Philosophy is a social and cognitive phenomenon(A study in applied philosophy and its early roots)

Abstract

The relationship between philosophy and society is intrinsic and fundamental . Philosophy is an epistemological phenomenon that necessarily arises from society and from its need for it . For,  while society requires intellectuals, doctors, engineers, and all other professions  essential for its advancement and prosperity , its need for philosophy is no less important . Indeed it is even greater as philosophy illuminates the path of the human mind guiding it through life. It enables human intellect to question, infer, analyze and seek truth in all its forms through the application of correct scientific methodologies. The birth of philosophy coincided with the birth of humankind. The first question asked by humanity in its quest to understand its existence and the existence of the world was a philosophical one. The disciplines explored by philosophers are epistemological and social inquiries that are essential and necessary in any society , including ethics ,politics, religion and the study of values. Over time, philosophy transitioned from theoretical concerns to practical applications grounded in ethical values within science and labor. This transformation of philosophy from abstract speculation to practical engagement has become imperative in our modern era The increasing complexity of social life has exacerbated human extremism, individual selfishness, and the prioritization of utility and personal gain over higher values and absolute morals leading to the emergence of a new philosophical trend known as applied philosophy.  This shift manifested in the study of philosophical issues with practical significance particularly in the field of ethics and its applications in politics, education, religion and individual and collective behavior. Applied philosophy thus sought to uphold moral values in these domains as a means of preventing scientific and technological advancements from infringing upon human dignity, personal rights and the sanctity of moral law and higher principles within human societies.  The emergence of applied philosophy as a reaction to such concerns has deep historical roots.  In ancient times the Sophistic movement arose as a response to the transformations experienced by Greek society marked by contradictions among philosophical theories regarding existence, knowledge, ethics , politics and religion . The moral values and divine laws faced heightened criticism and attack from thinkers and scientists leading to greater complexity and confusion in human thought and societal structures.  This prompted philosophers to seek solutions to these complications. Consequently,  the Sophistic movement emerged with its negative ideas embodied in absolute relativism overturning all established values and principles and plunging morality into chaos which only deepened the existing ethical crisis.  The shift from the absolute to the relative inevitably eroded all constants in ethics,  religion, science, art and other fields. The rise of applied philosophy in our time is nothing but a reaction against the tendencies of contemporary thinkers and scientists whose conduct resembles that of the Sophists.  For the dominance of utilitarianism and individual selfishness in ethics, politics, religion and economics mirrors the Sophistic approach that applied philosophy seeks to counter redirecting society towards truth, justice, and goodness