/lit/ - Literature

Depends on the philosopher, I think.

>>6278045
That is a nice lathe, man.

>>6278045
Philosophy books do things for those who read them.

The common man might not read philosophy but they probably watch movies or tv shows written by people who read philosophy or people who read people who read philosophy. Philosophical ideas trickle down like that.

philosophy helps develop basic skills such as critical thinking, argumentation theory, communication skills, reading comprehension, and attention to detail which the common man can apply to many different fields of work or everyday life. the actual content of philosophy may not translate to the common man as easily however ethics is likely the most likely department of philosophy that is directly used by the common man.

>>6278083
>and then we told them the philosophy would trickle down

>>6278045
there is a clever and useful level which can do things for the average rational human, and there is upper levels, ontological debates and commentaries which is mostly academic circlejerk

Read Rancière

>>6278045
philosophy is supposed to be experienced; practical

at that point it becomes spiritual growth

>>6278045

The circlejerk is perfectly attainable to the common man, he is free to join in.

Its still just a circlejerk though.

>>6278045
It's for people who are too much of a fag or too small dicked to go to a gay bath house. Still gay but different gay quotient.

>>6278045


the biggest effect academic philosophy has on the common man is in instigating revolutions that sweep him up and make his life shitty.

>>6278070
which philosophers do ya'll guys think are best for regular ppl like me and the guy in op's pic :o)

>>6278613
you can be just fine without them.

point in fact, I think itd be better if less people these days got into philosophy.

>>6278246
Yea but the common man is too busy and content to actually pick up a philosophy book and critically analyze words which he has to read.
That's why we have Raegosophy

>>6278613
Always the Greeks, man. Everything else is incomprehensible dribble.

>>6278613
schopenhauer
nietzsche
wittgenstein and the stuff he was into

>>6278613
dear anon, not this >>6278717

there are some things you cant unsee

>>6278717
lol

>>6278613
As a Philosophy major whenever a friend asks me this question I always recommend Nietzsche. His books are relatively easy to read and his philosophy is very positive and life affirming unlike other popular philosophers like Camus.

>>6278613
marx, comrade

(^:

>>6278613
Deuleuze and Guatarri

>>6278613
Are you saying that after a day on the line, and gym sesh you don't sit in the sauna with your bros and discuss Hegel?

>>6278613
Laozi.

Kind of funny thinking that a skilled, experienced machinist like pic related probably makes more money than anyone in this thread, or /lit/ in general.

>>6278795
>implying Camus was not positive
If anything, I think Camus might be one of the most positive writers I've ever read.

Plebs shouldn't concern themselves with such matters it merely muddies the heretofore pristine waters of academia with hipsters and vocal cretins who believe their ignorance is as good as some one else's knowledge.

plebs aren't necessarily poor people I'm speaking about pretentious academic impostors like the majority of /lit/

>>6279970
This.
After reading camus I just stop caring about the shit that was happening in my life.

No tears, only absurd now.

>>6278045
hey how did a picture of my dad end up on 4chan

>>6279848
also has an easier time finding a job because of huge trade deficit

>>6278254
kek

Nope, just useless academic circlejerking. Normal folks shouldn't concern themselves with philosophy or any other high-falutin' garbage.

>>6278045

Does it really matter whether or not philosophy as a whole can do anything for the average person?

Who is this average person and is this person really average or just someone's idea of average?

Are you assuming that all philosophers wanted the average person as an audience, when you ask your question?

>>6278045
I sometimes wonder. I don't want to be pessimistic, but I think about this often. In my social group I know a lot of people who do volunteer work for various organizations to help illegal immigrants. From legal representation, to legal counseling, to simple community outreach for public health purposes, or the building of community gardens (there is almost no money in this, and only one all-inclusive community *shelter* has been built. Sad to say, there are more homeless than homeless shelters where I live.) But all of it amounts to very little in the grand scheme of things.

That all sounds fine and dandy, but the entire thing begins to feel like an academic catharsis. A mass cleansing of sin that the left engages in. I am firmly rooted in an American working class background. My family primarily worked in mines in my state. None of them could give a shit about this. My relatives, and I hesitate to say, most Americans, want a good life. And if that means harming others, so be it. Just don't bring that up to them, the last thing they want is to feel guilty about it.

So the left can do minimally effective public works, wash themselves of their sins, and still live in a fabulously wealthy country. Egalitarian philosophies have never succeeded anyways. They just make for a feel-good rallying point, an axis for the cathartic activities to rotate around like a worn may-pole. And most people are content to ignore them.

>>6280144
This is all true.

And yet philosophy is necessary for Man to recognize and deal with himself. Don't confuse 'philosophy' with 'sophistry.' They have the same root word. The ends and the fruit, particularly in our postmodern age, are utterly at odds with each other. Philosophy is not existential flights of cathartic fancy. It is empirical.

Go read some Socrates. You'll feel better.