Existence is an ocean wave that you can see and know what it is. As it crashes upon the transitional shore it dissipates and rejoins the rest of the ocean. Existence changes form but not its foundamental essence.
The size and quality of the 'wave' is determined by its history and direct influence of its enviorment and other forces. - or so says Buddist teachings.

By the way polls show that preachy ethics morality professors and philosphers are less popular than politicians. For example Kant was just a lonely bitter man. I say most people today can do better than Aristotle and Socrates on their own.

People still study the interaction of the self with its tribe. Then the tribe with the other often called 'them'. Currently we consider the interaction between Them 'with the alien Them' or intergalactic overlords. Philosophies of each of these groups have no guarantee of being correct since so much is lost in translation.