Foundations - An Essay Collection

Awesome Philosophy

Introduction

This essay explains the awesome field that is philosophy, why it matters, and how to do it.

What Is Philosophy?

Philosophy is the logical study of the nature, causes, effects, and principles of knowledge, reality, and existence. Philosophy is a discipline that uses rational thought to investigate, define, and rectify all concepts and beliefs.

Philosophy first consists of investigations into the nature and structure of reality (metaphysics) and into the resources and limits of knowledge (epistemology). Following these come investigations into moral principles and the significance of moral judgment (ethics), explorations into the nature and perception of taste and beauty and their expression in both nature and art (aesthetics), and the philosophy of the meaning of life. Together, ethics, aesthetics, and the philosophy of the meaning of life form the branch of axiology/value theory, which deals with questions of value and worth.

There are also other branches of philosophy such as the philosophy of logic, philosophy of language, philosophy of science, philosophy of spirituality and religion, social and political philosophy, etc.

The following questions are more in-depth examples of philosophy: Does anything beyond material reality exist? Does material reality even exist? Is the universe deterministic, and does free will exist? What is consciousness, and how does it work? Where does consciousness come from? Is artificial consciousness possible? How does the mind interact with the body? Does the mind exist independently of the body? Do entities like numbers, ideas, and their relationships have their own existence?

What constitutes knowledge? What is the nature of truth? Can knowledge be certain? Can things and minds outside of the self be known? Is morality objective or subjective? What constitutes art? What is the meaning of life? How should interpersonal relationships work? What are the best laws and government? Does empirical and scientific knowledge explain everything? Does a God or multiple deities exist? How does language affect thought?

Why Does Philosophy Matter?

Philosophical thinking is crucial for addressing the world's problems and improving our understanding of life. One of the key issues today is that not enough people engage in deep, reflective thinking. Unfortunately but understandably, you don't hear many people talking about philosophy casually. Philosophy is almost always an esoteric thing because most people simply do not think that deeply consistently.

Many people believe what they're told through science or spirituality. Science is certainly useful, however, it is rooted in empiricism, which is only one way of knowing things. Science relies on a posteriori reasoning, based on observation and experience. In contrast, much of philosophy involves a priori reasoning, which is based on theoretical deduction. Of course, both ways of reasoning are important for finding the truth. Spirituality is a combination of a priori and a posteriori, though sometimes, especially with religion, it includes a good amount of superstition. All in all, even with spirituality, philosophy remains the deepest field of study.

Philosophy can change entire perspectives and lives. Philosophy can change the way we think about everything. The biggest questions arguably matter the most at the end of the day. The questions that make many people uneasy whenever they think of them. Those questions need to be thought about. Those questions need some sort of resolution. If a question doesn't have an answer even after thinking completely through it, it is good to accept its mystery. That is a resolution in itself.

The answers to philosophical questions, or the acceptance of their mysteries, can offer profound relief, especially when they ease anxieties or fears. Philosophical questions are important, especially ones like "What is real?" Questions like these don't get addressed enough in society. I will delve into questions like these in the future.

How to Do Philosophy

Many people don't take the time to look beneath the surface. They often drift through life wondering what it was all for and about. However, they rarely try to answer such questions. That is not how to do philosophy.

All of us have the ability to seek and reveal the truth. We should all try to transcend the obvious and the mundane. So why don't more people do that? Why don't they question their worldviews or life situations a little more? Those who take the time to reflect on these deeper questions are a special breed. These people are philosophically minded, and some of them may even go on to be philosophers.

Philosophy can be hard to get into, especially if you don't like thinking or learning a whole lot. It's easier to embrace with a certain mindset. You must have a love of knowledge. To get into philosophy, you must seek knowledge and contemplate it to shape your beliefs.

Philosophy can also be stressful and exhausting. That is why I slowed down on learning, thinking, and writing about it for many years. Even during this slowdown, I couldn't keep away from it completely, however. And, I eventually returned, but with a more level-headed approach.

If you're not careful, you can dwell endlessly on philosophical questions and never arrive at a solution or an acceptance of their uncertainty. As someone with OCD, that is all too familiar. To understand and possibly solve ultimate mysteries, you must avoid aimless rumination but think with intention and push towards solving them using pure reason. If you can't possibly solve a mystery, you must accept it and all its possibilities. You must learn to live with that mystery.

Sometimes, you might not even know if anything exists. Sometimes, you might not have any certainty. That's just how it is. However, throughout existence, there are innumerable ideas and insights that can be and have been thought, spoken, and written. Most will agree that there are some truths in there somewhere. We know this through simple reason about the nature of reality and knowledge. This simple fact doesn't take observation or speculation.

Beginners in philosophy are prone to making false arguments and contradicting themselves. Even those versed in philosophy make errors. To know whether an idea is true, you must investigate it carefully and in great depth. If you want to convey your point effectively, you must argue with precision and in great detail. You must examine everything and be ready to give up all your notions about reality until you arrive at some amount of certainty. This is possible. There are philosophical truths obtainable through reason.

Philosophers represent reason, truth, and honesty. Philosophers challenge the notions of their society. Philosophers criticize the ways of thinking and life. This criticism is vital to life. Philosophers question things. All in all, philosophers expose the truth and clarify uncertainty.

It's best to keep life and reality from being too complicated though. Reasoning can be complicated, but once it is done, everything becomes simpler. There is a point when you stop analyzing. It is best to not waste your time dwelling.

Conclusion

Ultimately, philosophy is a very important aspect of knowledge and we should all pay attention to it, at least a little. Philosophy, in the end, should lead to a transformation of the mind.

That concludes my essay all about philosophy and a little of my own. Let me know if you liked it or if you learned something. I will release many more writings about philosophy and beyond in the future.