That was Physics, once known as Natural Philosophy (in Newton's time), unrelated to Nietzche, Sartre, and all that cr*p.
All philosophy is natural. Everything, including the minds of men, are interconnected. Philosophy is how we take a priori knowledge and use it in our everyday lives. Take "rights" for instance. We didn't invent rights. They exist whether they are recognized or not. Philosophy helps us understand what to recognize and what to do with that knowledge. Another little branch of philosophy, ethics, shows us how to act within those rights.
Now, I'm not saying all philosophical discussion is productive, but the exercise thereof is undeniably necessary. Newton mused on many things other than natural phenomena that were intrumental to his understanding of the physical aspects of the universe. Even da Vinci was known to pontificate once in a while. "What if" got us where we are today.
Pick up Philosophy - who needs it? by Rand. She explains it much better than I. It's a short collection of essays that illustrates the value of philosophy. I'll bet that you'll agree (being of a conservative mindset) with most of what she writes.
Without philosopers such as John Locke, and earlier philosophers such as Plato, our Constitutional Republic would probably not exist.