philosophy and life
The term philosophy is taken from the Greek word
"φιληο" (phileo) meaning "to love" or "to
befriend" and "σοφία" (sophia) meaning "wisdom." Thus,
"philosophy" means "the love of wisdom". Socrates, a Greek
philosopher, used the term philosophy as an equivalent to the search for
wisdom. Also, the term wisdom is used as a general term for describing the
intellectual probing of any idea.
The study of any discipline, such as Philosophy, should begin
with its definition. Webster's dictionary defines philosophy as:
"the rational investigation of questions about existence
and knowledge and ethics"
The definition highlights the nature of philosophical
inquiry.
Philosophers ask questions. These questions try to understand the
metaphysical and physical world of man. Philosophy is considered to have
developed as a form of rational inquiry in the cities of Ancient Greece.
The history of philosophy in the west begins with the Greeks,
and particularly with a group of philosophers commonly called the
pre-Socratics. This is not to deny the occurrence of other pre-philosophical
rumblings in Egyptian and Babylonian cultures. Certainly great thinkers and
writers existed in each of these cultures, and we have evidence that some of
the earliest Greek philosophers may have had contact with at least some of the
products of Egyptian and Babylonian thought. However, the early Greek thinkers
added at least one element which differentiates their thoughts from all those
who came before them. For the first time in history, we discover in their
writings something more than dogmatic assertions about the ordering of the
world -- we find reasoned arguments for various beliefs about the world.
Philosophy has a rich literary heritage, including the
writings and teachings of profound thinkers from many cultures throughout
history.
Philosophers seek to understand the principles that underlie all
knowledge and being. For this purpose, they develop methods of thinking,
including logic, introspection, and meditation.
Applying these methods, they investigate the most fundamental
questions, such as
"What is the nature of the universe?"
(metaphysics)
"What do we know, and how do we know it?"
(epistemology)
"What is the difference between good and evil?"
(ethics)
"What is beauty?" (aesthetics), and "What is
the meaning of life?" (teleology).
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