Basic Practical Philosophy

Academic Philosophers like to talk about the Problem of the Criterion.  This is basic to Epistemology, the study of how we know things.  The Problem of the Criterion has to do with our foundational approach to knowledge--do we use a particular method or do we rely on some set of previous knowledge.

I think that those questions are very idealistic and impractical and academic and worthless.

The birth of a philosopher occurs when he (includes women) begins to ask questions about knowledge, methods of knowing, how to behave, what exists, etc.  This occurs as an adult and the philosopher comes into being as an individual knowing language with a set of beliefs, experiences, and an approach to life.  The discerning philosopher quickly discovers that his beliefs have contradictions and realizes that he needs to examine his beliefs and needs a method for examining them and for knowing.  The philosopher needs to weed out false beliefs and confirm true beliefs and needs a method for discovering truth and discovering lies/errors.  The philosopher begins his philosophical life as One Who Has Been Deceived.

Thus, the Philosopher knows of the existence of Language, Life, Thought, Truth, Falsehood, Lies, and Errors.  The first task of the philosopher is to discover a method that can help him discover his own true and false beliefs.

This is basic practical philosophy.  I think that it accords very well with the philosophy of Ecclesiastes.

After weeding out his own false beliefs, the Philosopher can go on to examine all branches of philosophy, including metaphysics.  This is almost certain to be an iterative process, as such examinations will likely show further errors in the philosopher's beliefs.