philosophy

Philosophy is the systematic study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It seeks to clarify concepts, assess arguments, and provide rational justification for beliefs. Rather than empirical results alone, philosophy emphasizes careful reasoning and the examination of assumptions.

Its main branches include metaphysics, which asks about the nature of reality; epistemology, the theory of knowledge; ethics or moral philosophy, about right and wrong; and logic, the principles of valid inference; and aesthetics, the study of beauty and art. Other areas include philosophy of mind, language, science, and political and social philosophy. Subfields cross disciplines with mathematics, cognitive science, law, and theology.

Philosophical methods include argument analysis, thought experiments, conceptual clarification, and systematic argumentation. Some traditions emphasize linguistic analysis and the critique of presuppositions (analytic philosophy), while others focus on historical interpretation and phenomenology or critical theory (continental philosophy). Contemporary philosophy often combines rigorous argument with empirical findings from science.

Historically, philosophy arose in ancient Greece with figures such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and developed through medieval scholasticism, the scientific revolution, and the Enlightenment. The 19th and 20th centuries saw the emergence of analytic philosophy and continental philosophy, shaping diverse approaches to questions about knowledge, reality, and value. Today philosophy spans many cultures and continues to inquire into the foundations of thought and the implications of reasoning for other disciplines.

Philosophy's influence extends across education, law, science, politics, and culture. It trains critical thinking, clarifies arguments, and supports informed public discourse, even when concrete answers remain elusive.