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Political philosophy
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Political philosophy
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The subject of Philosophy and its subcategories have been widely discussed in both the Western and non-Western world albeit with different focuses. Philosophy includes many different subfields involving investigation into our existence. These subfields include epistemology, ethics, logic, metaphysics, philosophy of science, social and political philosophy, and Metaphilosophy. Epistemology focuses on the study of Knowledge, also known as “Theory of Knowledge”. Ethics involves the study of moral values and rules, Logic; the study of reasoning. Metaphysics is the study of being and knowing also known as the principles of reality. The Philosophy of Science analyzes the nature and results of scientific inquiry. Social and Political Philosophy tend to cover human behavior. Social Philosophy centers on the study of questions about social behavior, usually in humans, and Political philosophy centers on the study of concepts such as liberty, justice, property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority. Metaphilosophy is the study of the nature, aims, and methods of philosophy more commonly known as the philosophy of philosophy. Philosophy itself can be interpreted through its Greek origin standing literally for ‘love of wisdom’ Philosophy aims at explaining what why and how existence ‘is’. Philosophers attempt to analyze our reality, behavior, morality, and rules, all to understand and create a structure for our world. We use philosophy to understand our reality. Plato described philosophy as the science of the Idea. Aristotle defined it as the science of the universal essence of that which is real or actual. Philosophies purpose is, put simply, to explain this science and, in doing so, achieve power over our own li... ... middle of paper ... ... Stephanie. "The Purpose and Importance of Philosophy." Associated Content - Associatedcontent.com. 11 Apr. 2006. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. . • Shermus, S. S. "Reflective Thought, Critical Thinking." Eric Digest. Indiana University, Nov. 1999. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. • Solomon, R. (2001). 'What Is Philosophy?' The Status of World Philosophy in the Profession. Philosophy East & West, 51(1), 100. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database. • Vector, Dick V. "What Is the Difference Between Continental and Analytic Philosophy?" Associated Content. 9 July 2007. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. .
Philosophy is the study of knowledge, reality, existence and thought processes. Immanuel Kant from Prussia, (currently Russia) for whom was influential during the Enlightenment period; and John Stuart Mill from Great Britain whom was present during the Romantic era, explored ideas that they believed would create a more fair and just society, by trying to legislate morality. Morality cannot be legislated because it is a concept of right and wrong created by each different religion, region and culture; issues are not black and white.
Philosophy Is wanting to know more about what it means to be a human being, the basic nature of reality, what limits our knowledge or feeds what we know, and what is considered good and or right in society. Our beliefs are really up to our own imagination, and philosophy questions these beliefs in order to understand the reason behind them.
The term philosophy means love of wisdom, it is derived from the Greek Philia (love) and Sophia (wisdom). Philosophy is a way of thinking and an attempt to explore profound questions relating to our existence, such as, how can we build a good society?, what do we mean by good? , what is the meaning of life? and what is genuine happiness? Philosophers focus on many issues, among them; Epistemology, Metaphysics, Logic, Aesthetics, Ethics, and Political Philosophy. Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It is concerned with how knowledge is acquired, what obstacles are faced in the pursuit of knowledge and the limits on what can be known. It differentiates between rational and empirical knowledge. Metaphysics is the study of the nature of reality, it focuses on fundamental existential questions about being and meaning. Logic is the study of reason;deductive and inductive, valid arguments, premises and conclusions. Aesthetics is the study of the nature of beauty. It focuses on art, perception and enjoyment. Ethics is concerned with how people ought to conduct themselves and whether questions of defining right and wrong can ever be answered. Political philosophy is the study of the State in relation to those they govern. It questions the rights and responsibilities of the individual and issues of law and justice. The very nature of Philosophy means that it's scope for enquiry is endless.
Graham, Daniel W. "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." Internet Encylopedia of Philosophy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014
In “The Value of Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell, Russell discusses that while some are quick to dismiss philosophy as unnecessary or as the empty trifling of concepts where knowledge is unconcerned, philosophy is in fact necessary for emotional nourishment, as well as for personal self-satisfaction through questioning common surroundings and actions, simply for the sake of questioning. Due to the necessity of emotional nourishment and mental satisfaction in an individual’s life, philosophy is the ultimate pathway to knowledge. As the study of fundamental knowledge, nature, and existence, philosophy is necessary in modern times because it helps develop necessary critical skills, as well as allow for an individual to reflect on significant life questions, such as “What does it mean to be human?” and “What is happiness?”.
