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.