I still do not recall what inspired me to take Philosophy as an A-level, that particular piece of reasoning left me long ago. I can only work backwards from what philosophy gave me, and sadly must assume.
Now the only true thing I gained from studying Philosophy (and I phrase it such because I'm unsure as to whether it was a good thing) was the ability to reason "why?", ask "why?" to everything, and refuse or accept things based on reasoning deeper than I had ever thought possible. This in turn, ruined me for the rest of my life. We don't live in a world where asking "why?" is rewarded, We live in a world where the intention lies that you graciously ask what you can do to help, and then you do it. Otherwise you end up in my current situation, of unemployment.
Yet, I find myself strangely glad I had received such wisdom, though it has effectively ruined me for the working world. There is nothing finer than thinking about things, it is just a shame I can't effectively do that for money at the moment.