Philosophy is a study of beliefs and knowledge by a group or an individual; the study of philosophy according to Socrates was supposed to lead man with knowledge that equaled virtue that eventually led to happiness. Philosophy was a way of living back in Greek culture. There were philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Arcamedies, and Aristotle that were constantly question why things happened and went against what was Greek religion. These men taught the Greek people to study philosophy and knowledge so it would free their souls. Socrates felt that mans soul was rational factuality but the soul was filled with irrational choices. Man needed to focus on what they could do to become truly pure and rational that would led them to there rational soul.
I believe that Philosophy is the study of different ways of thinking. In philosophy, you should question everything and never take anything for face value. There are always two sides to every coin as there are different ways of looking at things, is what philosophy teaches us. In philosophy, you must throw off all the limitations you have set on yourself when dealing with how you view things and how things seem to be.
Oxford University Press. (n.d.). Definition of philosophy in English. Retrieved November 12, 2013, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/philosophy
To me philosophy is a way of thinking, believing, and understanding. It could begin with learning how to interpret things and explore their meanings so that they make sense. I feel that a persons philosophy can help them when making judgements. One can learn and understand insights to a subject or a dilemma. It can help with their formation of thoughts and ideas. Philosophy is not just about the facts. The facts are put together to make something significant. The facts don’t necessarily make up a persons way of thinking either. A way of thinking is based on what is seen and heard in the world around the viewer.
Philosophy as defined by our required text is said to be "the love of wisdom. It is the search for the larger picture, the demand for knowledge." There are many questions in philosophy, many involving the subject of religion. Does God exist? Should we believe in God? Is belief in God justified? These are just some of the questions attempted to be answered in philosophy. Every philosopher has a different opinion on the existence of God.
Philosophy, the Greek word for "love of wisdom," has been defined in a variety of ways, one of which is the notion that philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions (Voices of Wisdom). What makes people partake in philosophy? It is philosophy that we turn to when we have the need to seek out a guiding principle for our lives. Therefore, philosophy holds a prominent place in society and in the world. Basically, everyone is a philosopher, but it takes the creative genius and reasoning of brilliant thinkers to bring about world-shattering concepts. Nevertheless, the common man also ruminates about his life and his unique existence to try to find the meaning of his life. Philosophy allows us to live our lives with confidence, because we know that ideas cannot be taken from us. In the United States, we can feel free to express our opinions and beliefs as long as we do not impinge upon other's rights. This is where a common philosophy has been accepted and adopted by a people.
When I think of philosophy I think back to my personal beliefs and experiences. Philosophy for me is a term that goes beyond choosing what's right from wrong, philosophy goes deeper that a decision. Philosophy for me is the roots of my being and what determines the way I live my everyday life. Philosophy refers back to the codes I count on to help me handle situations better and find the right path that will bring me happiness within myself.
Philosophy started when human beings started to ask questions, about how and what things are actually, due to curiosity. The things that caused these questions to come about were the people started to realize that everything isn’t exactly what it appears to be.
Throughout this semester in philosophy I’ve come to realize one thing for sure, that one thing being that philosophy doesn’t not easily come defined. While reading all the works of Plato one comes to the realization that philosophy as an activity is like trying to see both sides of a door at the same time. There are many different types of doors and way to look at all of them. There are so many different types of ways to define philosophy.
It is noticeable that many subjects that once belonged to philosophy have broken off and become independent disciplines. These subjects include physics, psychology, and chemistry. This, however, has not left philosophy devoid of content. There are numerous other things that have always belonged to philosophy since the beginning of time and are still part of philosophy up to date. These issues are; the possibility of knowledge, the nature of the universe, the standard of justice, the correct use of reason, and the qualities of beauty. These issues have the foundational structures of the five branches of philosophy that are epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, logic, and aesthetics.