Wisdom is an affair of Judgement and value. It is no wonder, the role of philosophy remains crucial in the 21 s century. However, it is worth noting is that there is no discipline that is misunderstood or misrepresented as philosophy. Many cite it as a discipline concerned with abstract realities. According to this group of people, philosophy has nothing to do with world’s realities. There is an insinuation that it is learning in vainness (Ndubisi, 2015). One thing that remains very important, however, is that philosophical knowledge has a very wide application especially in psychology, culture, economy, natural science, political science, and life as a whole. Most philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Bertrand Russell, and Nietzsche constantly deliberated on value and role of philosophy. Their debate is a problem that has spilled over in the present century for all student of philosophy. There is growing need to understand the value and the role of this discipline. In fact, one of the advantages philosophy has played is its’ influence on critical thinking and ethics in life. This paper explores the role, and value of philosophy as spelled out in the works of Plato, Russel, Nietzsche, and Socrates.
Philosophy has been seen as the base of understanding people’s inner being and the only way to understand one-self. This value is evident in the works of Socrates dubbed the Apology of Plato in which Socrates dies for defending philosophy. The book is depicted in the form of a speech, trial, and conversation where such terms as philosophers, wisdom, life, soul and eternal life are defined. He also goes ahead to explain the role of philosophers in his trial speech. He is said to have died for defending and obeying the laws of philosophy. However, based on the role of philosophers evident from the trial process, his contribution of reasoning formed the basis on which knowledge and wisdom are founded. Socrates claimed, “Unexamined life was not worth living" (Miller, Platter, &Plato, 2010). According to Socrates the value and worth of philosophy were more important than in his own life. Implying that he believed in the power of reason for which he gained through philosophy.
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Also, of significance is the contribution of Bertrand Russel on the knowledge of the value of philosophy. Russel argues that many may find philosophy as nothing more than blameless issues and hullabaloos on matters of knowledge (Cleveland, 2011, yet such arguments are derived from a misconception of the end of life knowledge, and the misunderstanding of good life. He continues further claiming that although philosophy may be less appealing to its critiques have much significance both directly and indirectly to those who value it and this forms the first value of the discipline. Drawing argument from natural science discipline, Russel argues that the study of subjects likes medicine, and physics have value to both those who are ignorant of it, and those who value it. Thus, in the same thought, he says that the value of philosophy for non-students stems from indirect rubbing on with those who possess the knowledge. Additionally, he argues that there are men called hands-on men who only recognize food as a need, but do not recognize the contribution of food to the mind. In short, he was implying that for one to study philosophy, they have to be open-minded, and believe that the discipline can sharpen, and utilize the mind extensively.
As such, Russel says that the aim of philosophical knowledge is to provide unity to science. This implies that no matter how far other disciplines attain knowledge, scholars still use critical thinking knowledge derived from philosophy. A more recent neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris in his book the Moral Landscape (2010) applies an empirical medical epistemology that determines medical health, and well-being integrity quizzes. He claims that the moment one admits to knowing that they are aware of the health and well-being, one must also be cognizant that there are individuals who are in bliss about the matter (Harris, 2010). Harris further uses both psychological effects, and neuroscience in explaining human emotions using neuroimaging explanations. He argues that neuroimaging has shown that just activities stimulate the brain positively while unfair activities demand that one regulate their negative emotions (Harris, 2010). As such, this work exemplifies Russel’s work because he draws from natural, and psychological behavior to explain the unity as a function of knowledge. Ideally, philosophy helps one reason correctly. An argument that Russell support saying that a man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through a life imprisonment stemming from the common sense issues of daily habits and environment.
Philosophy also plays a role in helping clarifying arguments on life’s most important issues. This could be matters regarding questions like how to stay happy? What is the right way to behave? Is there life at all? In my opinion, seeking to answer questions, philosophers seek to clarify and eliminate contradictions present in life. This means that philosophy is a form of quizzical, and also a pool for unrequited inquiries. Thus, taking examples for Socrates, and Nietzsche the researcher explains how philosophy is both a form of question and reservoir of reasoning. Socrates is regarded as the father of reason after he developed the elenchus concept. While still living in Athens the philosopher challenged people on the streets about certain contemporary issues like justice, wisdom, and religion. As such, these questions led to new philosophical knowledge. Essentially, his development is irreplaceable to critical thinking because he questioned things that no one had ever questioned in history. In his teaching method elenchus, he encouraged listeners to construct arguments based on the view they took. This means that philosophy encourages one to question the value the taken lightly. Being skeptical about a matter was okay to Socrates because he believed that doubting was a way of thinking! Aristotle supports this argument saying that philosophy helps in attaining better definition of terms, a concept that was basic in the formation of institutional education (Miller, Platter, & Plato, 2003).
