This section introduces the fundamental nature of philosophy as an academic discipline.
The word "Philosophy" comes from two Greek words:
Thus, philosophy literally means "the love of wisdom." It is a critical and systematic inquiry into the fundamental questions of existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.
Unlike other disciplines that focus on a specific part of reality (like biology studies life, or physics studies matter), philosophy is a "second-order" discipline. It steps back and asks critical questions about the assumptions, methods, and concepts of all other disciplines (including itself).
Defining Philosophy: Philosophy is the rational, abstract, and methodical consideration of reality as a whole or of fundamental dimensions of human existence and experience.
The scope of philosophy is incredibly broad, as it seeks to ask the "big questions." Traditionally, its scope is divided into three main branches, which are covered in this unit:
Beyond these, philosophy also includes Logic (the study of correct reasoning), Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language, Political Philosophy, and more. The scope is all-encompassing, as it can be the "philosophy of" any subject.
A tree diagram showing Philosophy as the trunk, with Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Axiology as the main branches. Smaller branches like Logic, Ethics, and Aesthetics can be shown stemming from these.
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and the world. It seeks to answer the question, "What is there?"
The name comes from its place in Aristotle's works, which came "after" (meta) his works on "physics" (physika). It deals with concepts that are beyond the physical world, such as being, substance, cause, and identity.
Example: A physicist can tell you *how* a ball falls (gravity). A metaphysician asks *what* gravity "is," what a "cause" is, and whether "space" and "time" are real things or just relations between objects.
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge. It seeks to answer the question, "How do we know what we know?"
It comes from the Greek words epistēmē ("knowledge") and logos ("study of"). It investigates the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge.
Example: A historian knows that a battle happened. An epistemologist asks, "What is the *basis* for that knowledge? Is it the testimony of sources? Can that testimony be trusted? What does it *mean* to 'know' a historical fact?"
Axiology is the branch of philosophy that studies value. It seeks to answer the question, "What is valuable?"
It comes from the Greek word axia ("value" or "worth"). It is the "value theory" and is most often divided into two main sub-fields: Ethics and Aesthetics.
Ethics is the study of moral value. It investigates concepts of "right" and "wrong," "good" and "bad."
Aesthetics is the study of artistic value and beauty.
Example: A politician argues a law is "good." An axiologist (specifically, an ethicist) would ask, "What do you *mean* by 'good'? Good for whom? Based on what principle—utility, rights, or justice?"
Applied Philosophy is the branch of philosophy that applies philosophical methods, theories, and concepts to concrete, real-world problems and practical issues. It takes the abstract ideas from Metaphysics, Epistemology, and especially Axiology (Ethics) and brings them "down to earth."
This is a more modern field that gained traction in the latter half of the 20th century. It moves philosophy out of the "ivory tower" and into public life, professions, and policy debates.
Example: