What is philosophy?

What is Philosophy?

Instead of copying some definition from some other website or online dictionary, I will tell you what I think philosophy is.

At its core - philosophy is the love of wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge. Many scholars and intellectuals mention that philosophy deals with such concepts as aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics and epistemology.

For me, philosophy means learning as much as I can about anything and everything. Many disciplines, from politics to psychology mention philosophy at some point along the way. It's my belief that even a basic understanding of philosophy can dramatically enhance one's own intellectual abilities.

For some people, philosophy is nothing but a dry and boring subject taught in high school or college. For others - philosophy provides meaning for living and can literally be a way of life. I prefer to view the love of wisdom as being one of the basic ingredients to living a decent life.

I also believe that philosophy - like many things, can be taught in a way that is "fun" to learn. Philosophy doesn't just have to be learning about Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperatives, or reading The Symposium, by Plato. On the contrary - I believe philosophy would be more fun if students were taught how it applies to their lives. It's great to know who the great philosophers were, but it's even better to be able to apply philosophical concepts to one's own life.

So there you have it - my definition of philosophy. It may not be completely concise, but at least it conveys what I think it means. Thanks for reading and may you continue pursuing your own love of wisdom!