What is Philosophy?
Etymologically speaking, the term Philosophy came from the Greek word philos meaning “to love” and sophia meaning “wisdom.” So, Philosophy litearally means “the love of wisdom”.
In a same sense, Philosophy is the study of nature of knowledge, existence, and reality.
According to Jacques Maritain, “Philosophy is the science by which the natural light of reason studies the first causes or highest principles of all things – is, in other words, the science of things in their first causes, in so far as these belong to the natural order.”
As you move further in this course, your understanding of philosophy will grow as how philosophers want people to see the “natural light” of comprehending it.
Bertrand Russel’s Value of Philosophy
…show more content…
Metaphysics is considered to be the study of the fundamental nature of existence as such, and the fundamental questions of reality, both of man and of the world. It examines the composition of the universe, and asks “what is the world -- including us -- made of?” “What is the ultimate substance?”
Ontology. Ontology is the study of being and existence; of being as being.
Epistemology is the study of nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief. It analyzes the nature of knowledge and how it is related to truth, justification, and belief.
Ethics. It is the study of values and human actions. You never heard animals criticize people. Most of the time, people are criticized by other people. And when you criticize, you study the action. It answers the question “What do I do?” It is the way by which we identify our values and follow them. Do we follow our own happiness, or do we sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause?
Morality. Ethics has a sub-field called Morality. It is the study of set codes and systems of conduct.
Another branch of Philosophy is called Aesthetics. Aesthetics is focused on the nature and appreciation of art. Questions like "What is a work of art?", "What makes a work of art successful?" are commonly present to studying