Storm asked:

Why do some people view philosophy solely as a 'consolation/ chicken soup for the soul?' A
consolation to what? and how can they perceive it to be such a thing?

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Some people who think that philosophy is consolatory will not mean academic philosophy but rather
some sort of mystical or religious set of beliefs which provide comfort. In academic philosophy it can
be difficult to sustain many beliefs because there are often arguments to the contrary.

But philosophy can be consolatory. A person can find solace from the ordinary world and its problems
by immersing themselves in the study of philosophy — or any other subject.

Rachel Browne

I imagine they are thinking about what some call "the tragedy of existence" or "the tragic sense of
life." Many philosophers have been Pessimists (Arthur Schopenhauer is a good example) and
believe, that on the whole, as some Greek is reputed to have said, "It is better not to have been born
than to have been born. But who is as lucky as that? Not one in a thousand!" Most philosophers who
think of philosophy as a consolation for what they believe is the general lousiness of life are Stoics of
one brand or another. (Schopenhauer was a sort of Stoic). Stoics believe that although life is pretty
bad, there is nothing much you can do about it, so the best way of handling life is to try to be as
detached (stoical) as possible, and not "let it get to you."

There is something to stoicism: not all the time, of course, but when, as they sometimes do, things
get a bit much.

Ken Stern