“Philosophy is impractical” is a common assertion I frequently encounter and occasionally express myself. There’s some truth to it.
In modern-day pragmatic terms, philosophy may indeed be useless. Unlike, say, physics or engineering, the results of pursuing philosophy are not immediately noticeable. It does not teach you how to construct a building. That’s why it is often perceived as a useless activity. But where does the value of philosophy lie? Does philosophy have any value at all?
In his article “The Value of Philosophy,” English philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell asserts that in practical terms, philosophy may not be as useful as other fields or subjects. That is because if something doesn’t yield measurable results, it is often ignored or discarded.
Russell distinguishes between two kinds of goals that humans pursue: the goods of the body, or physical and material goods that we indulge in, which make our lives easier and more efficient, and the goods of the mind, or intellectual pursuits that aid us in living a better and more meaningful life.
Engaging in philosophy involves tending to the goods of the mind. This pursuit entails exploring new domains, ideas, subjects, and perspectives, but with often uncertain outcomes.
According to Russell, the distinction between philosophy and other disciplines lies in the fact that fields like medicine, law, and science provide mostly definite answers and tangible results, while philosophy encourages us to inquire about the unknown or challenge what we believe we know but remain uncertain about.
As such, the value of philosophy, according to Russell, lies in its uncertainty. Philosophy allows us to venture into the unknown, to ask questions the answers to which are uncertain. It also allows us to avoid the trap of excessive dogmatism, or close-mindedness and bias, in our continuous journey to acquire knowledge and to live a good and more meaningful life.