The general stereotypical view of philosophical thinkers is that one wastes time asking all these unanswerable questions. This rings true, especially to "practical men". Russell writes "They doubt philosophy is anything better than innocent but useless discussions on matters concerning questions that cannot be answered." Practical men are described as "ones who recognize only material needs, who realize that men must have food for the body, but are oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind." People do require food for the body, but what is food for the mind?

Philosophy is food for the mind and according to Russell, that is the only reason to study it. However only people who recognize that their minds need nourishing in the first place can be persuaded that philosophy is not a waste of time. It is a way to open new doors within one's mind with as much grace as a SWAT team battering a door down in a drug raid.

"Practical men" who don't ask any questions and who do not ponder daily routines go through life locked down and barricaded inside a besieged fortress kno

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Russell argues that philosophy is not knowledge or facts one needs to memorize or learn, but rather the process of attempting to answer questions using methods and thoughts rarely used otherwise. Russell writes "Philosophy has a value ... through the greatness of the objects which it contemplates, and the freedom from narrow and personal aims resulting from this contemplation." So not only does contemplating philosophically expand our views of the object being contemplated, but it frees us of personal and selfish obligations and thoughts. Contemplating philosophically aids us in eliminating our short sidedness of the world we live in. Russell explains our arrogant self-interested view, "The life of the instinctive man (practical man) is shut up within the circle of his private interests: family and friends may be included, but the other world is not regarded except as it may help or hinder what comes within the circle of instinctive wishes." Russell later demonstrates that the!

wing the end will come yet always combating against it. Practical man goes through life never questioning anything yet believing in whatever the nation tells them. Russell further describes the practical man as "definite, obvious, common objects rouse no questions and any unfamiliar possibilities are rejected." Russell compares this lack of questioning to being imprisoned

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