Philosophy scared the c**p out of me?

Question

I started taking a Philosophy class in college and I read this section about how if we don't exist and all of this is our imagination and i freaked out. i freaked out so badly that i had to go see a psychologist. so now i find out that i have to take a class that falls under the category Philosophy and Values.......

what class falls under that category that i can take without freaking me out?

and

how can i not get philosophy get to me?

Answer 1

Just remember that there are millions of philosophies out there and most them say that everything is real (not imaginary) so just remember, these are just human beings thinking - and since we all think differently, we come up with different conclusions - they can't all be right - they might be all wrong - even if one of them was right, what's the chance that it's the scary imaginary philosophy???!!! lol

But good job on the values ... good luck!

Answer 2

Philosophy is all in your imagination.

Answer 3

Well, the thing is, you can't. Philosophy will always be there. You can't choose not to have nightmares, but you can choose to live a healthier life from preventing nightmares. The more you try to run away from philosophy, the more it will chase you. So, don't run away from it. It might teach you many. Many more than what you can think. It's just like facing your fear. The fear won't go away, but you have to learn how to live with it. Not every philosophy is scary, just like not every nightmare is bad. It will take times for you to get used to it, but it's totally worth it. It's like when you are running away from someone. Do you enjoy running? Will you run forever? You can't. Eventually you have to stop the running, and negotiate. Let's look at it this way; you can't get rid of  HIV, but you can accept that you have HIV and enjoy every seconds that you have left.

Answer 4

Just remember philosophy is someones thoughts,a way for them to fill in the missing pieces to something unknown.Not necessarily the truth....Do you believe that you are a part of your own imagination?Make since out of nonsence learn but stay in touch with reality........Blessings Yahoo

Answer 5

Analogy: martial arts scared the c**p out of a young man.

How can he not let martial arts scare the c**p out of him?

He must continually go to martial arts class, until he becomes strong, or sensitized with some ability to thwart attacks.

Then martial arts will not scare the c**p out of him.

It only seems like much in philosophy is fanciful, and in philosophy about 50 percent are logical positivists and 50 percent rationalists, so at least 50 percent are not likely to find ultimate truth.   But thankfully much in philosophy is analytical, and so it is sure and true, (see Bertrand Russell, who is one analytical philosopher).

Try reading Solomon's Ecclesiastes, it is easy to read and it will toughen your philosophical mind.  But if you are repulsed by it then you know for sure that you will probably not major in philosophy.

Introduction to Ethics is a standard recommendation, and it is not philosophy in a narrow sense because it doesn't deal with metaphysics or semantics or theology (or epistemology, philosophy of science, or logic).

Answer 6

You should keep a certain distance from the theories, and recognize them not as threatening realities but only ideas.

I admire Nietzsche's theories, and find some truth in them, but if I took them too seriously I'd be out exerting my will to power in everybody's face, and that wouldn't be very pretty.

Answer 7

What you fear is only what you do no understand.

Answer 8

Don't put other peoples opinions higher than your own and know that philosophy is only refection of human thinking in history.

Good luck! :)

Answer 9

Just remember that Philosophy is a theory of someone's Else's perspective or thoughts .....nothing more.  You either relate to the perspective & feel it may be possible or you don't  & You have the right to think that their theory is crazy.  You do not have to agree nor understand but if you have to take a class on Philosophy you do have to learn the material.   Don't let  your emotions get the best of you.  Just try & be open minded.

Answer 10

If you could learn first what PHILOSOPHY really is, it wont scare you at all.

Answer 11

Read  "On Certainty" by Ludwig Wittgenstein.

He spends the whole book answering the question - how do I know that I know?

You will find philosophy doesn't freak you out - it's that you have fired up the brain and are thinking in ways that you never had before. Actually it's kind of neat.

Answer 12

Don't take it so literally. It is a way of THINKING that is all. As for the concrete world, it is very much there. Your five senses still function. The only thing philosophy teaches us is our limitations. As Will Shakespeare put it, "Ecco! Horatio, there are more things between heaven and h**l than thy own philosophy!" So don't let it bother you.