Filozofska istraživanja, Vol. 42 No. 4, 2022.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.21464/fi42404
Why Study Philosophy? On the Benefits of Studying Philosophy External to Philosophy
Matija Mato Škerbić
orcid.org/0000-0003-0006-4533
; Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Fakultet hrvatskih studija, Borongajska cesta 83d, HR–10000 Zagreb
Abstract
In this paper, the author approaches the question of why one should study philosophy from an affirmative point of view and argues pro philosophia, i.e. he justifies and promotes the possible taking up of the study of philosophy in the present day by considering its extra philosophical benefits. Thus, the author speaks from a particular perspective, looking at the study of philosophy from an opportunistic and instrumentalised angle. Namely, he does not consider the study as such, its philosophical justification and quality, but looks for its potential in and for today’s world. That is, not for professions such as philosophy teachers or academic philosophers, but actually for almost everyone else. In this sense, the author elaborates ten possible benefits of studying philosophy: (1) Developing critical, logical and reflective, (2) careful and (3) creative thinking; (4) Identifying and formulating (essential) questions; (5) Making quality decisions (‘decision making’); (6) Developing problem-solving skills; (7) Enabling ethical reflection; (8) Identifying life values; (9) Human flourishing and the search for meaning; (10) Preparing for a range of possible professions outside the philosophical professions.
Keywords
study of philosophy; reflection; critical thinking; creative thinking; careful thinking; asking questions; decision-making; problem-solving; ethical reflection; values; human flourishing
Hrčak ID:
303613
URI
Publication date:
28.12.2022.
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