Philosophy is generally a collection of statements based on observation. It is not intended to be used as a set of rules.
While many philosophical ideas may contain partial truths, none can contain the whole of the truth. This is because generally when you read a philosophical axiom, you are reading comments based on one indidvidual's observations. This individual's observations are formulated in their mind based upon reflections of their life's experiences. No one philosophical axiom can be blindly applied to everyones reality, because each of our experiences are different.
I am sure that many of you have read an axiom and said "Wow, that was deep." To you it contained a piece of the truth, based upon your accumulated experience. Further investigation may disclose a little more of the truth as it applies to that axiom, however you will discover that one observation cannot be applied like a blanket over all thinking. We refer to people who do this as narrow-minded.
Generally, these observations have value as observations, but should not be accepted as the truth, or applied as a general rule of life.
Remember this axiom: "No generalities are completely true, including this one."
-Alex
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