What is philosophy?

[ninja_lord666]

Philosophers aren't robots; they have emotions and opinions just like everyone else. 'Philosopher' isn't a fully defining characteristic. It's like a job. Example time:

Geoffry works as a cashier at Wal*Mart. From 8am-5pm, he's a cashier, but when he's at home, he isn't. People aren't their jobs. A cashier is still a human, a normal civilian just like everyone else. The same goes for philosophers. When they're philosophising, they're philosophers, but when they're at the tavern getting drunk, or whatever, they're just some drunk guys.

A philosopher tries to discover the truth just for the sake of knowledge, but, being human, they are still subject to opinions.

[jojo man]

Philosophers aren't robots; they have emotions and opinions just like everyone else. 'Philosopher' isn't a fully defining characteristic. It's like a job. Example time:

Geoffry works as a cashier at Wal*Mart. From 8am-5pm, he's a cashier, but when he's at home, he isn't. People aren't their jobs. A cashier is still a human, a normal civilian just like everyone else. The same goes for philosophers. When they're philosophising, they're philosophers, but when they're at the tavern getting drunk, or whatever, they're just some drunk guys.

A philosopher tries to discover the truth just for the sake of knowledge, but, being human, they are still subject to opinions.

 

 

Nicely phrased ninja_lord. This is pretty much the point that i was trying to convey with my clumsy words earlier.

[freddycashmercury]

Well, then. I have no problem with that definition. Thank you both for clarifying, and I apologize for my misunderstanding! :thanks:

[delphinus]

This is interesting.

I think no philosopher in history has ever anwered to the question "what is philosophy" besides that, it's natural that we try to give an answer to that. And there's a point where we can start: the meaning of the word "Philosophy" itself, "love for the thought" translated in a few words.

Isn't that what the philosophers do? Try to define the world and its components through the human thought it's exactly what they did and what they will do until the end of human race. Science and religion are natural allies of philosophy, and often in history these two things were in contrast (but let's say that today are FAR more in contrast than in the past) but both are extensions of human thought.

The philosophy is also something that is deeply radicated in the historical contest in which is born, and it's in continue evolution.

[Abramul]

An oversimplified and likely inaccurate definition:

 

Science asks "How?"

Philosophy asks "Why?"

[Xeniorn]

Not really. Philosophy and science both ask Why? How? Where? When? What? and any other question you can think of. But, as it has been said in previous posts, it is asked for a different reason than in science.

[shalheira]

I think philosophy is very important in the developement of our ideas and thoughts. Months ago, when I was writing an essay for my philosophy's classes, I've found an interesting sentence: "He hadn't wrote a word about philosphy, but he says that he thinks so much and a man who passes all day long thinking is a philosopher" Please, forgive this horrible translation from Spanish! In my opinion, everybody who have the feeling that he/she thinks is a little philosopher.

Big philosophers are children.