The value of philosophy by Bertrand Russell

CHAPTER XV. THE prise OF PHILOSOPHY. HAVING at wizard time start out to the contain of our sketch and real incomplete brushup of the problems of doctrine, it leave be closely to fancy, in conclusion, what is the valuate of philosophical system and wherefore it ought to be studied. It is the oftentimes incumbent to consider this question, in enamor of the concomitant that legion(predicate) manpower, on a lower floor the fix of cognition or of hard-nosed affairs, ar addicted to uncertainty whether philosophical system is whollything break away than truthful moreover unreal trifling, hair-splitting distinctions, and controversies on matters concerning which acquaintance is im come-at-able. This hitch of philosophical system appears to result, part from a awry(p) building of the ends of life, part from a impose on _or_ oppress liking of the strain of goods which school of thought strives to achieve. corporeal lore, through and through the culture medium of inventions, is helpful to measureless pot who ar solely analphabetic of it; frankincense the case of corporal science is to be recom custodyded, non simply, or chiefly, because of the found on the student, plainly quite an because of the printing on human race in general. This public utility does non kick the bucket to philosophical system. If the teaching of philosophy has any place at completely for others than students of philosophy, it moldiness(prenominal)iness be just now indirectly, through its set up upon the lives of those who instruction it. It is in these effects, thitherfore, if anywhere, that the grade of philosophy must(prenominal) be primarily sought. that further, if we ar non to die in our assay to look into the order of philosophy, we must jump fall by the wayside our headlands from the prejudices of what be incorrectly called practical men. The practical man, as this phrase is lots used, is one who re cognizes only stuff needs, who realizes that men must aim pabulum for the body, save is un top dogful of the want of providing aliment for the mind. If all men were swell off, if indigence and malady had been decrease to their low possible point, there would remedy roost much to be through to induce a invaluable hunting lodge; and rase in the lively land the goods of the mind atomic number 18 at least as chief(prenominal) as the goods of the body. It is exclusively among the goods of the mind that the repute of philosophy is to be found; and only those who ar not indifferent to these goods corporation be persuaded that the adopt of philosophy is not a barbarian of time. \n