assignment

“The Value of Philosophy”

by Bertrand Russell

What is the Value of Philosophy:?

• Science directly benefits many people who are ignorant of scientific discoveries

• Philosophy only indirectly benefits society • Philosophy directly benefits those who study

it.

Goods of Philosophy

• Practical human – aware that humans must have food for the body but ignores the food for the mind.

• Philosophy is valuable for the goods of the mind.

• If poverty and disease were reduced as low as possible would we need to do anything else to have a valuable society?

Questions

• The sciences give definite answers. • Philosophy asks open-ended questions:

– Is the universe the result of a divine plan or is it a fortunate colliding of atoms?

– Is consciousness a permanent part of the universe or is it an accidental feature?

– Are good and evil relative to humans or do they have a universal value?

Uncertainty

• Philosophy’s value is found in the uncertainty that it produces.

• Philosophy suggests to us many possibilities. • When we free our minds from certainty we

avoid dogmatism.

Philosophy’s Value

• The value of philosophy is found in our thought about the big picture.

• It expands our interests and allows us to escape our limited perspective

• Philosophy allows us to become a part of a bigger picture.

• Philosophy is valuable for the sake of the questions it asks.