Let me pre-qualify what I'm about to say by admitting that a) I have never made a formal study of philosophy (other than the anecdote below, which hardly qualifies) and b) having had little interest in the subject, never informally read much on the subject either. So, in short, the following is very likely misinformed bull, and should not be read by anyone.
In my younger years, I took a philosophy introductory class at university. Being possessed of the usual natures of youth (false ego, carefree attitude bordering on rebeliousness), I decided to push the boundaries of what I could get away with. I remember being amazed at the type of completely bogus, off the top of my head, and completely meaningless essays I would submit, and yet not only passing but getting high marks as well. It actually became a challenge as well as personal joke of sorts, and while I was often questioned by the professor on a particular idea or essay, I found I could convince him (and the class) of the viewpoint, no matter how laughable. I am completely open to the possibility that this was completely the fault of a bad teacher (and me being a bad student), though it did tarnish my personal opinion of philosophy. (As an aside, I wish I had kept those essays somewhere, I am sure they would have been great to read through again).
It's my own personal suspicion that philosophy has lost most of its practical value in recent times. As general history, or entertainment, surely it maintains value. But philosophy as a useful tool seems to have been supplanted by actual science, and perhaps the examination of historical data.
The (admittedly small amount of) philosophical writings that I've been exposed to seem to be either logical truths obscured purposely (presumably to induce a false feeling of revelation in the reader, the same trick often used by religious texts) or just plain pseudo-science. In other cases they would present theories in a particularly long-winded fashion, abstract and vague to the point of being conveniently non-testable. Not to say they weren't entertaining, but certainly a bit presumptious with their claims of exposing valuable knowledge.
Once again, it is probably a failing of my own, not having been exposed properly to the subject (and perhaps even lacking an understanding of what 'real' philosophy is).
P.S.: To further add offense to the topic:
PHILOSOPHY, n A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.
-The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce
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