Kanokwan asked:

I can't separate the the thinking of philosophers from that of psychologists. So I want to know, What is
the difference between Philosophy and Psychology? Why should we study philosophy?

============

1. The best way to illustrate the difference between philosophy and psychology would be with a
   parable. After making the first Mars landing, a group of Earth astronauts encounter some Martians.
   Unfortunately, the minds of Martians work so differently from the minds of humans that despite many
   months of painstaking effort, only very slow progress is made translating Martian language into a
   human language. Martian psychology is so radically different from human psychology.

Yet there are areas where Martians and Humans can converse relatively easily. Martian and human
scientists can compare views about the ultimate structure of matter. Martian and human
mathematicians can talk about advances in set theory. Martian and human philosophers have no
difficulty discussing the pros and cons of the philosophical theory of mind-body dualism.

2. Up until the present century, it was taken for granted that a full education would include the study
   of philosophy. Philosophers broadly agreed with Aristotle who defined man as the 'rational animal'.
   Aristotle believed that to live the best life it was necessary that we should exercise our mental
   faculties to their fullest extent, and to employ them for the best purposes. Philosophy was was the
   subject that fulfilled these demands better than any other human activity.

Nowadays, however, philosophers seem to have scaled down their expectations. Philosophy has
become just another branch of academic study. I think that this is a pity. Present day philosophers
have lost the sense of how vitally important philosophy is for living well.

Geoffrey Klempner