what is philosophy?

answers1: philosophy is rather not only to be in concerns with mans
natural thoughts of self existence but philosophy is a powerful tool
that describes the extreme or minor break up of human logic or other
set lifestyle ways
answers2: philosophy means searching for wisdom.
answers3: My idea of philosophy? Oh how I could go on and on.. Though,
to me, philosophy can not be explained in words and books.. Philosophy
can only be explained by the heart and the mind with wisdom
intertwined into them both..
answers4: Philosophy is just a way which we think. A standard, or a
thinking process...morals even. But, real philosophy doesn't have a
real meaning, just as the true knowledge is in knowing that you know
nothing... I guess
answers5: (m) <br>
<br>
Philosophy studies the fundamental nature of existence, of man, and of
man's relationship to existence. … In the realm of cognition, the
special sciences are the trees, but philosophy is the soil which makes
the forest possible. <br>
—Ayn Rand, Philosophy, Who Needs It (p. 2) <br>
A philosophy is a comprehensive system of ideas about human nature and
the nature of the reality we live in. It is a guide for living,
because the issues it addresses are basic and pervasive, determining
the course we take in life and how we treat other people. <br>
<br>
The topics that philosophy addresses fall into several distinct
fields. Among those of fundamental concern are: <br>
<br>
Metaphysics (the theory of reality). <br>
Epistemology (the theory of knowledge) <br>
Ethics (the theory of moral values) <br>
Politics (the theory of legal rights and government) <br>
Aesthetics (the theory of the nature of art) <br>
The most widespread systems of ideas that offer philosophical guidance
are religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Religions differ from philosophies not in the subjects they address,
but in the method they use to address them. Religions have their basis
in mythic stories that pre-date the discovery of explicitly rational
methods of inquiry. Many religions nowadays appeal to mystical faith
and revelation—modes of belief that claim validity independent of
logic and the scientific method, at least for the biggest questions.
But most religions are in their origins pre-rational rather than
anti-rational, a story-teller's account of philosophic issues rather
than a scientist's. <br>
<br>
In Greek, "philosophy" means "love of wisdom." Philosophy is based on
rational argument and appeal to facts. The history of the modern
sciences begins with philosophical inquiries, and the scientific
method of experimentation and proof remains an instance of the general
approach that a philosopher tries to bring to a question: one that is
logical and rigorous. However, while today the sciences focus on
specialized inquiries in restricted domains, the questions addressed
by philosophy remain the most general and most basic, the issues that
underlie the sciences and stand at the base of a world-view. <br>
<br>
Philosophy raises some of the deepest and widest questions there are.
Addressing the issues in each branch of philosophy requires
integrating everything one knows about reality (metaphysics) or
humanity (epistemology, ethics, politics, and aesthetics). Proposing
reasonable positions in philosophy is therefore a difficult task.
Honest philosophers have often disagreed about key issues, and
dishonest ones have been able to slip their own positions into the mix
as well. For this reason, there is not one philosophy worldwide, as
there is one physics. Instead, there are many philosophies. <br>
<br>
Over the course of history, philosophers have offered entire systems
that pulled together positions in each of the branches of philosophy.
Aristotle, the father of logic, authored such a system in ancient
times, teaching that we could know reality and achieve happiness. In
more modern times, philosophers such as John Locke and Immanuel Kant
have written systematic accounts of their thought. Most modern
philosophers, however, have specialized in one area or another within
philosophy, although some schools of philosophy have emerged that are
marked by the general positions of their members on a variety of
issues and the members' shared admiration for a chain of historical
figures. These schools have included Pragmatism, Logical Positivism,
and Existentialism, but are little-known outside of university classes
in modern philosophy. <br>
<br>
Today philosophic issues often enter public life through political or
social movements, some religious in inspiration, such as Christian
conservatism, and others secular, such as left-wing environmentalism
and socialism. The ideas of such movements are often called
ideologies. That term, "ideology," is another name for the systems of
ideas we have been talking about. Though the focus of ideological
movements is political, their political beliefs tend to be rooted in
shared conceptions of reality, human nature, and values.
answers6: philosophy are for those who think they are intelligent but
have no way of showing that they are. they answer questions with
another answer or refute your answer with a contrasting statement.
<br>
<br>
every 'philosopher' i have known from my undergrad days, inc one phd
guy, has contributed ZERO to society. in fact, they are all
unemployed or employed just long enough to get fired from to collect
unemployment. thus, the 'philosophers' that i personally know are
nothing more than parasites of society...contributing less than
nothing and consuming precious social resources. <br>
<br>
these are MY experiences with philosophy and those who are 'educated'
(educated...what a joke term for that) in philosophy. <br>
<br>
the best way to learn real philosophy? get a real job like breaking
brick in construction, push some paper at an office or be a porn
actor. whatever you choose, contribute something to society. THEN
when you go for your lunch breaks, hit a chinese restaurant and at the
end of the meal when you get that fortune cookie, it will reveal much
more profound philosophy than what you will ever learn in school. <br>
<br>
unless of course, you like eating garbage from a dumpster, drinking
your own urine while you live on the street and beg for anything you
can get! think i am way off? not from the people i know who went to
university to get a 'philosophy' degree!
answers7: Philosophy is the answer to big questions.
answers8: Short and simple. Philosophy is your individual belief or
perception you live. It is that framework that guides how you
interact with others and events in the world you live in.
answers9: philosophy is the pursuit for wisdom. It is questioning all
that has been told or taught to formulate a deeper understanding.
without philosophy there would be no subjects.
answers10: Freedom
answers11: Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental
problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge,
values, reason, mind, and language.