For most people, the pursuit of the Liberal Arts are reserved for those with minds that are trained to understand them. Who can blame them? In particular, Philosophy has so many ideals, teachings, and ideas that would make anyone’s head spin faster than an electric fan. That’s the exact reason why most people would steer clear from any Philosophical subject or conversation. But hey, that doesn’t mean normal folks should be intimidated by anything Philosophy-related. In fact, common labourers, such as plumbers, stand to gain the most if they pursue to master Philosophy.

But before we proceed, what is Philosophy exactly and how can it improve the way plumbers live and work? Well, for starters, the word itself literally means your love of wisdom in the old Greek language. It all started around 500 years before Jesus was born and it’s about finding answers to various topics back then. These included matters about human values, society, existence, and morality, among others.

As centuries went by and society evolved into what it is right now, so did the study of Philosophy too. Back then, Philosophers would argue on how people should act, or how to tackle the common struggles of everyday life with righteousness. As of the present time, it has expanded to how countries should be governed and the manner of providing people with their basic needs and proper empowerment. Now, you may be asking yourself why HDB plumber, one of the simplest and down-to-earth people you may know, would benefit greatly from studying Philosophy? Here are a couple of great reasons why.

Plumbers should aim for a higher class of living

Who says only the rich people have the right to enjoy a life that’s way above than everyone else is living? Actually, all people have that right and simple folks, like Plumbers, deserve it too if they choose to pursue it. With benefit of a wide Philosophical knowledge, Plumbers can do their work better by applying principles that places them first among the pack. Socrates, one of the earliest Philosophers in human history once said that Philosophy begins in wonder. Basically, it means that wisdom starts with a tiny amount of curiosity. It then leads into many realizations that could end up with personal success and a better way of living. “The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life”, Plato, another famous Philosopher said.  With these Philosophical teachings ingrained into their hearts and minds, Plumbers will adhere to a higher standard of living in all aspects. Isn’t that what most of us strive for in life?

Plumbers have a right to lead

If you think only the influential and rich can lead, you’re dead wrong folks. Even a modest plumber can rise through the ranks in a community and present a case for positive leadership. One of the many means for that to come into reality is with the help of Philosophy folks. There are a lot of useful teachings ideas a Plumber can apply in his or her everyday life when it comes to leadership. Let’s take a look at what Heraclitus, who lived from 535-475BC  says about the subject of leading. According to this Philosopher, day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become. If you apply that to a humble Plumber, it means they have the choice and ability to be whoever they want to be, including a leader.  This means they can strengthen their resolve, get educated by all means, and empower themselves to present a good example of leadership in any form. This provides a good foundation for anyone, especially Plumbers, to take the cudgels of leadership and show the whole world how it should be done.

Plumbers can also get good education

Normally, people would go to college and get a Bachelor’s Degree to certify they have mastered a set of skills in a specific field. Plumbers are no exception too because there are a lot of cases where even the poorest person can rise above a thousand challenges. Aristotle, a great Philosopher who lived in Ancient Greece, once said that a mark of an educated man is to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. In that regard, a good education can teach people to study a lot of disciplines to further his or her own knowledge, and form a strong foundation for wisdom in life. Furthermore, he also said that educating the mind without even educating the heart is not education. That’s why it’s also important for normal workers, such as Plumbers, to keep their feet on the ground as they open their minds to new ideas that will propel them to success. And that folks, is the reason why Philosophy is great way to increase a Plumber’s knowledge on how the world works. In the process, they are being empowered to pursue studies that will make them realize they have a chance for the greater things in life.