What is Philosophy?

Ah. That old question, what is philosophy? Philosophy stems from the Greek words for friend and wisdom or thought. Philosophy is, then, an appreciation for thinking.

We are all philosophers in our own way. Whenever we actively think, that is consciously direct our minds on a topic, we philosophize. This may require some considerable logic, on the other hand, thought could be more intuitively driven. Why is this bus always more crowded on Wednesday? The mind reflects on this question, searches for answers, looks for clues and patterns. Perhaps a class gets out at that time. This could be confirmed by the number of college age persons on the bus. They carry textbooks and book bags. Another clue. Experience supports the theory, making that knowledge empirical. I know the bus is crowded on Wednesday because I have experienced students that appear to be returning after class.

Thought can be less objective. Instead one might think the bus is always crowded on Wednesday because that is the one day of the week that one cannot stand being in a crowd. Perhaps Wednesday is a difficult workday. Maybe that day of all days produces more stress. After work, one just wants some peace and tranquility. This knowledge is subjective. It, too, looks at experience, but colors it through the eyes of the observer. Perhaps the bus only seems more crowded as one has less patience for crowds.

Thought takes many forms, and often makes radical shifts and turns and leaps. There is nothing faster than the speed of thought. However, Philosophy is often regarded as dull or ponderous. People think of stuffed shirts in tweed jackets with leather pads at the elbow smoking pipes and peering over spectacles. Philosophy is anything but boring. Some examples:

Friedrich Nietzsche, the bad boy of Philosophy, claimed that God is dead. He was a misogynist, regarding women with contempt. He even wrote, "If you are going to see a woman, bring a whip." This misogyny was born of distrust of his female siblings and his unrequited love of a particular woman, one that thwarted him for another philosopher. Nietzsche was a subjective moralist, believing that there were no set rules for moral behavior, that these values were decided upon by the individual. Those that followed the rules cast by society were only following a herd instinct. He claimed that there was no truth, only opinion of truth. Absolute certainty is not possible.

Socrates sought knowledge. He would ask questions of those that seemed experts in their field whether military or religious. In asking these questions, he would then question the answers, seeking to reach to a conclusion. However, the discussion would often fold in on itself. The answers were unsatisfactory. The expert would be revealed as not knowing anything whatsoever about his supposed field of study. Of course, this slighted many important individuals. Socrates was brought to court to defend himself against the claim that he was corrupting the youth. He was given the opportunity to select an alternative punishment than poison. He chose to hold a parade in his honor, as all he had done was seek truth. He never claimed to know anything other than he knew nothing. Some say he died in the name of Philosophy.

Other examples include John Stuart Mill, an early feminist. Karl Marx, socialist. Other German philosophers that pushed the Will to Power and the master/slave relationship. Sidhartha Buddha, who determined the right path was the middle way, avoiding either extreme. Lao Tsu, who compiled ancient Chinese wisdom into poetry so simple, yet complex.

So, Philosophy is the appreciation of wisdom and thought in all its many forms, whether objective or subjective, whether controversial or accepted.