On 'Useless' Knowledge

I wrote a piece for Philosophy Now, here is a taster:


"The immediate benefit of curious learning is perhaps the pleasure of thought itself. There is too much readiness to act in this world, and too little reflections. The speeches of politicians are often charged with emotions, manipulating our minds with soundbites made by spin doctors. The media and masses determine our ideal of happiness, and our failures are deemed absolute if we don't live up to their expectations. Yet the pleasure in mere thought not only allows us to enlarge our sympathies and diminish our human folly, it helps us to ward off such bias and prejudice, thus making a way for us to see ourselves in a proper or honest perspective. It also comforts us with peace of mind among worries and misfortunes."

W