What Is Philosophy
...the fundamental truths of life and the universe. In essence, philosophy is the search for the answer to the following questions as they apply to life and our universe; Why? Could there be? Is there? Was there? Will there ever be? The previous listed questions have no clear or obvious answer that is acceptable to all mankind. Unlike scientific hypothesis there is not usually any tangible evidence to prove one philosophy more correct than another. Simply put, philosophy is the search for knowledge. This paper will define the major divisions of philosophy; metaphysics, epistemology, questions related to values and correct reasoning.
Metaphysics
Metaphysics, or questions related to being or existence, explore the depths of why and how people are who and what they are. Is there a greater power, if so who or what is it? Everyone has been a philosopher in this respect at one time or another. The nature of human beings is to explore this question. If one chooses to believe in evolution this question is somewhat scientific. However, the question of what was the first organism and how was it created still lingers? If the preceding question is answered then one could pose the question what created the organism that created or caused that organism to become. How did something come from nothing? What is nothing? This division of philosophy could be never ending.
Epistemology
Epistemology, questions related to knowledge ponder the very existence of knowledge. What is knowledge, can it be measured, and is there a point that can be reached where no more knowledge will be available? Questions such as these have no scientific answer. There is not a test or experiment that can be done to prove or disprove any philosophy regarding this matter. A question that would fall into this area of philosophy would be; can one person ever really know...
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