1. What is the meaning and definition of philosophy?
In Ancient Greek, philo means love and sophia means wisdom. Thus, the word philosophy means love of wisdom. From a dictionary, philosophy is defined as the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. Philosophy is an academic discipline that exercises reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer fundamental questions about knowledge, life, morality and human nature. It is not just a theory for something; it is an activity: a quest for wisdom. 2. What are the different branches and subfields of philosophy? Modern philosophy contains six branches of thought. Each has its own unique focus. These are Metaphysics, Epistemology, Logic, Ethics, Politics, and Aesthetics. Metaphysics deals with the nature of reality and the universe. Usually questions like What is existence? and What are things ultimately like? are asked in this branch. Epistemology deals with the study of knowledge and how it is acquired. Questions usually asked are What is knowledge? and How much knowledge do we have?. Logic shows us how to develop valid arguments and includes mathematical logic. It is the study of the principles of correct reasoning. It asks questions like What is correct reasoning?, What distinguishes a good argument from a bad one?, and How can we detect a fallacy in reasoning?. Ethics is the study of right and wrong and how people should live. Politics is the study of government, citizen rights, and political obligations. Aesthetics deals with beauty, art, and artistic perception. 3. What are the uses and functions of philosophy? Much of what is learned in philosophy can be applied in virtually any endeavor. This is both because philosophy touches on so many
subjects and, especially, because many of its methods are usable in
any field. The study of philosophy enhances, in a way no other activity does, ones problem solving capacities (General Problem Solving). Philosophy also contributes
training in the construction of clear formulations, good arguments, and apt examples (Persuasive Powers). Also, Philosophy teaches interpretive writing through its examination of challenging texts, comparative writing through emphasis on fairness to alternative positions, argumentative writing through developing students' ability to establish their own views, and descriptive writing through detailed portrayal of concrete examples: the anchors to which generalizations must be tied (Writing Skills). 4. What are the reasons why we study philosophy? Its very important that we study philosophy; it gives you not only the knowledge of the world but also gives you a deep understanding of how the world works, and even how it should work. Philosophy wants us to think for ourselves. Philosophers are interested in asking whether an idea is logical rather than simply assuming it is right because it is popular and has been long-established. We study philosophy because is committed to self-knowledge. Philosophy teaches you to ask questions, analyze, and contrast viewpoints. It is important that we study philosophy because it will teach us how to respect ones views, even if we dont agree since it seeks to gain understanding. Sources: http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialsciences/ppecorino/intro_text/chapter% 2012conclusion/what_is_philosophy.htm http://academics.utep.edu/default.aspx?pagecontentid=1755&tabid=24 640 http://www.whatisphilosophy.net http://www.etsu.edu/cas/philosophy/students/undergrad/whyphilosop hy.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy#cite_ref-philosophy_1-0