Does philosophy even matter anymore when it comes to modern politics?

Question:Philosophy is like that guy who quits, then a few weeks later everybody says, "Geeze, I didn't know how much that guy was doing when he was here."

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Philosophy is like that guy who quits, then a few weeks later everybody says, "Geeze, I didn't know how much that guy was doing when he was here."

All groups have a philosophy, or a set of ideals they adhere to. Even if those ideals are "pander to the population just to get votes" and "secretly do the bidding of corporate financiers", they still form a philosophy.

For some reason, philosophy makes me think of ethics, so no.

Philosophy always matters. The fundamentals of philosophy are always lurking behind the assumptions and unquestioned beliefs of those who hold to a particular political view.

Take any political view and you will see themes that must be worked out to have an internally consistent political system. For example, what is the nature of reality (metaphysics)? Why is this important? Political systems have been formed based on whether the material universe is all there is or whether there is some kind of god.

What is the basis for right and wrong (ethics)? Is it positive law, natural law, divine law? How do we know these things (epistemology)? Is history and its politics moving toward a final goal or end, or is history merely cyclical and repititious?

Need I say more... PHILOSOPHY is HUGE.

no its all about religion and abortion and gay marriage

Of course it matters.

Governing mass is no simple thing. There are lots of principles and wisdoms that are applicable to aspects of mass psyche (for lack of better words), governments, public policies, properties, rights, liberty, justice, laws, law enforcement, etc. Political Philosophy is a branch of Philosophy for these.

Read the works on Locke and Hobbes to start with.