PHILOSOPHY

-the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when
considered as an academic discipline.
- is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence,
knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of
addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach, and its reliance on
rational argument.
-the study of the theoretical basis of a particular branch of knowledge or experience.

--Philosophy is a set of ideals, standards or beliefs used to describe behavior and thought.
How do you philosophize?
The way to begin is simply to wonder seriously about something.

SIX BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY:

Epistemology - the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope
(including limitations) of knowledge.

Logic is the study of reasoning. Logic is often divided into two parts, inductive
reasoning and deductive reasoning. The first is drawing general conclusions from
specific examples, the second is drawing logical conclusions from definitions and
axioms.

Metaphysics is concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and

the world. Cosmology and ontology are the two traditional branches of
metaphysics. Cosmology seeks to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and
ultimate fate of the universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in
order. Ontology is the investigation into what types of things there are in the world
and what relations these things bear to one another. Ontology deals with questions
concerning what entities exist or can be said to exist, and how such entities can be
grouped, related within a hierarchy, and subdivided according to similarities and
differences. Before the development of modern science, scientific questions were
addressed as a part of metaphysics known as "natural philosophy."

Ethics also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy which seeks to

address questions about morality; that is, about concepts like good and bad, right
and wrong, justice, virtue, etc.

Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art,
taste, and the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined
as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of
sentiment and taste.

Political Philosophy is the study of concepts such as liberty, justice, property,

rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why (or
even if) they are needed, what makes a government legitimate, what rights and
freedoms it should protect and why, what form it should take and why, what the law
is, and what duties citizens owe to a legitimate government, if any, and when it may
be legitimately overthrown, if ever. Three central concerns of political philosophy
have been the political economy by which property rights are defined and access to
capital is regulated, the demands of justice in distribution and punishment, and the
rules of truth and evidence that determine judgments in the law.

What is the significance of studying the philosophy?

Philosophy -can not only help improve critical thinking skills, but it can help
provide us with knowledge of logic that can greatly help improve critical thinking.