"Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to its questions, since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves."
By Bertrand Russell (1912)
The final chapter of Russell's The Problems of Philosophy makes the case for why philosophy matters. In an age that values practical results and measurable outcomes, Russell defends the study of questions that may have no answers.
The Practical Man's Objection
Russell begins by acknowledging the skepticism many people feel toward philosophy. Unlike science, which produces technologies and cures diseases, philosophy seems to offer nothing concrete. It asks questions but rarely provides definitive answers. Why study it?
The "practical" man, Russell suggests, is actually quite impractical—his concerns are limited to his immediate material needs and social position. He never questions the assumptions underlying his life, never wonders whether his values are worth pursuing, never examines the foundations of his beliefs.
The Enlargement of Self
Philosophy's value lies not in answers but in the questions themselves. By contemplating fundamental problems—the nature of reality, the basis of knowledge, the meaning of good and evil—we enlarge our conception of what is possible. We escape the tyranny of custom and habit, recognizing that things we take for granted are actually open to question.
"The mind which has become accustomed to the freedom and impartiality of philosophic contemplation will preserve something of the same freedom and impartiality in the world of action and emotion. It will view its purposes and desires as parts of the whole, with the absence of insistence that results from seeing them as infinitesimal fragments in a world of which all the rest is unaffected by any one man's deeds."
The Goods of the Mind
Russell distinguishes between goods of the body (food, shelter, comfort) and goods of the mind (knowledge, understanding, contemplation). Philosophy belongs to the latter category. It doesn't make us richer or more powerful, but it makes us more thoughtful, more aware, more fully human.
The study of philosophy, Russell argues, is valuable precisely because it is not useful in the narrow sense. It represents the human capacity to pursue knowledge for its own sake, to ask questions without demanding immediate practical applications.
The Uncertainty of Philosophy
Paradoxically, philosophy's inability to provide certain answers is part of its value. By showing us how little we truly know, philosophy cultivates intellectual humility. It teaches us to hold our beliefs tentatively, to remain open to new evidence and arguments, to recognize that others who disagree with us might be right.
"Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom. Thus, while diminishing our feeling of certainty as to what things are, it greatly increases our knowledge as to what they may be."
Relevance Today
In an era dominated by STEM education and vocational training, Russell's defense of philosophy is more relevant than ever. As artificial intelligence handles more practical tasks, the distinctly human capacity for philosophical reflection becomes increasingly important.
Russell's essay also speaks to current debates about the value of liberal arts education. His argument that education should enlarge our conception of what is possible, not merely train us for jobs, challenges the utilitarian approach to learning.
Read the full text: Project Gutenberg - The Problems of Philosophy