Does studying philosophy lead to a lack of common sense?

[Autumnleaf]

It seems like some philosophers think to much and know too little about how the world works.

 

[quatona]

It seems like some philosophers think to much and know too little about how the world works.

You mean they don´t simply accept your preconceptions about the world? I can see why you wouldn´t like that.
Some people think too much because there needs to be a compensation for those who think too little.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

It seems like some philosophers think to much and know too little about how the world works.

Autumn...I'm a philosopher. If there's anything that is problematic, it isn't that someone like me thinks too much. From what I can see, people ruin their lives because they aren't thinking enough.

Remember what God said, "My people are destroyed for [fill in the blank here]." I know you know this quote. Don't tell me you don't.

Besides, if you don't think, then you can't know.

Peace

 

[poolerboy0077]

It seems like some philosophers think to much and know too little about how the world works.

Can you give specific examples rather than speaking in sweeping generalities?

 

[variant]

The problem is that "common sense" isn't ever clearly defined.

 

[Steeno7]

"I majored in Philosophy....which means I learned just enough to screw me up for the rest of my life." - Steve Martin

 

[KCfromNC]

I do wonder if people predisposed to philosophy put too much weight on abstract thinking that lacks grounding in reality. There are many times I see summaries of science from philosophers which looks totally unlike actual science. But I'd need more evidence to know if this scientific illiteracy is any worse than it is in any other average non-scientist before I think it is a specific problem in the field.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

"A philosopher is a sort of intellectual yokel that gawks at things that sensible people take for granted."
-Alan Watts

 

[2PhiloVoid]

It seems like some philosophers think to much and know too little about how the world works.

[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]!!! You're all doing philosophy right now; you're making evaluations about the world. That is philosophy.

The very fact that each of you are giving the responses you that you are indicates you have little idea what modern philosophy is or does.

Important fields of philosophy today are: Medical Ethics, Business Ethics, Social Philosophy (which underlies our political science and human right ideas), as well as Philosophy of Science, and Philosophy of Religion, among several others. All of these fields and their attending considerations have a direct impact on the societies in which we live. Philosophy is not just a group of brainiacs sitting in corners of libraries thinking all day, having little affect after the thinking is done, as seen in the case of Winnie the Pooh. [Think...think...think, think, think.]

 

[sinning machine]

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

 

[KnowtheSilence]

The very fact that each of you are giving the responses you that you are indicates you have little idea what modern philosophy is or does.

The Alan Watts quote was tongue-in-cheek; he was poking fun at himself as a philosopher.

 

[Paradoxum]

What is common sense? That the earth is flat and the Sun goes around the earth?

It doesn't seem to me that philosophers lack common sense, so you'll need to give examples, or something.

I do wonder if people predisposed to philosophy put too much weight on abstract thinking that lacks grounding in reality. There are many times I see summaries of science from philosophers which looks totally unlike actual science. But I'd need more evidence to know if this scientific illiteracy is any worse than it is in any other average non-scientist before I think it is a specific problem in the field.

I doubt that is true. I was aiming at being a physicist because I studied philosophy, so I'd say I have an above average understanding of science. It didn't seem to me that other people had a particularly bad understanding of science.

 

[Ripheus27]

@the quote from the Bible, I think that might just be referring to philosophy that disregards or opposes Christ, not philosophy per se. And I don't even mean that doubting Christ philosophically is to be thought of as wrong, only that blind doubt is just as bad as blind faith (or is it?).

 

[bhsmte]

You don't have to be a philosopher to participate in; paralysis from analysis.

IMO, depending on how our minds have developed and also how we were pre-wired, some of us are more prone to make situations more complex than they need to be, while the obvious was many times right in front of us. Individual psychological needs also plays a role as well, as sometimes we are desperately searching for something, we want to find.

 

[cerette]

Most of us use lots of philosophy without even being aware of it. Philosophy used to always be one of the main subjects alongside with theology and maths...
I think most people don't even know what philosophy is and what philosophers do!

 

[Chesterton]

philosophy - YouTube

 

[Paradoxum]

philosophy - YouTube

Maybe what I'm saying is obvious, but most of philosophy isn't about the meaning of life.

 

[keith99]

I do wonder if people predisposed to philosophy put too much weight on abstract thinking that lacks grounding in reality. There are many times I see summaries of science from philosophers which looks totally unlike actual science. But I'd need more evidence to know if this scientific illiteracy is any worse than it is in any other average non-scientist before I think it is a specific problem in the field.

There are definitely some philosophers whose intellectual conceit extends into thinking they understand thing they do not. As a group they may be exceeded only by physicians.

As a group. My statement above is a paraphrase of what I've heard from some Physicians (except for the part about philosophers).

 

[Chesterton]

Maybe what I'm saying is obvious, but most of philosophy isn't about the meaning of life.

Certainly. But I just didn't have anything better to say. Much like the couple in the skit.

 

[Davian]

It seems like some philosophers think to much and know too little about how the world works.

While common sense and how the world works may overlap, they are not the same thing. Not an excuse for philosophers, but pointing out that your OP needs work.