Should we be interested in philosophy or is it only for fools and dreamers ? Is it a topic that can be taught and if so how ? And most importantly , why ? Is philosophy something illusional and useless ; how could it be as the pillar on which all sciences are based ? Before tackling these burning questions , let ' s start by considering the ideas humanity lives and dies for , what is fights for and defends ; creativity , endurance , morality and inspirational ideas are all based on philosophy , as the latter is their Mother and their Source . The policy of a human ' s life , the choices and priorities are the result of the philosophy they hold , whether or not this happens consciously . Moreover , humans are born with survival instincts but not with instincts that dictate to them what they should think or believe in . What , how and where to believe and what to need . They are born with the innate ability to think , choose and decide . If egoism ( aka lack of knowledge ) leads us to a spiritual desert , philosophy leads us to an oasis that revives and rebuilds the triptych of mind- body and soul . The value of philosophy is the awakening and clarity of spirit , and by this term we mean the combination of mind ( logic and the chain of thoughts ) with all the emotional aspects of a human . Every human being eventually reaches a crossroads in his / her life where answers to fundamental questions need to be answered ; in order to strike a fine line between balance and integrity . This is why delving into philosophy helps us comprehend what lies deep down in our souls : in the foundation of societies , what is implied in all kinds of human communication and what causes certain activities , actions and reactions . Otherwise , we mutilate ourselves while following someone else ' s philosophy of life , their life , not ours . What then is the cost and the profit to be gained by philosophical contemplation ? ( If any ?) Throughout history , most people who have been known as great philosophers * aka risk takers * were either persecuted or discriminated , killed and or banished as scape goats . ( Socrates , Heraclitus , Epicure , Galileo , Nietzsche , Reich , and so many others ). However , at the same time , those who dared to study , breathe and embody philosophy as a way of life have been the real creators of the values and role models many people used as a compass in life . They were able to look within themselves and they created conscious mindsets and healthy orientations . As the old adage goes " here ' s the thorn and here ' s the rose , too . ’ Do we need light and enlightenment ? Fragrance and superiority in spirit ? If the answer is yes , then we must ponder and philosophize about the beauty of comprehension that comes after the thorns of ignorance are removed .
Vassiliki Mandalou from Greece speaking on Happiness and Philosophy
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