SOME THOUGHTS ON PHILOSOPHY IN MY LIFE

Everyone needs a motto in life, but I myself yearn to find even more. Philosophy, which I cherish most, is something I always believe in; studying it is like exploring a treasure trove of profound wisdom. Why? Because, first and foremost, the name philosophy says it all: philosophy means wisdom (in Chinese), meaning love of intelligence (philosophy). What could be more joyful than having all the difficulties and obstacles in life resolved by a wise and intelligent "scholar"? Is that perhaps overestimating philosophy? I don't think so, because no one would name something without first defining it in their mind. And even if it were called "philosophy" when it was born, if it had been truly useless, lacking wisdom and intelligence throughout a long period of history, no one would be foolish enough not to rename such a multifaceted field of study.

Philosophy is incredibly close to me, as close as a philosophical saying whispered in my ear, yet I never dare to disrespect it, because I know there will come a time when I must seek it out.

Many people deny the role of philosophy, but in reality, they rely on and depend on it. They think that philosophy is something lofty, distant, and out of reach, and that philosophers are no different from fools. But perhaps they forget that during a devastating failure in life, a casual remark from someone saved their soul, opening a path to help them overcome the crisis. Perhaps they forget that when they fell and were utterly disappointed, complaining about their fate, philosophy appeared to encourage, comfort, and help them regain their spirit, will, and motivation for life. And while they were basking in fame and power, a philosophy awakened them, helping them find peace. Unfortunately, few truly accepted it; they rejected philosophy with their own arrogance, and brought suffering upon themselves by making avoidable mistakes. And once they had tasted the bitterness, they began to talk about philosophy.

Furthermore, philosophy offers countless other benefits that those who know how to apply it to life will reap many advantages. The most prominent function of philosophy is its role in providing worldview and methodology. It would be chaotic if someone lived in this world without defining their purpose, whether long-term or short-term. Everyone sets a goal for themselves, but first, to have that goal, they must know who they are—that is, they must be aware of their existence in this world, and what they must do to survive. Perhaps a purpose in life originated from them. Moreover, humans also need to understand the nature of the world, because if you don't know what the things around you are and how they exist, can you use them in life? Probably not. Why? Because fear of what one doesn't understand is a survival instinct. Philosophy has taught them about such worldviews. At this point, their purpose in life is clearer than ever. "I live for the purpose of having abundant material wealth" or "a minimalist life of spiritual happiness" are just two of the countless purposes of human life. And in that way of life, countless words of joy are uttered when success is achieved, like the famous saying: "Money can't buy everything, but everything must be bought with money."

In the course of the development of philosophical history, materialist philosophy has been gradually driving idealist philosophy out of the real world. Without materialist philosophy, no one could distinguish between the visible and the invisible (because they haven't fully explored them). Without materialist philosophy, this world would conceal countless crimes and criminals, justice and righteousness would be suppressed, and those with sophisticated and cunning criminal minds would blame nature or the intervention of some divine being. Thanks to materialist philosophy, human life is prolonged through correct and effective medical methods. This is because fate, in spiritual philosophy, is not real. And punishment from divine beings fails in the face of medical knowledge and experience. On another note, I don't have much sympathy for some spiritualists; how dare they be so audacious and disrespectful to the divine beings they have tried to create? They create a supernatural being and use its hand to express their own desires: the pursuit of offerings and money. Could it be that materialistic worldviews have permeated idealistic worldviews, or is it the moral decay of some believers? I often question my supernatural beings, asking if epidemics are a punishment from them. Why do good people get sick and die from the disease? O supreme deity, why do you punish them?

Furthermore, countless scientific disciplines based on materialistic philosophy are also developing rapidly, and the world is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Humanity has explored specific scientific fields, conducting in-depth research such as earth science, ocean science, and health science. Philosophy is no longer the science of sciences, but research fields that branched off from philosophy still rely on philosophical foundations and have developed strongly to this day; these are some specialized fields of social sciences and humanities. Therefore, human knowledge has expanded, and human life has improved. Philosophy is not just for the ruling class, because not every theory is accepted by that class, and the leaders of that class are not necessarily philosophers.

I love materialist philosophy because it accurately reflects the nature of the world and provides a logical way of reasoning. Seeing life constantly moving and developing, and the material comforts of my friends, I couldn't help but believe in the materialistic worldview: that effort leads to success, and I'm ready to accept the results when I can't go any further.

However, I don't completely embrace materialism. I believe that there needs to be some kind of spiritual world, a religious worldview, to rely on when my soul is weary and exhausted from the pursuit of material things. Sometimes, I turn to it like an opium-like drug for my soul, soothing the injustices and wrongs of work. Or perhaps the illusory resurgence of "idealism creates everything" with the frenzied shout of "heroes create the times"—a few bold thoughts fleeting through my mind—it might be good in some cases. However, I must truly break free from this illusion quickly, because that world is like a puff of opium smoke—only an illusory compensation; immersing myself in it will eventually lead to discouragement and despair. And that despair is not as beautiful as a flower, because it will destroy one's own will to strive and rise above. In any case, as Rousseau said, even without a God, I need a God to guide me towards goodness, to live beautifully, and to believe in cause and effect in the future, which first and foremost means receiving trust, love, and support from my colleagues. Approaching idealist philosophy to a moderate degree helps me avoid falling into superstition.

Philosophy, ultimately, is a form of social consciousness; it arises from a specific social existence. Therefore, it may contain outdated and backward ideas, but conversely, it also contains timeless ideas that hold profound value today. As someone who studies philosophy, I believe I need to make rational choices, and more importantly, philosophy needs to be practical. Without practical application, philosophy can remain mere empty truths buried deep in memory. Applying philosophical principles correctly to oneself and life, those principles cease to be mere formalities and become a tangible force supporting oneself. Therefore, I would never dare to underestimate philosophy, because one day I will have to seek it out.

In short, philosophy, whether idealistic or materialistic, never rejects anyone, yet few realize its tangible nature. There's a very apt saying: no saying is truly yours alone; a thought you utter unintentionally could be the saying of a philosopher or someone else. Therefore, philosophy—a simple thing amidst everyday life, seemingly distant yet so close—is manifested in every aspect of daily life.