For all of philosophy’s stupidities, depravities, absurdities, and empty meanderings, it still has given us pure liberalism. Or at least I have. That means it has given us something close to the metaphysics of realism, naturalism, and objectivism; the epistemology of reason, logic, and science; the ethics of individualism, self-interest, and personal happiness; the politics of liberty, justice, and individual rights; the esthetics of beauty, heroism, and inspiration; and the spirituality of the sublime, transcendent, and triumphant. That's a serious achievement.
As for the ambitious, healthy, and natural need for "something bigger than the self to look up to", philosophy offers man the immense, mysterious, unfathomable, magnificent Cosmos itself. It also offers people almost-certainly-existing, super-intelligent, immensely-noble, godly Space Aliens. Very likely they’re aware of us and watching. We need to live up to their standards.
Of course, the bulk of mankind – and even most intellectuals and elite – prefer to look up to, serve, and follow "god" or "the collective". People choose to be loyal to, and chase after, these two because they can do so without much thinking, effort, spiritual challenge, or possible psychological anguish.
But the great problem here is humans can’t actually see god or the collective. This is because they don’t exist. But people can and do ferociously brainwash themselves and pretend they're real and existing. Then they realize their nonsensical beliefs by ostentatiously admiring or worshiping some charismatic mediocrity, loser, and monster as a stand-in for "the lord" or "the masses". Interestingly enough, men take great comfort in adhering to a belief-system they know to be false and evil. Almost always, they refuse to believe in and embrace anything less.
Still, for the elect and the educated elite, there is the philosophy of pure liberalism. There are reality, reason, truth, and goodness. There are the culture and thought-system of the natural, normal, proper, and healthy. For the intellectual, moral, and spiritual upper crust, achievement, magnificence, pleasure, happiness, and eudaimonia await.
