Defining Philosophy Essay

Philosophy derives from the two Greek words philein, which path ? to love, and sophia, which means ? receiptledge or ? wisdom (Moore & Bruder, 2002, p. 2). This is not the only definition of philosophical system as ism is a very vast subject. A critical examination of reality characterized by rational interrogatory that aims at the Truth for the sake of attaining wisdom (Russo & Fair, 2000, 4). My interpretation of philosophy is a field of body of work where one(a) thinks outside of the box in the search for knowledge or wisdom that does not involve scientific explanations.There is no consistency in the nature of philosophical questions. The nature of many philosophical questions advert norms. The application of norms, also known as standards occurs when people decide whether something is good or bad, right or wrong, beautiful or ugly. Normative questions ask about(predicate) the value of something. The field of science explains how things atomic number 18 tho does not tel l us how things ought to be. Sometimes philosophical questions arise when polar people believe different things. For example, some people believe that a cause-and-effect relationship exists in everything.If a person drinks spoiled milk, he or she will get sick. There are others that believe when one voluntarily decides to do something- cypher made them decide to do that. This refutes the cause-and-effect relationship belief. Then there are many other slipway to look at the situation. Is every happening caused? Or are some happenings uncaused? Or is it perchance that decisions are not happenings? These questions cause a dilemma that involves philosophizing. The importance of some philosophical questions-Is there a God who is attentive, caring, and responsive to us?and Is abortion virtuously wrong? -is obvious and vast. A justification would suck up to be given for not contemplating them. But some philosophical questions are of more or slight obscure, and seemingly only academi c or notional, consequence. Not everything philosophers consider is dynamite. But then, every field has its theoretical and non-practical questions. Some questions are inherently interesting to the people who pose them. Some philosophical questions are asked because the philosopher wants to know the answer simply to know the answer.Most philosophical questions tend to fall into one of these four areas Questions cerebrate to macrocosm or existence (Metaphysics), Questions related to knowledge (Epistemology), Questions related to values, and Questions of logic or the theory of right-hand(a) reasoning. Metaphysics and Epistemology are branches of philosophy that are very similar to one another. The questions related to values are standards of birth and conditions of responsibility. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that is concerned with these areas Cosmology- Theory of reality and Ontology- Theory of being.The two basic questions of metaphysics ask what is being?and what ar e its fundamental features and properties? Some specific examples of metaphysics questions are What is the mind? Do people have shift will? Metaphysical bookstores, for example, specialize in all sorts of occult subjects, from channeling, harmonic convergence, and pyramid power to past- tone hypnotic regression, psychic surgery, and spirit photography. However, the true history of metaphysics is quite different.Metaphysics has little to do with the occult or tarot card cards and the like. Epistemology is the theory of knowledge that asks what is the nature of knowledge and what are the criteria, sources, and limits of knowledge.Specific examples of epistemology questions are What is truth? and Is it affirmable to know anything with absolute certainty? The questions related to values involve four different philosophies (1) moral philosophy (ethics)- is the study of right and wrong in human action or the philosophical study of moral judgments (2) social philosophy- the philosophic al study of society and its institutions (3) political philosophy- which focuses on the state and seeks to determine its justification and ethically proper organizationAnd (4) aesthetics- is the study of beauty or the philosophical study of art and ofvalue judgments about art. Questions of logic or the theory of correct reasoning, seeks to investigate and establish the criteria of valid inference and demonstration. Logic is the study of the principles of right reasoning. Logic is the basic tool that philosophers use to investigate reality. The questions raised by logic are (1) What makes an argument valid or invalid (2) What is a sound argument?Philosophical questions differ from questions of a scientific or factual nature because philosophical answers usually entail making careful distinctions in thought, words, argument, and recognizing subtle distinctions among things and among facts. Philosophical solutions also require logic and critical thinking skills, discussion, and exposit ion. Philosophy involves one to divulge how to look carefully for similarities and differences among things and develop an ability to spot logical difficulties in what others write or avow and to avoid these pitfalls in their own thinking.In addition, in philosophy people learn to recognize and critically assess the important unstated assumptions people make about the world and themselves and other people and life in general. These assumptions affect how people perceive the world and what they say and do yet for the most component people are not aware of them and are disinclined to consider them critically. Finally, learning philosophical lessons capture people not to become trapped by stubbornness.Philosophical lessons instill the value of open-mindedness and seeking solutions to problems that pair standards of coherence and reasonableness. References Moore, B. N. , & Bruder, K. (2002). Philosophy The Power of Ideas (5th ed. ). Boston McGraw-Hill Russo, M. , & Fair, G. (2000). What is Philosophy Anyway. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on frame in 17, 2006 from http//www. molloy. edu/academic/philosophy/SOPHIA/what_is_philosophy_anyway. htm.