Is a philosopher still respectable?

Question

I was reading Sophie's World yesterday and it was talking about philosophers. It said.. Religion came first explaing the natural that they didn't understand with supernatural. Than philosophers who hypothosized natural things without God's. Then Scientists who observed tested and recorded. My question is why is Religion still "respectable" yet when you hear someone say "I'm a philosopher." you think they are nuts..?

Answer 1

Most philosophers today work in academe. However, just because someone does not work in academe or have a Ph.D. in philosophy does not mean that one is not a philosopher. A number of the great philosophers throughout history have not been academics.

Answer 2

Respect is generated form within.

Answer 3

h**l yes.

Answer 4

Religion has a better more accessible advertisement, and it does not require thinking, just believing and obeying, while philosophy is not for everyone, and for those who don't get it, philosophers must be nuts, cause they sure aren't.

"Many people only accept information supporting narrow and specific beliefs, rather than the more challenging broad study across cultures. Human imagination may well be the true catalyst for creating, modification and perpetuation of belief. In many cases people deny contradictions; especially to bolster belief in which they are emotionally involved."

Answer 5

Our society does not place social importance on being a philospopher.

Answer 6

I think the problem occurring in your question, in its syntactic structure,  leaves it open to problematic answers.

Simply I'll say, those who believe philosophers are "nuts" are usually either uneducated people or those whom are just more pragmatic than introspective. It doesn't mean that both types don't have their places in society, they are just different types of people.

Philosophers (by which I mean people who actually have one or more degrees - preferably but not necessarily in a philosophical discipline) are certainly respected in their fields and by their colleagues, students, and admirers, etc...

And think about this: all academic disciplines originated or descends from Greek Philosophy (save Mathematics - but it still has a close bond with Philosophy and vice versa).

You might also ask, in regard to religions, what exactly, and who exactly are referring to, when you speak in terms of these being respectable?

Answer 7

Philosophy is a broad term, and even though I have a bachelor's degree in it, I too cringe when I hear someone say they are a philosopher. In my opinion, unless they have a PhD, a professorship, and have written several books in the particular field of philosophy in which they are an expert (ethics, logic, aestheics, etc.), then they most likely are full of baloney, or using the term very lightly. Philosophy emcompasses theology (religion) but is not restricted to it.