Is Reading/Learning Western Philosophy Worth It?

[Rilles]

Im talking about people like Kant,Leibniz, Hegel,Heidegger,Sartre,Hume,Spinoza etc?

Is there any value to be drawn from there when it comes to studying consciousness/being? Or just anything valuable in general. 

@Leo Gura What does the philosophy major think, in hindsight?  

 

Edited August 30, 2018 by Rilles

[Saumaya]

You don't need to. Just watch some videos or read something about metaphysics or epistemology. You need to get the questions right. Reading philosophy will only give you other people's ideas on the questions, which could help I guess intially. If you are fimilar with non duality, you should contemplate those questions yourself

[Rilles]

3 minutes ago, Saumaya said:

You don't need to. Just watch some videos or read something about metaphysics or epistemology. You need to get the questions right. Reading philosophy will only give you other people's ideas on the questions, which could help I guess intially. If you are fimilar with non duality, you should contemplate those questions yourself

Yeah, life is only so long, dont want to waste time mentally masturbating but books have been so valuable and Western Philosophy is huge uncharted terrority for me that I feel could be useful, but maybe just focusing on Epistemology would be enough then. 

[Saumaya]

@Rilles Hey, if you are just curious, just read some western philosophy. Nothing is wrong in exploring. The problem is when someone thinks that they NEED to read a lot of western philosophy to get enlightened or whatever. I think you already know this

Edited August 30, 2018 by Saumaya

[Rilles]

@Saumaya No amount of reading can make you enlightened 

Yeah, I dont need to, I just want to take in perspectives from different minds, from both East and West 

[Joseph Maynor]

To me it was.  I never had a chance to ask if it was worth it.  I had a passion for it.  I had no choice.

Edited August 30, 2018 by Joseph Maynor

[Joseph Maynor]

18 minutes ago, Rilles said:

@Saumaya No amount of reading can make you enlightened 

Yeah, I dont need to, I just want to take in perspectives from different minds, from both East and West 

Not true.  Reading factors into Enlightenment.  Your whole life experience factors into Enlightenment.  

Edited August 30, 2018 by Joseph Maynor

[Rilles]

@Joseph Maynor Yes, thats true, but I meant solely reading, both theory and practice is important. 

[MarkusSweden]

@Rilles It's worth it if you enjoy mental masturbation. 

It can only provide value as an enjoying thing in the present moment for those who love mental(empty) masturbation. 

Other then that, it's worthless, it can't give you a happier life in some distant future, nor it will give you any knowledge.

Me? I would never bother with such crap since I don't find mental masturbation enjoying at all. 

Go out in nature instead, have fun with your girlfriend, do something with your body, use it every way you can, dance, play, do some sports that you like, make great music, but through away all those philosophy books. 

Just my two cents 

[Haumea2018]

 

Quote

Yeah, life is only so long, dont want to waste time mentally masturbating but books have been so valuable and Western Philosophy is huge uncharted terrority for me that I feel could be useful, but maybe just focusing on Epistemology would be enough then. 

If, like many people here, you're already a reader/thinker/in your head a lot, then more reading isn't going to help and Markus' advice is sensible.

Enlightenment doesn't come through what's already natural and easy for you, it comes through confronting what is challenging.

 

Edited August 31, 2018 by Haumea2018

[Strikr]

12 hours ago, Rilles said:

Im talking about people like Kant,Leibniz, Hegel,Heidegger,Sartre,Hume,Spinoza etc?

Is there any value to be drawn from there when it comes to studying consciousness/being? Or just anything valuable in general. 

@Leo Gura What does the philosophy major think, in hindsight?  

 

it's you who create value.

so you have your answer I suppose.

I m about to read more nietzshe tonight, I m weirdly driven to do it again.

There is meaning in those books for my own reality and my own LP, I can just feel it, can't explain.

go for the book you have a sense for, don't read mindlessly because that "reading = better me"

no you read as if you wanted to play this video games you always wanted as a kid.

If not, why read ? ( just my perspective  ) , this sentence call'd me back. I want to know more.

@MarkusSweden

I don't have a gf, problem solved

Edited August 31, 2018 by Strikr