practical philosophy, n.All

Practical philosophy (n.) seeks ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not the reasons of what happens but the laws of what ought to happen, even although it never does.

Practical philosophy (n.) will ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠make us the lords and possessors of nature, knowing fire, water, air and the stars as distinctly as artisans know their crafts.

Practical philosophy (n.) carries ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the concept into life, as the theoretical philosopher carries life into the concept, and its follower is the happiest of men.

Practical philosophy (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠forced on common reason not by curiosity but by self-defence, so that it does not lose its principles in the equivocations of inclination.

Practical philosophy (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not diplomacy, economics, diet or household rules — those are applied physics; only propositions that give freedom its law are truly practical.

Practical philosophy (n.) knows ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the powers of fire, water, air, the stars and the other bodies that surround us as accurately as the trades of our craftsmen, so as to make ourselves as it were the masters and possessors of nature.