Similar arguments are shared by Nietzsche who emphasizes all the need to inquire about the unquestionable or that which is forbidden by law. In his book, the Genealogy of Moral Nietzsche ( 2000) emphasizes that those in authority always define what is considered good or bad depending on the culture. Similarly, commoners can also come up with own definition of bad or good. He builds his argument around the questions under what value judgment did man know what is good and evil (Nietzche, 2000). Historically, epistemologically, and philosophically, he questions the premises of morality by analyzing its systems that hold as an authority not questionable (Babich, 2013). In his method, Nietzsche, emphasize that philosophy is a reservoir of questions as well as unify disciplines and a point of developing new questions.
Philosophy also plays a great role in value image. This is an argument Sartre Jean-Paul puts forward in his book, Being and Nothingness (2008). According to this philosopher, there is no essence that can precede an individual. Arguably, it is easy to see that human existence precedes essence. He says that everything created whether bad or good is as a result of the purpose so created in it (Sartre, 2008). Although he is cognizant that human beings are biological beings, he says that there are no truths to what one should be or not be. As such, he reasons that people are supposed to be radically free, and problems will arise when they stop being free. The concept of negation or nothingness explains freedom according to Sartre (2008). He, therefore, implies freedom to imagine or think, and choose alternative possibilities. Negation implies the freeing of one’s mind and action, and this explains why humans make choices. Moreover, this radical freedom is more evident when one makes resolutions. Implying that, imagination frees a human from dogmatism. It makes individual not accept things without rational arguments thereby, freeing man from the imprisonment of prejudice as it provides intellectual independence.
Conclusion
An attempt of this paper has been to emphasize, the role and value of philosophy as spelled out in the works of Nietzsche, Plato, Russel, and Socrates. However, the attempt of the researcher was not to argue that the few value and roles are all that there is in regarding philosophy as a body of knowledge. The truth is that philosophy is important. In my opinion, the value of philosophy lies in its ability to help with problem-solving skills, in that one can find a possible way out. It is evident from above text that it is a unifying body of knowledge through its questioning of reasoning, and truths. Thus, one questions they tend towards rational thinking which is very important to a student. This is because when the mind is rationally developed, it translates to societal development.
Similarly, this paper expanded on the role of the philosopher as a reservoir for questions unanswered, and its contribution to the body of knowledge. The researcher analyzed the works of Nietzsche analyzing the value concept and the genealogical history. The study emphasized how genealogical questioning leads to new knowledge formation regarding morality and societal institution. The expansion of the role of philosophy as a reservoir for unanswered question reveals that the discipline helps generate more questions. This knowledge exemplifies philosophy as a viable discipline that creates new knowledge and unifies science. Emphasizing on the role of philosophy as a reservoir for an unanswered question is the work of Sartre that emphasizes radical freedom, and randomness that human beings need in imagination. The free will imagination makes human being rational in their thinking while making choices.
References
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Cleveland, P. (2011). The Value of Philosophy . (Degree Dissertation). Available fromhttp://www.academia.edu/3157511/On_The_Value_of_Philosophy.
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Harris, S. (2010). The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human values . New York: Free Press.
Miller, P. A., Platter, C., & Plato. (2010). Plato's Apology of Socrates: A commentary . Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Ndubisi, J.E. (2015). The Role of Philosophy in Contemporary Society: The Nigerian Experience. Humanity and Social Sciences Journal , 10(1), pp.40-46. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.hssj.2015.10.1.1152.
Nietzsche, F. (2000). The Genealogy of Morals. From: Basic Writings of Nietzsche
Sartre, J.P. (2008). Being and Nothingness. An Essay on Phenomenological Ontology . London and New York: Routledge.
