by Lot Grundy

Created on: January 16, 2009

Philosophy has helped me avoid responsibility where it would be a burden, dodge friendship where it would be forced and miss out on happiness where it would be shallow. The importance of philosophy in my everyday decisions has been to present an implacable defence against self-deception.

That is, of course, down to what form of philosophy one employs. People will often state something such as happiness or simplicity or even self-service is their philosophy, but this blunt statement of fact is hardly anymore than a totem to bow to in philosophical terms. Stating principals like 'human rights' and 'equality' is all well and good, but if one's understanding of these terms is vapid, then they cease to be principals and become a side one is on ('liberal').

Philosophy is not a case of being on a side or of signing up to a doctrine. It is a rigourous exploration of subject matter. It is a perfect mirror in which one may never look any thinner or more attractive than one is. The mirror of philosophy tells the truth about your dress sense, about your music collection, about your choice of relationships. It does not give you the good news or the bad news - just the news.

The ancient Greeks differentiated between the lovers of wisdom (philosophers) and the wise-guys (the sophists). Sophists would state wisdom without exploration - as politicians do today - merely try to persuade people to come over to their side. The philosopher explored the meaning of the articles of debate without necessarily petitioning for an interest group - who does that today? One expresses the love of wisdom by calling very little 'wise', and only then after interrogating it thoroughly - perhaps this explains the lack of sponsorship deals for philosophers?

When one talks of the importance of philosophy in everyday decision making, one is talking about the level one is living life on. You may have been told to stop thinking so much and enjoy yourself - I think most people have been told this at some point. My reply, though I rarely give it, is that without thinking on the acts I perform and take part in I miss the truly sublime nature of the truly happy moments in life. Would my wife be so beautiful if I did not see her for what she is? Could seeing her elicit that strange wild panic is always has?

To experience something so sublime is worth the loss of unearned happinesses like relationships formed for convenience or out of politeness, or money gained for being a person who can do a job you would hate. Philosophy rewards rarely but well.

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