Nicole asked:

Why be philosophical?

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Why not?

Sometimes, to be philosophical means to be detached and calm about personal problems. To view
these problems with a sense of proportion. This comes from, I think, the philosophy of the Stoics who
preached such an attitude toward life, which they called "apatheia." Lot's of people think that being
philosophical in this way prevents ulcers and high blood pressure.

In another sense, to be philosophical is to attempt to deal with philosophical problems in some way.
For instance: what is knowledge? What is morality? Does God exist? and so on. Why deal with these
problems. Well, as Hilary said of Mount. Everest when asked why he climbed it, "Because [they are]
there."

Ken Stern