Why do humans philosophise?

Question

Why do we philosophise?

I had an answer and it's in the link.

Please have a read and tell me what you think.

I would be interested to learn from what you think as well.

link: http://mlogy.blogspot.com/

Enjoy! and feedback welcome. Any comments left on the blog are deeply appreciated.

Answer 1

your question got me thinking.LOL

Answer 2

Why do humans philosophise?

To learn from their mistakes(and yes,knowledge makes plenty of mistakes,like the so-called "definitive"stuff that is peddled here and now).

Answer 3

In order to answer the unsolved questions of the universe and to understand human behavior. Partly out of curiousity and great interest but also philosophising can be derived from a fear of repeating destructive forms of human behavior.

Answer 4

humans often search for a deeper meaning of life because they've failed in their current beliefs.

its a petty cycle they're oblivious too

Answer 5

there are some things that truly cannot be explained.  we try to philosophise to try to think we know of something.  to name it and claim it makes us "worthy" but we sure dont know alot of things!!!  period.

Answer 6

It really is the "Mt. Everest" answer that corresponds to this one: "Because its there!"  And by it, we mean truth.  And then the world's people are divided into two classes: 1) those who try to climb Mt. Everest and 2) those who think that "because its there" is just a stupid answer.

One of my favorite books, Sophie's World, opens up with a simple question "Who are you?"  People type 2 above would just say their name.  But there are those who are compelled.  Those who know that they don't know who they are, and who cannot help but try to find out.

Where does this compulsion come from though?  It seems that to us it is as natural as breathing.  We were all like this once, like that kid in your blog asking why.  It is probably the evolutionary success of the human species to be curious.  But after a while we get tired.  Perhaps its only exhaustion that creates the type 2 person?

Well Mt. Everest was an anthill compared to the challenge of conquering truth.

Answer 7

a) because we can

b)because we want to

c)because we feel alone in a seemingly lonely universe

d)& because it gives us a sense of knowingness,  belongingness, control

Answer 8

I have given you all things so you may ponder over them, the wise.

Answer 9

Because we have a frontal lobe.

Answer 10

Humans have always sought meaning & understanding of every happening.  Therefore, they attempt to determine the meaning and direction of life based on ethics & rationality of human belief & decisions.

Philosophy seldom answers a question & generally confuses the philosopher, therefore I consider it a game played by those that do not seek truth, but wish to confuse the issue. Science seeks to answer a question definitively, philosophy doesn't.  Yes, I read your blog & consider it typical of those with limited philospphical ability.

Answer 11

Because we see so much around us that we do not understand, and are terrified by it. I think that man will always try to control his surroundings, and philosophy is one way to attempt this.

The earliest humans philosophized about the natural world which they depended on for life - they assigned gods to the sun, the earth, the wind, etc. As scientific understanding has advanced, we now ask more sophisticated (or convoluted, you could argue) questions about the soul, free will, and God.

Answer 12

I hold that truth is the thing that we are searching for and that it is truth that is doing the searching. We by our nature desire to know. Who sends our thoughts and questions? From where do they come? I urge everyone to look at the philosophers of the Via Negativa in especial, Nicholas da Cusa and a work called Cloud of Unknowing. If you don´t like religious stuff then try Zen.