When one reads philosophy, must always remember that the “winners” are the ones who actually write it. Once upon a time, there were discussion on whether the notion of “change” actually exists. Parmenides thought it did not. He lost. Now we all think as “obvious” that things change. Once upon a time Leibnitz talked about Monades (see picture). Now he is only remembered by the “official” mainstream science history for his mathematical discoveries (which are more or less not so annoying). Once upon a time Wittgenstein talked about the “purpose” of this world. Proponents of materialism used his works, distorted his sayings and now use his name to back up their teachings (it is characteristic that Wittgenstein never attended the meetings of the Vienna Cirlce, which based his entire philosophy on his works). Once upon a time people thought that the world could be as easily made up of matter only or of matter and something else as well. Modern-day materialism has crushed the latter into oblivion. And even though difficulties faced by the current dogmas (i.e. difficulties to explain the immaterial consciousness) sometimes tend to get us back to the drawing board, the “winners” are resisting fiercely. Once upon a time people started to think that there exists… “time”! Godel proved it does not. And this led to his isolation and aparent madness. Egoism does not let someone admit that he was wrong. Especially when he has based 2,000 years of covilization on that wrong…

So next time you read a Wikipedia article on what philosophy has to say about a specific subject, remember that what is thought as “right” now is not the only opinion out there (and not the most correct)… Always go back at the beginning and trace back the roots of every current dogma. Only in that way will you be sure you have a clear understanding of what is the case.