It periodically becomes fashionable to say that Philosophy is a game for cloistered, dust covered professors, or for manipulative control freaks,trying to use other peoples' clever phrases to get their way against everyone else.

But really, what philosophy is, is the set of core reasons WHY you do, whatever it is that you do. And that is TREMENDOUSLY important.

In relationships of any kind, WHY someone does something, or makes a choice, is much more important than the act or choice itself.

In politics, we see that two candidates might both want the same law to pass. But if one wants it because they see an overall good for everyone, and the other wants it because they see a way to use it for their side alone, how they end up administering the law after they are elected, will be very different.

In employment, if an employee wants a job because they see the money and nothing else, they are less likely to make a good job of it than the one who actually wants to be involved with the work itself.

And in personal relationships, the potential mate who wants to be with you because building a life together is the adventure they are after, is far less likely to lie, cheat, or otherwise disappoint you than the one that sees you as a means to an end, no matter how passionate they may be about how hot you make them right now.

I think this may be why, despite not being religious at all myself, that I get along far better with religious believers, than I do with the modern "go for the gusto now" people who seem to have infested so much of the world since the nineteen sixties ended.

Agree with this completely.

The "Why" is often way more impactful than the "what" in all the references you mentioned.

And that's mostly true, not just "fashionable."
It's a game for people that live in their heads rather than pragmatic reality, that then attempt to push what they've worked out in their isolated heads onto reality, and reality doesn't conform.


That seems more to do with psychology and biology.
"Philosophy" seems to deal more with "what should I do, and why, and what to expect," and, "I did it, what does it mean, now what, am I right or wrong, good or bad," not really just a "set of core reasons" to answer "but why."


Not always. And many times figuring out "WHY" doesn't lead to anything.
"WHY" is useful if it fosters better and continuing communication in an ongoing relationship.
The way it's worded in the OP it can include figuring out "WHY" someone beats you, "WHY" someone dumped you 10 years ago and never talked to you again but you never got over it, and it being more important than the people choosing to beat you, or leave you and avoid you.

And it also presumes you can always figure out the true "WHY."

"Philosophy" would deal more with figuring out when determining "WHY" would be useful, meaningful, the consequences and benefits, if the "WHY" you figured out is the right "WHY."


See?
The "WHY" isn't always the most important thing.
While people are sitting around in their dusty offices in colleges being control freaks figuring out "WHY" a politician wants to pass a bill....the politician passes the bill.

And once in place, it's not going away, especially not sitting around figuring out "WHY" it should be repealed.
But they've already figured out it can have good things and bad things, "administered" in different ways.

And there is turnover.
If a bill can be "administered" in a negative way, it's just a matter of time until it is.
But thank god they sat around philosophizing.

Because the time used figuring out "WHY" one politician wanted to do something was more important than the politician making it law...according to the OP.

Oh, but wait, by a miracle they figured out the "WHY" before it passed! And the motive, the "WHY," was absolutely positive!
...but it didn't matter because no one listened to them when they came out and said all the ways that the law could/would be misused...then it passed...then all the negative things came to pass.


That's not really true simply due to ingrained social reciprocity.
You pay someone enough, they feel compelled to give you value, what they think your money is worth. People don't want others to judge them as thieves, shirkers, rip off artists, or to question pay.

It's amazing, when you pay people something, oh let's call it some arbitrary name, like "overtime," they'll come in on weekends, holidays, or stay late to work! Gasp! They'll work harder to keep their meal ticket, they'll work hard to make it right, to master it, in order to make it seem easier, so they receive greater value.

They have a vested interest in doing "good" work.

People involved in the work for the sake of the work have a tendency to believe the work should be done one way.
They are far less likely to think "outside the box," far less likely to be receptive to outside change on how the work is done.
They care more about the purity of the work and getting it done how they think it should. It's about preserving identity.
And over time, people will detract from doing "good" work in the name of protecting their image.


As written that's not really true either.
People will lie. And even in the face of evidence showing it's a lie, even though they know you know they are lying, they will continue to lie, they will build on it. They will never stop the lie.

Those are "means to end" people.
The "means" and "end" becomes part of their identity, who they are, their reality.
And one thing people do is defend their perception of reality, defend their identity. People have done that to their death.

If someone's "end" is to be a parent, to be married, to be a spouse, to be part of a family, for that to be their role, their identity, their image, they may very well defend that to the grave.
And it can include not lying, cheating, or disappointing if those things are perceived to endanger the stability of the "end" they achieved.

Maybe "adventure" was a poor choice of words, but I would trust someone whose "end" was to be a stable family to not lie, cheat, or disappoint more than I would someone who was looking for an "adventure."
The "means to end" people tend to want a static, stable, safe, consistent, conclusion.
Those seeking "adventure" are looking for a brain chemical high.
Junkies are less trustworthy than control freaks.


Philosophy is a game for philosophers.
Not people trying to build a romantic relationship.
Unless both people in the relationship are philosophers.
If not, then one person is going to be doing a lot of work in their own head.
And that's rarely to never conducive to relationships.
It looks good on paper and forums to figure out "WHY," but it will rarely help you in an actual, non therapist refereed, relationship.

Igor... I have to agree with you on this...
Recently I had to sit back and think through something and try to figure out the "why's" and when I did I understood and was able to let go.

I do believe philosophy plays a bit part in who we are..

Because in my mind we are all philosophical in our inner beings.
If we weren't I believe that we would be robots incapable of true feelings.



When one set of individuals use Philosophy as an agenda it is no longer Philosophy... IMHO.

philosophies.
1.
the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.
2.
any of the three branches, namely natural philosophy, moral philosophy, and metaphysical philosophy, that are accepted as composing this study.
3.
a particular system of thought based on such study or investigation:
the philosophy of Spinoza.
4.
the critical study of the basic principles and concepts of a particular branch of knowledge, especially with a view to improving or reconstituting them:
the philosophy of science.
5.
a system of principles for guidance in practical affairs.
6.
an attitude of rationality, patience, composure, and calm in the presence of troubles or annoyances.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2016.

ciretom:

Yeah, this is a good example of how people are led astray by the word philosophy.

Everyone HAS a philosophy. They might not use the word, but they do. And no, it's not just psychological driven urges that I'm talking about.

The more in touch with, and clear about your own philosophy you are, the more you will be able to be clear about who your best bet as a mate is.

When you realize what your vision of what life is about, what pleases you, what makes you feel fulfilled as a human being, that's philosophy.

When you think something is right or wrong in general, that's philosophy. Amusingly, if you think EVERYTHING can be right or wrong, THAT'S philosophy too.