I agree wholeheartedly. I think many readers here will be among the type to feel that philosophy is not 'practical' enough, myself included. But there is something to be said for humoring (some) philosophy from time to time, it really does engage the mind in a way you wouldn't find elsewhere.
If we set up a ladder of abstraction, going from the most practical to the most abstract discipline, I think we'll arrive to something like: Engineering -> Physics -> Math -> Philosophy
We progressively move from the How to the Why, Philosophy being the ultimate Why?
Then again, I'm but a humble engineer so why would my opinion matter :D
i like to think about how the influences flow in all directions.
for example at one time there were a bunch of weirdos arguing over some abstruse philosophical question about the fundamental nature of true logical statements, and one of them came up with the “Turing machine”.
then once it was actually built (by engineers, by way of physical and mathematical advances), it started to cause all kinds of confusion in philosophy of mind and other areas.
Absolutely. It's difficult as someone on the former end of that scale to reorient your mind short term and enjoy philosophy, I think we get grounded into practicality / do things / get results mode, and it's a great exercise to try and engage wonder / analyze / enquiry mode.
