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Philosophy is defined as the use of intelligence and argument in looking for truth and knowledge of reality, especially of the causes and makeup of things and of the doctrine governing existence, the material universe, awareness of physical phenomena and human behaviour. Also, pursuit of comprehension for its own sake, love of wisdom, an integrated view of existence.

In researching key philosophers throughout 2,600 years of history, several patterns can be observed, particularly one of astonishing physical advancement of the natural sciences, but an offsetting regression of the human spirit, or psychological “misfitting” with the world around us.

In the 20th century, the foremost viewpoint has been existentialism, in which the anxious, death and time-obsessed being is cajoled to have belief in himself, take on the world, and become an authentic human being, notwithstanding his belief that the universe and human existence is absurd.

Are these philosophers confused! Talk about contradictory opinions!

Gifted, contemplative minds have grappled all sorts of bizarre questions such as, why are we here, what’s it all about and what is reality. Can we know that anything exists outside the human intellect? Here are some other philosophers’ views on why we are here and what to do about it.

Socrates alleged that we all have understanding of total truth within. Plato admonished us to refrain from bodily pleasures. Aristotle maintained that we could be thoroughly happy in this life. Epicurus held garden parties and advised us to go after the greatest amount of earthly gratification, whilst avoiding heartache. Zeno preached a life of wisdom, and to stay away from physical gratification. The sceptics were sceptical about everything, including whether contentment was possible.

St. Augustine went still further, and preached that contentment was impossible in this world, since we were aware of future death – better to wait for the next one. Galileo affirmed that the universe is an open book, except that it is written in almost unintelligible mathematical code. Descartes distrusted his own body, the external world, and even his own intelligence, until he finally realized that something was going on. Hobbes thought that we ought to be selfish, if only to stay alive. Spinoza was extremely into faith and science and preached that if we treasured both we would lead a satisfactory life.

Hume gave in to the appetites, and alleged we are slaves of experience. Rousseau hungered to become a primitive again, and his ideas encouraged the bloody French Revolution. Kant thought we were progressing nicely towards becoming a sane culture. Hegel held up the theoretical knowledge and the State as fine examples of sensible, intelligent mind. Shopenhauer blamed the illogical will for our troubles, and somehow thought we could use reason to triumph over this issue, though he was pessimistic regarding our odds.

Comte proclaimed God was dead long before Nietzsche, and created sociology to save humanity from itself. Mill supported freedom and happiness for the utmost amount of people, without defining what happiness meant. Kierkegaard made a jump of faith away from nothingness and into a devout life, to elude the misery that comes with human existence. Marx jumped on the Hegel bandwagon, and stirred up the working caste to respond to their overlords with rebellion, although there would be an intervening time of dictatorship to be navigated before Utopia arrived.

Nietzsche admonished us to become combatants and fume against the cosmos, until we died, then pick ourselves up and rage some more. Husserl noticed something unusual regarding his consciousness – it actually homed in on things in the outside world. Rand had the cheek to declare that man is a logical animal!

If the greatest philosophers who have ever lived can’t concur on what truth is, or solve the core query of existence – why are we here? – then what are we being taught in school? Who is educated enough or wise enough to instruct everybody else how to live? Reflecting on this, why would anybody follow anyone else, or be in awe of anyone else?

Be daring and challenge yourself to change your life and create your own unique life of amazing exploration and achievements without following anyone else – especially not the philosophers!

Gary Hipworth is a life planning consultant who believes that all people are capable of being their own life coach. For this purpose he created Superlife Life Planning Software to help you discover how to change your life

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