thinking for countless hours on end, it’s also about implementing new ideas and methods of doing things that could improve our lives. Philosophy is an exercise in mental cognition and using those thoughts and questions to understand both the world around us as well as ourselves and our place in the world.

What does philosophy hold for us now?

As mentioned before, with new ages, new questions are brought up and new answers are sought out. For the 21st century, new problems have been brought up in terms of politics, economics, and social interactions, along with an ever-changing definition of our purposes. We seek out these answers in order to give us somewhat of an identity of who we are and what we can become. Since we live in an age of expanding ideas and attitudes, it is important to stop and think about what we are engaging ourselves in as well as aspire to be the best versions of ourselves as we can.

Thus, philosophy is not useless if it can provide us an idea of who we are and bring us some comfort.

Even though we undoubtedly end up with more questions than answers, we still must press forward and not be discouraged by the lack of any visible truths. If there are no universal truths to be found, we’ll never know unless we use philosophy to tell us everything we need to know.
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