Starting from these premises, what does philosophy mean to the average person, what do we gain from it and do we really need something that says ‘this is the way to think’?
First off, forget any need for a way to think. Most of us have gotten to this point in our lives by looking, listening and a little bit of luck. But here is an interesting thing to ponder. Why not read about something new. Something you never had the chance or opportunity to examine in the long gone days of working full time, raising kids, paying mortgages, and all the other things that kept us away from mental exploration. That is where philosophy comes into our later lives.
Philosophy does many things, but for me the most important one is allowing us to peer into the minds of some of the world’s most intelligent people. To examine at our leisure the words and premises that begot our very civilizations.
