Comment by scoofy
2 months ago
I studied philosophy in college and grad school, mainly because I was raised extremely religious and couldn't figure out what was real and what was bullshit.
Every time I read something like this I think to myself 'just please go get a degree in academic philosophy.' It teaches you how to think.
The type of folks who were incredulous about the idea that someone would study something so useless and naval-gazing, I see many of them unsatisfied with life because they have taken the world as it comes, and haven't taken the time to read the existentialists, specifically the ones who wrote about success. I would recommend Tennessee Williams "The Catastrophe of Success": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catastrophe_of_Success
Understanding existentialism, understanding absurdism, these are really useful things to being able to live a satisfying life but in abundance and in a lack of abundance. My partner is really into yoga and meditation and stuff, and much of what I've read about buddism is basically just religious existentialism and absurdism.
All the best to the author, I hope you are able to do well. Life is hard, and success isn't always what we wanted.
I have a similar background. I think the fact that philosophy is not required learning in all schools is part of the reason the US, at least, is currently in such a pitiful state. The OP is a perfect example of the kind of mindless, soulless drone servicing the machine you become without philosophical tutelage. I would feel sorry for these people if they weren't in a position to cause so much damage. We don't need fools like this to have so many resources at their disposal.