Chapter 69 Philosophy is useful

All knowledge in the world is related to human life.The derivation of knowledge is due to the accumulation and enlightenment of human life experience, so it can last forever.Philosophy is the thought work to explore the truth of life and guide human behavior, especially the foundation of all knowledge, which is absolutely useful to life. Philosophy is the crystallization of wisdom.The original meaning of Philosophy from Greek is the meaning of love of wisdom.Therefore, scholars generally believe that the definition of philosophy is a kind of knowledge that can be systematized in order to establish the overall order of human knowledge. It exists in human thought and cognition, and its objects are universal and Overall, even including the principles and principles of the entire world outlook and outlook on life.Regardless of the philosophical theories of various schools, they are all related to the actual life of human society.How can philosophy be called useless?

It would be sad to assume that a society is corrupted by utilitarianism and materialism, and regards philosophy as useless.Because in the flood of material desires, if there is no rational philosophy of life to guide, people's hearts will degenerate, and money does not represent the progress of the entire social group.On the contrary, if everyone can have a bit of philosophical thinking to correct their outlook on life, it will definitely help the peace and progress of the society as a whole.Therefore, philosophy is rationality; philosophy is to guide life how to settle down.Not only useful for human survival, but also very useful.

On May 18, I read an article refuting the theory that philosophy is useless.This touched me, and I re-examined the few volumes of notes I made by studying Chinese and Western philosophy systems day and night thirty years ago. Here, I would like to thank Brother Jiang Shanda (now serving the National Museum of History) for constantly borrowing out-of-print books and these notes for me. Although the ink stains have become discolored and speckled, they can still learn from the past.In ancient times, the two great philosophical thinkers, Confucius in the East and Socrates in the West, were almost at the same age, but they both explored the problems of life.Confucius' rebirth, Mencius' emphasis on humanity, Socrates' emphasis on intelligence, and Plato's emphasis on rationality all combine the two worlds of nature and life for research.To sum up, there are three souls in man, namely reason, will and desire; reason is immortal, but will and desire are temporal and mortal.In the middle ages, Western philosophy dominated the ideological relationship between man and God due to the rise of Christianity, which can be represented by Aristotle; and in this period, Eastern philosophy also melted Confucianism due to the introduction of Buddhism to China. Religion has produced the view of the unity of man and nature, which can be represented by Dong Zhongshu.In the western philosophy of the last century, Kant condensed his culmination, making rational philosophy the mainstream of the West, with morality as the center of human life and the development of personality. Only the progress of moral life is the progress of culture; and During this period, Eastern philosophy, in short, was also subsumed into Confucian ideas and moral values, and became the mainstream of Eastern culture.In modern Western philosophy, the neo-Kantian school (eclectic school) still occupies the first place; while the Confucianism of Eastern philosophy is still rooted in human reason and morality, and has rarely changed.Even in modern times, even Western economists mostly advocate Eastern Confucianism.

The above brief description only shows that philosophy is not only useful but also very important to life.It is from studying life to helping life.Those who specialize in philosophy and can become a family speaker can contribute to the cultural life of the entire social group; if each individual can also have some philosophical ideas, it can also help to correct his outlook on life and life style. Both have benefited a lot. The definition of outlook on life is that human beings examine and grasp the highest intellectual understanding of what should be (Ought to be) in life, as well as the direction of behavior that can be determined by this understanding.The real value of life lies in realizing what should be, not accommodating or being corrupted.If someone regards studying philosophy as an issue of outlook on life as impractical, the vagueness and erroneousness of the concept will cause the danger of young people without thinking, lose their proper cultural temperament and cultivation, and even make all kinds of bad things. the behavior of.

Only when a person can establish his outlook on life, the purpose of life is determined, rationality and ideals are coordinated, individual behaviors and spiritual realms can be integrated and orderly, and his life will be truly human. Life and culture of life.People without an outlook on life are governed by animal faculties, and they can only be slaves to life, not masters of life. This kind of life only meets fragmented faculties without a unified direction. It is almost the same as the life of ordinary animals. Therefore, the outlook on life is based on the understanding of what should be, so that the ideal has a destination.Otherwise, all thoughts will be rootless, let alone the value and meaning of life!

Modern people are used to talking about values, but if they are still vague about their own life values, what is the meaning of life and the purpose of life?Everyone from billionaires to mortals should seek this answer within themselves. Philosophy is life.Since life is practical, philosophy is not abstract.Philosophy is not only very useful, but also used to help a person how to settle down, so that ideals do not deviate from reason, so that this life is not in vain. (Written in May 1970)