"...unlike in other areas and not unlike with religion (or culture in general) there are many of them - potentially of equal value, - or that philosophy must al

"...unlike in other areas and not unlike with religion (or culture in general) there are many of them - potentially of equal value, - or that philosophy must always be studied and can only be understood in the historical and/or cultural context." On one hand, you will find many people who frequent HN like Stoicism, a philosophy that is over 2000 years old and yet still applicable in many senses. (I personally prefer Epicureanism and Zhuangzi, but that's me.) On the other, I think it would be difficult to understand Kant without being familiar with Hume. Philosophy is not like physics or mathematics. (Some modern analytic philosophers would disagree. They're wrong. They're also not as smart as they think they are. (C'mon, fight me! Anytime, anyplace! I've always got my Junior Philosopher's Secret Decoder Ring and Brass Knuckles with me.)) To expect it to act like physics or mathematics is a mistake. Do you expect progress from a conversation with friends?