Philosophy: Definition, Philosophical Methods and Effects
The word philosophy originates from the Greek word philosophia. And philosophia; The quest for wisdom refers to loving information, knowledge loving, researching and pursuing. “What is Philosophy?” The answer to the question was also used in the sense of love of wisdom or the search for wisdom.
Philosophy is a systematic thought system built on previously acquired knowledge. Philosophy pursues only knowledge without benefit. For this reason, some people consider it the most noble occupation of humanity. Philosophical thought is thought to begin when one wonders his own existence in the universe. This process continues when people ask questions about being. So those who deal with philosophy first wonder. Then they ask questions to satisfy their curiosity. Naturally, it goes through some mental processes in order to find answers to its questions, and the research-examination-inquiry made as a result of the mental activities attempted creates philosophical information. For philosophy, it is not enough to just wonder and ask questions. It is also important to provide a systematic explanation to the questions.
“What is philosophy?” Since we answered the question and touched on some features, we can touch on a new question. What is a Philosopher? We can say that philosophers who have devoted their lives to philosophy are called philosophers. In fact, some sources named every scientific researcher a philosopher. In short, the philosopher can also be defined as the person trying to reach knowledge and wisdom. People who are committed to or interested in philosophy; he is determined to know himself and his environment, lifelong learning, and apply what he has learned.
Philosophers pose problems logically. It is not insensitive to today’s environmental and human problems. Persons who are interested in philosophy are briefly seen as individuals who choose to be part of the solution, not the problems. They do not lose their humanist values and sensibilities throughout their lives. Philosophers are also people who come to new conclusions and produce new definitions to express them. Renowned philosophers have reached an important place in human life by adding new sentences and information to life. The information of the counselor contains clues that have a facilitating effect on people’s life.
What is Philosophy in Brief?
There is no absolute truth for philosophy, what matters is consistency. What makes great philosophers dedicated to philosophy is great is their consistency in dealing with different concepts. Philosophy is also known as the art of thought with its shortest definition. What is philosophy? It is a discipline that includes studies on issues such as being, knowledge, truth, justice, beauty, truth, mind and language.
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Philosophy; it is based on the actions of thinking about the existence, source, meaning and reason of the existing ones. According to some opinions, it is not possible to have science without philosophy . In some sources, the question “What is philosophy?” Is explained as the basis of science. The fact that philosophers like Aristotle in the early ages were known as scientists are presented as evidence for this view. Again, it is used for phrases such as the mother of all sciences. In fact, making an inference from this question, “What is philosophy?” is the discipline that helps science with the questions it produces,we can add the definition. Of course, philosophy has nothing to do with science. In the meantime, we can briefly touch on the relationship of philosophy with other major fields. If we look at the relationship between science and philosophy, we can say that it is the product of the human mind for both. Both areas target the solution of problems and work for the result.
While philosophy is based on conceptual and logical explanations, science uses methods of experiment and observation. If we look at the relationship between philosophy and religion, they both try to explain the human and the universe. However, philosophy is critical and open to doubt. In religion, there is no place for criticism and doubt. If we look at the relationship between philosophy and art, we see that both are based on criticism. Philosophy is rational and seeks truth. Art is based on emotions and looks for beauty. And both use creative intelligence for these quests. Another factor common to both branches is to aim to explain the human and the universe.
Effects of Philosophy on Human Life
- It helps us get to know ourselves and nature.
- It makes it easy for us to make emotions, thoughts and actions consistent.
- It helps to think on its own and decide freely.
- It addresses the problems of adjustment between the individual and the society.
- Rather than accumulating information, it creates awareness of using experiences for the good of all.
- By minimizing selfishness, it adds the consciousness of helping the world and society around us.
- It develops sensitivity in social, environmental and ecological issues and creates internal triggers in individuals to create solutions.
- It helps to understand values such as tolerance, love, understanding, respect by putting the idea of integration in front of the distinctions.
- It provides a holistic approach to the encountered situations without prejudice.
- It enables individuals to know the past and know the present and plan the future consciously.
What is Philosophy and How to Learn?
What is philosophy? Philosophy; It is a discipline that has emerged as a result of human thinking on himself, on life, on society and on the universe. In other words, philosophy is the thought on thought . The search for knowledge rather than knowledge reflects the philosophy. The way to philosophy is through asking questions. Who am I? What can I absolutely believe? Are good and correct situations obvious? Do the values change according to time and place? Does life have any meaning? For philosophy, questions are more important than answers. The questions of philosophy are different from other sciences, and they often ask ‘What is it?’ is focused on the question. These kinds of questions have no definitive answer. Already philosophy has no anxiety to answer. Because the aim is the search for information. It had important effects on shaping of faith.Kant, known as the father of critical philosophy; “Philosophy is learned, not philosophy.” In other words, it comes to the conclusion that philosophical knowledge can be obtained by learning to think philosophically.
Philosophers’ thoughts; It was effective in the emergence of large formations, thoughts. Philosophy is an effort to reach a set of facts and principles that govern human behavior. Philosophy is originally a thinking activity. It allows thinking about the meaning of people and life. The product resulting from this thinking activity is called philosophical knowledge. Considering the features of philosophical knowledge: It is rational and consistent, unifying and integrative. It is subjective, critical and cannot be isolated from history. It examines the entity as a whole and its results are uncertain. It covers more general information.
What are Philosophical Methods?
What is philosophy? It is a systematic thinking on a subject. So, what is the method? It can be defined as the path to achieve a goal. The philosophical method is defined as the logical method of thinking followed to reach a reality . Philosophy differs from other disciplines by questioning. Philosophical thought methods provide people with the necessary foundations for reasoning in almost any subject.
Dialectical Method: The dialectical method is also called the art of debate. In this method, the truth is tried to be reached through discussion and reasoning. A thesis can be given as an example for the use of this method by producing a thesis, antithesis against it and comparing these two theses.
Deductive Method: In this way of thinking and reasoning, the act of thinking moves from general to specific. An example of this method is to introduce the general of a subject first and then explain the characteristics of the individual cases within it.
Induction Method: In this method of thinking, there is the aim of reaching general information and judgments from singular facts and observations. In other words, the properties of the general can be reached by starting from the properties in the singular. “All the fish I’ve seen live in the water, so all the fish live in the water.” The expression can be given as an example to the induction method.
Analytical Method: The most explicit explanation of the analytical method is to analyze the subject by separating it into its components . It is also known as a method especially Descartes, who is seen as the founder of Analytical Geometry.
What is philosophy?
It is a systematic thought system built on previously acquired knowledge. Philosophy pursues only knowledge without benefit. Philosophy; It is a discipline that has emerged as a result of human, life and thinking activities in the universe.
What is a Philosopher?
We can say that philosophers who have devoted their lives to philosophy are called philosophers. In short, the philosopher can also be defined as the person trying to reach knowledge and wisdom. Philosophers are people who come to new conclusions and produce new definitions to express them.
What is the philosophical method?
The philosophical method is the logical method of thinking followed to reach a reality. Philosophy differs from other disciplines by questioning. Philosophical thought methods provide people with the necessary foundations for reasoning in almost any subject.
