Is Philosophy a waste of time because we talk too much but do little of what we preach?

Question

thanks a lot.

Answer 1

One of my current sensei made a wonderful observation the other day stating that we are all born with two eyes, two ears and one mouth so that it might be wiser to listen and observe twice as much as we speak.

It would seem to be wise in most instances for all persons able to do such to reflect upon their lives, actions, reactions, understandings, limitations, etc. on a regular and frequent basis.  As has been said, an unexamined life has not truly been lived, only endured.

It would also seem to be wise to live ones life with personal honesty and integrity so that one actually lived his or her beliefs so as to be true to ones self which allows one to be true to all others.

Be well, my friend and be wise.

Answer 2

philosophy without practice is pointless, as with spirituality meditation helps.

Answer 3

U dogs are watching over me so does your own enemies whom u dun even nono who is it. hahahaha.....as old saying what goes around comes around again over and over again. haha...

Answer 4

I practice precisely wot I preach. If I could not I would certainly preach something entirely different.

Life is a waste of time if it isn't spent free and happy and in peace. That is truly a tragic waste ....

Answer 5

not to loose sight of your own humaness  

Answer 6

Thinking looks like so much time-wasting!  Sitting and brooding for hours together while one could be busy in action elsewhere.  But then same goes for Scientists.

My husband is one such Scientist...he and his friends laugh that they can actually sleep on the job and nobody could accuse them of inaction/being unproductive because it can't be proved that their minds weren't active!!!

Philosophy for me is 'thinking' of a way to walk on with minimum discomfort to others and maximum satisfaction to myself...quietening the voices in the head with plausible arguments...sharing them with others to check for validity...and actually walking the talk for authenticity...Sometimes only to discard a few in favour of others!

Thoughts of Great Philosophers offer a gateway,  a view of what could be!  It is for us to think,  choose,  act and imbibe in our lives.

Answer 7

even if it is a waste of time.

I love it...it is better than wasting your time with bad women,drugs or booze.

and I do as much as I talk by the way.

and am proud to be a sophist with a unique perspective.

philosophy is a mechanism of enjoying the life...it is a mental recreation.

so

enjoy.

love

Pluto

Answer 8

what's wrong with theory?

Answer 9

They taught not to loose sight of your own humaness or you'd be conquered.  Athens for example.

So it's okay, to not be perfect.

genious huh?

Answer 10

the first ive seen to admit to the ministering.

Answer 11

No, i dont think philosophy will ever be a waste of time because even if we dont use the morals or views of one particular philosopher, we can still ponder and think about the ideas and how we would do things differently etc. I kind of agree about the doing little of what we preach though because it is easy to agree with something, but not always so easy to put it into practice. Philosophy will always be controversial and debatable, but that is the good thing about it, it makes us think about our own views more and sometimes that inspires us...

Answer 12

Yes, talking about the "purpose of life" is a waste of time. Better to live a better life. And abundance in life comes from discovering our hidden inner resources. This explains what I think is a good alternative to talk: http://gospelenigma.com

It is not what you might expect from something with "gospel" in the name.

Answer 13

Yes, of course. You got the power in your hands, and the cat is under the table. The dog is big, and yellow it's my favourite colour. I think, than you say, got relation with hipocrisy. (Sorry for my horrid english, can you see my big troubles to write, and delirius) Hablo fluidamente solo español, estoy intruseando. Un beso salvaje para tí, muchachita. Thanks and mercy!

Answer 14

I am sure none of the philosophy regulars on Y!A linger exclusively in this section. So if like me, they meander around from football, to politics, to poetry to philosophy, it is by choice. And therefore not a waste of time. It's also one of the most pleasant sections, by the way....

Answer 15

Yes, philosophy is a waste of time for people who do not have much of self-discipline and self-control, because philosophy delves deep into issues and comes out with hard, difficult conclusions, and those who soft tread upon their lives trying to find the route of least resistance, such hard conclusions are not amenable to putting into practice....... such people end up talking philosophy rather than walking their own philosophy!!

Answer 16

this is what they want you to think.

that you are wasting your time because you think

if you think,you'll realize the kind of society you are living in

and,i'm sure,you'll want to change it inmediately....

what they need is an "army" of stupids.

Answer 17

By discussing about philosophy, we can know our weaknesses, shortcomings, deficiencies and defects and we can improve upon it.

Answer 18

hahahaha, well others may act on our words later perhaps, like you know, when we are in print & dead.

Answer 19

philosophy is the start of everything that is good, it only becomes useless when you do nothing about it, but you know what the simple asking of questions, pondering and thinking about stuff that people would normally want to forget gets me going, i wanted to kill myself today but since i philosophized i had found a way to get through the day.

Answer 20

O homem tem mania de debater e tentar soluções para todas as suas causas... Não creio que filosofar seja uma perda de tempo...mas nem sempre colocamos em prática nossas filosofias...Elas costumam ser mais bonitas de se ler do que se praticar...mas porque não apreciar a beleza?

abraços.

Answer 21

No, because philosophy can be a guide to human conduct.Talking too much and not doing what we preach can be a developmental stage and lead to greater progress

Answer 22

I agree with Regwah -sometimes one understands what must be done, but is unable to accomplish it. Another may take the words of that person and be able to put them into action -if there's any chance of that happening, the thoughts and words of the first person have not been simply a waste of time.

Answer 23

Even if we cannot always put our own native wisdom into practice, at least we can maintain some hope that others will have the power to do what we cannot.

Answer 24

I was going to compile a though out response, but 6ofUs has said it perfectly.

Cheers.

Answer 25

What you are describing is Hypocrisy, which is worse than a waste of time, but not Philosophy, which is useful for both sharpening your own personal opinions and ideas, as well as for trying to understand other peoples'.

Answer 26

Polishing and exercising our minds is never a waste of time.  

Answer 27

I once got shot in the groin with a paintball. It hurt alot and I wasn't thinking much about philosophy while I was doubled over with a paintball to the groinal region.

Answer 28

Nothing is a waste of time IF you are willing to really listen and try to understand what is being taught.  

Answer 29

Philosophy is not only about preaching. It is always about sensibility of reasons from for an action, a deed and thought from an insight. Taking time to think before an act and not after only acting it or doing it that one should only have to bitterly regret.

If the talking has its better quality impact to others rather by just simply doing..It is already considered as a great act of doing more.

Answer 30

It's funny cause life within itself is philosophical and in life you live right. So basically what your are saying it's a waste of time to live or it's a waste of time to preach about the life you are living. it's just that, A thought

you asked a philosophical question do you think that was a waste of your time and if you did, why would you waste your time like that by asking a question.