Philosophy, a Help or a Hindrance?

[jomifl]

Recently the thoughts of philosophers have been brought into discussions concerning morality and related issues on this site. Do these make a positive conrtibution or are they a side issue that just distracts from the point of a question? Is there any evidence that philosophy has improved the lot of mankind or is it just cerebral game playing?

[mibn2cweus]

//The conflict between liberty and duty for example is possibly a false conflict as all decisions must depend upon circumstances not absolutes.//

'Duty' . . . I'd sure like to get my hands around the neck of the devil that came up with that open ended arbitrarily defined concept. Religion must have played a hand in the ideir that we are somehow born strapped with certain unchosen obligations to fulfil, a virtual playground for those who believe in the God given right to impose their whims and control on others.

[jomifl]

Quite Mibs, it is when I see philosophers treating concepts such as 'duty' as having relevance to morality that I begin to have doubts as to their subconcious agendas.

[naomi24]

//In the quest for knowledge it is what we already believe we know that presents the greatest stumbling block.//

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.... Stephen Hawking

[vetuste_ennemi]

I have been wounded in battle. Is there a British equivalent of the purple heart, Sandy?

[jomifl]

Trés drole VE.....

[DaisyNonna]

Always enjoyed cerebral game playing.

[mibn2cweus]

More than 24 hours on, I refute ^ it ^ thus . . .

D'oh!