The essay, you referenced, is "How to do philosophy". If you're going to do philosophy, the approach he proposes includes learning from past mistakes. That sai

The essay, you referenced, is "How to do philosophy". If you're going to do philosophy, the approach he proposes includes learning from past mistakes. That said, I agree with his answer to the raq - you'll be better served by doing philosophy in other fields. Still, I think that's a big difference from saying those classics are a waste of time. In learning to abstract concepts, learning from previous struggles isn't a bad way to go. I am agnostic, however, on the best ways to learn how to abstract concepts.