I always thought I wanted to be a philosopher. After all, I’m smart. I like to ponder about deep subjects. I spend a tremendous amount of time in my head thinking about stuff everyday. I used to think I was an intellectual.
It turns out, I hate philosophy.
I learned this by listening to a lot of podcasts where philosophers are guests and reading (or attempting to read) philosophy books.
Philosophy to me is a waste of time. It’s like navel gazing. Let’s discuss, in-depth, hypothetical situations that have not and never will happen. Then let’s analyze them using archaic philosophical techniques from Aristotle or Plato or Freud or Descartes. Then let’s discuss some more.
But most importantly, let’s take absolute no action whatsoever to solve a problem.
OMG. Just shoot me.
It’s the antithesis of my approach to life.
I am aware that I sometimes take action too quickly when faced with a problem. Splitting my head open playing blind man’s bluff is a perfect example of this.
But…I learn from my mistakes.
I learn much more from my mistakes than I learn from overthinking.
I used to admire philosophers – whom I equate with intellectuals and PhDs. I still admire intellectuals and people who have done the work to obtain a PHd.
But if it is in philosophy, chances are I’ll never make it through their podcast or their book.