The Cosmos Chronicle

What Is Philosophy? Introduction The word philosophy has become so broad in contemporary culture that it is often used to describe almost any expression of thought. A person shares an opinion online and calls it philosophy. Someone asks an unusual question and calls it philosophy. Two intelligent individuals engage in a debate, defending opposing positions, and the discussion is labeled philosophical simply because it appears deep or abstract. This raises an important question: What is philosophy, actually? To answer this question, it is necessary to distinguish philosophy from several activities with which it is often confused. While opinions, questions, and arguments are all important elements of philosophical inquiry, none of them alone are sufficient to define philosophy. Philosophy Is More Than Opinions, Questions, and Arguments Every human being has opinions. Opinions range from profound political convictions to ordinary daily preferences. The mere existence of an opinion, howev...