Why You Should Read Philosophy: Truth, Knowledge, and Meaning | Philip Kitcher | Big Think

TL;DR

Philosophy matters because it gives us tools to examine how we should live, how we should live together, and how our lives can improve. Philip Kitcher describes it as a synthetic discipline that connects insights from fields such as physics, linguistics, anthropology, and art criticism rather than adding another isolated body of knowledge. Read on to see how this pragmatist approach reframes philosophy around diagnosis and improvement instead of perfect theories.

Transcript

That’s a really wonderful question. What is philosophy and why do we need it? Of course many people think we don’t need it anymore. And I can sympathize with that reaction when they look at the inward-turning character if much contemporary philosophy, especially written in English. But I think philosophy is immensely important. I think the search f... Read More

Key Insights

• 💅 Philosophy examines large ideas about truth, knowledge, beauty, and justice, which are relevant in both the Western and Eastern philosophical traditions.
• 🤔 It offers tools for thinking about profound human questions related to how we should live and coexist.
• 😀 Philosophy does not seek definitive theories but focuses on understanding our current state and the limitations we face, aiming for improvement rather than perfection.
• 🖼️ Philosophers synthesize knowledge from various disciplines to provide a comprehensive picture of human existence.
• 🍝 Past philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hegel, Confucius, and Mencius, have attempted to create broad syntheses of knowledge.
• 🛟 Philosophy is a synthetic discipline that draws from life as it exists at a particular moment in time.
• 🤕 Every age needs philosophers to help provide a general understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why should you read philosophy?

Philosophy provides tools for thinking about deep human questions, including how we should live and how we should live together. It helps us examine what limits happy, valuable, and meaningful lives and consider how we might move beyond those limits.

Q: What is philosophy according to Philip Kitcher?

Kitcher describes philosophy primarily as a synthetic discipline. It draws from many areas of knowledge and from life at a particular moment to form a general picture of people, their place in the world, and the problems in their lives.

Q: Why is philosophy still important today?

Philosophy remains important because every age needs a broad understanding of where people stand and how their lives are problematic. That understanding can help diagnose ways to move forward and take the next steps toward improvement.

Q: What major questions does philosophy explore?

Philosophy explores large ideas such as truth, knowledge, beauty, and justice. Kitcher connects these ideas to two fundamental questions: how should we try to live, and how should we try to live together?

Q: Does philosophy aim to find definitive theories of truth and justice?

Kitcher does not think philosophy will discover the sweeping theories of truth and justice sought by classical philosophers. He argues that their work is still valuable because it supplied powerful tools for thinking about the largest human questions.

Q: How does philosophy differ from disciplines such as physics or linguistics?

In Kitcher’s view, philosophers do not simply add more specialized knowledge to what physicists, linguists, anthropologists, or art critics provide. They try to fit knowledge from those fields together into a broader picture of human life and its problems.

Q: What is the pragmatist approach to philosophy?

The pragmatist approach examines people’s current condition, the obstacles to living well, and possible ways past those obstacles. Its goal is improvement rather than perfection or a definitive theory that answers every major question.

Q: Which philosophers exemplify philosophy as synthesis?

Kitcher names Plato and Aristotle in the ancient West, Kant and Hegel in the more recent West, and Confucius and Mencius in the East. He presents their work as attempts to create a broad synthesis of knowledge and human life.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Philosophy explores significant ideas about truth, knowledge, beauty, and justice, which are crucial for human understanding and progress.

• Rather than aiming for definitive answers, philosophy helps us think critically about our current state and the limitations we face in living fulfilling lives.

• Philosophers work to synthesize knowledge from various disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of ourselves and guide us towards improvement.