Why Study Philosophy Despite the Criticism?
People love criticizing philosophy for being too abstract, impractical, complex, ancient, and uncertain. Bertrand Russell flipped this around, arguing that philosophy's value comes precisely from these "weaknesses." The ambiguity and uncertainty mean we haven't found complete answers yet - and that's exactly the point.
Philosophy's significance isn't in giving you final answers but in developing your capacity to focus on possibilities. It teaches you prudence, critical thinking, tolerance, and intellectual humility. When everything seems certain, philosophy reminds you to keep questioning.
The dialectical method shows how philosophy thrives on criticism through thesis (a claim), antithesis (the opposite claim), and synthesis (combining the best of both). This constant back-and-forth creates stronger ideas and better understanding.
Socrates' Wisdom: "I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think" - and sometimes realizing "I know that I know nothing" is the smartest thing you can do.