Though the human mind can think philosophically, for it's own good, and for the continuation of the species, it had better make reality the primary way of viewing the world, lest you walk in front of a truck, or sing Kumbaya to an ET that's leveled a blaster at you. ;)
Let me qualify what I said of the scammers. They might very well be acting via realism, since if they don’t go along with the propaganda, their funding will be cut off.
Am I not correct in stating that philosophy and philosophers considerably preceded the sciences and the scientific method?
As for the continuation of the species, there is one key that shows us how to adapt to anything: Judeo-Christianity. Its values and about 9,000 generations of our Western predecessors striving for them, is what got us to where we are right now, writing freely on our computers and pursuing in a slavery-free society our own destinies as we choose. Judeo-Christian values are proven antidotes to the problems we struggle with today and as humans forever. Species survive by adaptation; the bible tells us how to adapt spiritually and philosophically to each other. Without it, we are crude barbarians -- though too many of us don't realize it because we've forgotten where we came from.
In other words, don't put the cart before the horse. Philosophical groundwork is the horse that pulls the cart of science and progress and quests for knowledge. Judeo-Christian "philosophy" is a divine gift that guides us in continuation of the species.