Abstract
In this paper, Should Philosophies have Shelf Lives? I examine how religious icons, scientific and technological items all show «shelf lives» or limited times of use and accepted realities. I argue that, with qualifications, the same phenomenon occurs or should occur with philosophies. Several outdated philosophical ideas are examined and then I turn to the recalcitrant but outdated notions from early modern philosophy, most notably Cartesianism, which persist in much contemporary philosophy.