One of the benefits of reading philosophy is the ways of thinking and categorising it teaches you, which some people call mental models. For example, from Aristotle we learn about essence and accident. Everything has qualities that are fundamental to what it is, and qualities that are accidental. For example, you can melt and re-shape gold as many times and in as many ways as you like, and it is still gold. Shape is accidental to gold, not essential. This way of thinking was commonplace until recently among all educated people, and you can see how it applies broadly.
Some useful mental models
Some useful mental models
Some useful mental models
One of the benefits of reading philosophy is the ways of thinking and categorising it teaches you, which some people call mental models. For example, from Aristotle we learn about essence and accident. Everything has qualities that are fundamental to what it is, and qualities that are accidental. For example, you can melt and re-shape gold as many times and in as many ways as you like, and it is still gold. Shape is accidental to gold, not essential. This way of thinking was commonplace until recently among all educated people, and you can see how it applies broadly.