what is philosophy :: essays research papers

Very briefly, philosophical system might be regarded as a conceptual enquiry dealing with aboriginal issues relating to life, knowledge and values. By conceptual enquiry we mean an enquiry that relies primarily on critical reasoning. This includes Analysing the meaning of concepts Identifying logical connections between theories Evaluating arguments and exposing f aloneacies Here is a Chinese newspaper article from MingPao on how philosophy improves critical thinking. Philosophy and other subjectsAccording to such a conception of philosophy, philosophy is distinctive in twain its method and subject matter. Art or literature might also deal with fundamental issues in life, but the use of critical reasoning is not a necessary part of artistic expression. Critical reasoning of course plays an fundamental role in science, but science is an empirical enquiry into the temper of the world, relying on observations and experiments. In such respects philosophy is more like mathematics a nd logic. However, the subject matter of philosophy is more general in that it deals with all sorts of different areas outside mathematics and logic, such as religion and morality. Although philosophy is different from science, it would be a mistake to conclude that philosophy cannot contribute to the maturation of science. Philosophers can help scientists clarify the basic concepts in scientific theories, and use their skills in logic to evaluate the strength of evidence supporting or criticizing specific theories. Many sciences (e.g. psychology) originally developed out of philosophy. What philosophy can doWhy should you study philosophy? If you are busy and dont have the patience or interest to reflect on fundamental issues, then perhaps philosophy is not for you. But for people who are interested in critical reflection, philosophy can be an enjoyable activity.There are other reasons for doing philosophy apart from pleasure. First, philosophical skills in thinking and writing a nd help us in describing and understanding theories and ideologies. Here philosophers take up the task of a cartographer, mapping out conceptual terrain and logical structure. Second, as mentioned earlier, philosophy can be an important tool in helping us acquire knowledge. Logic and critical reasoning are necessary to achieve consistency and in determining the correct conclusions to be drawn given our observations and experiences. Finally, philosophy can also play a transformative role in our lives and social institutions. Through critical reflection on the justification and coherence of the values in social practices and our own actions, we do not just acquire a deeper understanding of our culture and of who we are.