A tribute to Philosophy.

Quite frankly, it's nonsense.

Nothing is really made from it, it doesn't really do anything, and it's filled with anal-retentive people. You sit around all day in chairs and mumble to each other while not really listening to what the other has to say. All of the time you never understand what is going on, and all of the time you try to somehow make whatever you do manage to eventually understand, fit into your world view...and then realizing that it doesn't, you throw it away. You could otherwise be earning money, instead of collecting dust. And wondering why the books aren't in alphabetical order.

As I said, it's rubbish.

But it's like an old house or car. It stinks and it's filled to the brim with trash. The air-conditioning doesn't work, the sink doesn't work, the clutch is spoilt, the throttle is gone, the brakes lock up unevenly, the window doesn't open properly, the bed collapses on one end, the fan breaks down every alternate hour, the television set is as clear as the sky during a thunderstorm, and toilet flush spews water out.

Everything isn't working, and anything that actually works, is about to stop.

But you've lived or driven in it for such a long time, you know all these little tricks to get it going again. How to tweak the settings so the air-conditioning starts, how to control the water flow so that the sink functions, how to position the clutch lever so the clutch connects, where to step to get the throttle going again, how to steer the car to avoid the wheels locking up, how to push the window so that it opens, how to sleep so that the bed doesn't collapse, how long to keep the fan running before it breaks down, how to adjust the antenna and the various stuff around the house so the television works, and how to push the button without the sewage coming back up.

It's like an annoying sibling. You know exactly how to move him/her and exactly how to stop him/her. You've stuck by it so long that yes, it's annoying, yes, it's rubbish, yes, it's nonsense, yes, it's useless, but it's also something that you know best. It's the grandfather of academia itself. It has all these accolades and you can't really get any more academic than Philosophy. But that's not why I love it. Audi has won tons of rallies and made the marvel that is the R8. But I hate them. The TT and R8 look like frogs while the rest of the line look like hotdog buns.

If I had to draw an analogy, Philo is like an Alfa. It's complete nonsense. The interior is made from straw and the engine runs on lard. You'll get annoyed multiple times in a day, you'll tear your hair out, you'll curse and swear, you'll knit your brows so much you'll tie a knot in them, and you'll want to strangle people. But at the end of the day, when the engine cackles to life, that rush of accomplishment and fulfillment makes everything alright again. When you drive an Alfa, you're driving in the crucible of drivers. The Alfa tests every single skill in you as a driver.

Philo is no different. It's not something you make money from, it's not something you throw money at and then it churns out diamonds. It's not even something you just know, and then never use again. Philosophy stands as a crucible to all knowledge. You want to know something? You want to be really sure? Throw yourself against it. You'll be broken, smashed, demolished, traumatized, and deranged. At the end of the day, you'll find that you really have nothing, you'll get annoyed at other people who seem to have gotten something, you'll get annoyed at yourself for being a twit, you'll want to quit and you'll want to shoot yourself. But. And that's a big but. When it all comes together and you realize your beliefs are consistent and make sense, the kind of security that gives you, the sure-footedness of your mind, that makes everything worth it.

It is absolutely annoying, and it is rubbish. But stick with it for awhile, learn how to open the spoilt door, learn how to step on the brakes, learn how to turn the steering wheel, learn the worldviews and the arguments behind them. Learn what is important to you. Learn how you think. Learn the minute but important distinctions. Take your time, and get them down, and you'll definitely find that you begin to truly start to enjoy the ride. Because then, you're not just smashing yourself against a wall. You're starting to fight back.

I don't love it because of how grand it is, or how revered it is. I love it because it embodies the soul and passion of progress. Be defeated, but always, always, rise from the ashes.