Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
What is Philosophy?
phi·los·o·phy
/fəˈläsəfē/
noun
- The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.
Philosophy comes from the Greek words φίλος (philos), meaning love or friend, and σοφία (sophia), meaning knowledge or wisdom; together it simply means the love of knowledge or learning.
Philosophy is the birthplace of all studies; it’s what you do every time you think, “How does that work?” or “Why did that happen?” It is all around us and makes up not only our studies but the world itself. Philosophy welcomes all, no matter status or experiences, and allows you to better understand yourself and the world, and those around you. Like Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”
Why philosophy matters?
What makes something worthwhile? Is morality objective? How do we know anything?
These are often the kinds of questions people think of when imagining philosophy. While these are great philosophical questions, they aren’t the entire story. Philosophy is the start of all studies, whether you are interested in science, history, morals, religion, or even math. Philosophy has the questions and sometimes the answers.
Using philosophy to learn not only helps you in the subject but also sharpens your mind, helping your critical thinking and awareness. It can help you find your unconscious biases, weak reasoning, and even help you build confidence in your beliefs, helping you connect to the world and those around you.
