Nothing is absolute. Everything is a guess. Your belief is only your opinion. Your opinion is only a guess.

Science is only called such because it is no longer considered magic.

Philosophers create opinions and bounce them around. If enough people agree that it is, to them, truth, then than person is hailed as a good guesser.

The philosophy gig was a good thing to get into when robes were fashionable. Not much heavy lifting involved. Later, after pantaloons had been invented to go with the frilly cuffs around the wrist, it became popular again. You didn't really need to know much, you just had to make it sound good.

Just like today.

Logic and reason have hailed a large number of good guesses.

I have taken the classes you have pointed out. Yawn. A lot of reading of other peoples opinions. Guess what, I now drive a garbage truck. But I can guess with the best of them.

An artist can paint a painting, mold clay, write a song or a story. A carpenter can build a house. A blacksmith can make equipment to farm with. All of these items are matierial. They have value in the world marketplace.

But a philosopher just thinks all day. He produces nothing but an opinion. Professional philosophers are layabouts. Anyone can form an opinion and be a philosopher. All of the people listed above can do the exact same thing. Is their's worth anything less. Or more?

A medical doctor goes to school for years to learn medical science. Guess what, he is wrong approximately 40% of the time if he doesn't specialize. If he does specialize, he is still wrong 20% of the time. Why? Because nothing is absolute.

Have a good day Mr. Payne. Be careful you don't fall off that pedestal you have put yourself on. It will hurt.