What is philosophy?

Philosophy:<br><br>First off, what is philosophy? Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument. This subject has interested me for as long as I can remember. I took many philosophy courses in college and still spend my free time reading works of philosophers and considering their ideas.<br><br>Different Disciplines and Sub-Disciplines:<br><br>There are many different disciplines and sub-disciplines within philosophy. Some of the main disciplines include:<br><br>- Logic: The study of reasoning and argument.<br><br>- Ethics: The study of what is right and wrong behavior.<br><br>- Epistemology: The study of knowledge, justification, and belief.<br><br>- Metaphysics: The study of reality.<br><br>- Philosophy of Science: A sub-discipline of epistemology, it looks at the nature of science.<br><br>- Philosophy of Religion: The sub-discipline of philosophy in which philosophers discuss and debate arguments about religion.<br><br>Political philosophy is a sub-discipline of ethics and it concerns topics such as justice, liberty, democracy, property, rights, and the enforcement of legal rules by authority. <br><br>Philosophers:<br><br>There have been countless contributors to philosophy throughout history. Philosophers from ancient Greece include Plato and Socrates. Some philosophers from ancient China include Confucius and Lao Tzu. Some philosophers from the early modern period include René Descartes, John Locke, and Immanuel Kant. Some contemporary philosophers include Martha Nussbaum and Peter Singer.<br><br>Inspiration:<br><br>Philosophical ideas are present in many different areas of modern society and in many different cultures. These ideas are valuable in everyday life because they provide the intellectual background for many questions, problems, and inquiries into a vast array of topics. Philosophy provides ethics for doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers, and other professionals. <br><br>Conclusion:<br><br>Philosophy involves an abundance of subjects, disciplines, and contributors. It is concerned with a vast array of techniques and methods for inquiring into questions of knowledge, reality, values, and reasoning. Some different perspectives include objectivism, subjectivism, and relativism.