Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Major sub-fields of academic philosophy include metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy, logic and philosophy of science. More philosophy resources can be found in the Social Sciences library.

Philosophy is one of the most challenging undertakings a human can enter into. It is one of the most powerful mental disciplines humans have developed in their time on this planet. It has changed the course of human events around the world in manners that are both subtle and in some that are quite obvious. Philosophy has evolved or arisen in every major human civilization. It is a natural development for minds that are inquiring and critical.

People come to the reading and studying of Philosophy through different paths. Many, perhaps most, do so because they have entered some formal educational program that has the study of Philosophy as part of a curriculum of studies. Some, a few, come to Philosophy because they have a mind that is questioning and they want to learn more about the issue or problem that is on their minds and are so they led through this common but less traveled path to the door of philosophy as they discover that there are books on the topic that perplexes or befuddles them or stirs them to wonder and they learn that these books are written by philosophers.

Most people who take a course in Philosophy do so without having had another. Most will take only one and many of them do so primarily to satisfy some degree requirement. Indeed, many students in a high school Philosophy course are only interested in finishing the course in order to get their credits and those credits are to satisfy a degree requirement. The degree is desired as a means to some other end: going to college, getting a job, getting a different job or promotion. Be that as it may, this text is designed to stimulate your mind. Whether you read it because it is required or whether you are really interested in the subject matter, there will be plenty in this study of Philosophy to interest you, entertain your mind, challenge you, and frustrate you as well.

A Friendly Philosophical Warning

Most people think that it is all well and good and no big deal to read and accept such phrases as “there will be plenty in this study of Philosophy to interest you, entertain your mind, challenge you and frustrate you as well. ” Well, in the case of Philosophy and of this work in particular, the reader should be aware and forewarned that the issues raised in this work might just be disturbing to them in a personal manner, if they seriously consider the issues raised in this work, that are characteristic issues for Philosophy and how Philosophers approach them. What is meant by this? Is it just a “promo” for the book? Is it some “hype” or “come-on”? Well, I simply report to you that there are many who have read this work in connection with taking a class in Philosophy who have been disturbed in their thinking and have needed to make changes in the very manner in which they think, the manner in which they settle on their beliefs and on what they think is true after being encouraged to think most carefully and seriously and critically about a number of very basic questions and issues. Why would this be the case?