????What is philosophy all about? In short, it is an intellectual pursuit that aims to clarify concepts and grapple with the fundamental problems that have plagued humanity for generations. Philosophers use logical reasoning to tackle philosophical questions and construct compelling arguments. Moreover, philosophy is a transferrable skill that allows one to develop a unique perspective and contribute to the ongoing discourse. From the brilliant minds of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and Wittgenstein, to name but a few, philosophers have developed exquisite genres and perspectives that have left an indelible mark on human thought. By questioning fundamental beliefs such as the morality of killing or the nature of right and wrong, we can hone our ability to argue coherently and engage with a wide range of issues."

PHILOSOPHY AND ITS HISTORY

????Philosophers cannot make progress without some knowledge of history.?Without it, they would repeat the same mistakes, unaware that they had already been made. Moreover, many philosophers have developed their own theories by identifying the shortcomings in the work of their predecessors.

WHY STUDY PHILOSOPHY?

• Some people argue that studying philosophy is pointless, as philosophers just argue over the meaning of words and never seem to reach any important conclusions.

• There is concern that questioning the fundamental assumptions of our lives could be dangerous and lead to feeling unable to do anything.

• Despite these criticisms, there is still value in studying philosophy as it allows us to critically examine our beliefs and assumptions, and consider alternative perspectives.

????THE EXAMINED LIFE

• Philosophy deals with fundamental questions about the meaning of our existence, such as the existence of God, the purpose of our lives, what is right or wrong, and the mind-body problem.

• Studying philosophy is important because it encourages us to examine these questions, and some argue that an unexamined life is not worth living.

• The principles on which our lives are based may be entirely sound, but until we examine them, we can't be certain of this.

• Even if we don't seriously doubt the soundness of our assumptions, we may be impoverishing our lives by not exercising our power of thought.

????PLEASURE

• Philosophy can be a pleasurable activity for many people,?though?this defense of philosophy has a danger of reducing philosophical activity to a mere crossword puzzle-solving.

• Some professional philosophers seem to be obsessed with solving obscure logical puzzles as an end in itself.?Some?working in universities see themselves as part of a business, publishing mediocre work for promotion and prestige. Much philosophy, fortunately, rises above this level.

IS PHILOSOPHY DIFFICULT?

• Some philosophers can be poor communicators and use unnecessary jargon, which can be intimidating and make philosophy appear more difficult than it is.

• Unfamiliar terms should be explained, and the basic philosophical vocabulary?is needed.

THE LIMITS OF WHAT PHILOSOPHY CAN DO

• However, philosophy cannot provide a complete picture of human life.?It's not a replacement for studying other subjects such as art, literature, history, psychology, anthropology, sociology, politics, and science.

• Different subjects provide different insights into different aspects of human life.

• Some aspects of human life may not be amenable to philosophical analysis, or any other kind of analysis.