 the discipline concerned with questions of how one should live (ethics); what sorts of

things exist and what are their essential natures (metaphysics); what counts as
genuine knowledge (epistemology); and what are the correct principles of reasoning
(logic) (Wikipedia)
 investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values,
based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods (American Heritage
Dictionary)
 the study of the ultimate nature of existence, reality, knowledge and goodness, as
discoverable by human reasoning (Penguin English Dictionary)
 the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
(WordNet)
 the search for knowledge and truth, especially about the nature of man and his
behaviour and beliefs (Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary)
 the rational and critical inquiry into basic principles (Microsoft Encarta
Encyclopedia)
 the study of the most general and abstract features of the world and categories with
which we think: mind, matter, reason, proof, truth, etc. (Oxford Dictionary of
Philosophy)
 careful thought about the fundamental nature of the world, the grounds for human
knowledge, and the evaluation of human conduct (The Philosophy Pages)
 Can you explain the meaning of philosophy in a simple way?

 The world, to all appearances, consists of gross matter, subtle energy, and throbbing
life-forms. Life is a series of fleeting experiences. For humans these include joy and
sorrow, hope and despondency. Beyond sensory titillations we have a mind that is
capable of extraordinary feats. One of these is reflection on what is
experienced. Philosophy is serious reflection on any aspect of human life.The moment
we go beyond just reacting to sensory inputs and begin to comment on any experience
we are philosophizing. One is philosophizing even when one makes fun of philosophy.
As Pascal said, Se moquer de la philosophie, c’est vraiment philosopher: Ridiculing
philosophy is really philosophizing.

 Reflection on any aspect of human thought and experience is sublimated to serious

philosophy when it ascends to higher regions of thought. A sandwich at a burger-joint is
food as much as a gourmet banquet, but there is a difference. You may tell a despondent
friend, “Come on, don’t say life is worthless!” But the poet says, “Tell me not in
mournful numbers life is but an empty dream!” So it is between the simple exclamation,
“We can’t be sure of anything!” and a treatise on Agnosticism. In principle, one can
philosophize on any subject: on sport or the stock market, on a loss or politics, or even
on philosophy. But there are topics that have inspired philosophers over the ages. These
are the traditional branches of academic philosophy.

 Like fruits and flowers, philosophies come in a variety of forms and colors. Like poems
and music, they come in many meters and melodies. I refer to this range and variety of
philosophical positions polysophy: Views and visions in multiple splendor.

 Polysophy has enriched individuals by provoking them to think. Philosophers have

affected societies by stirring people to act or abstain, they have shaped our picture of
the world, and influenced the course of history. In their impact on the human mind they
are somewhat like religions, but less overtly so. If we probe into the roots of our
opinions and convictions we will discover that philosophers, unbeknownst to us, have
played a role in constructing and shaping them.

In order to live, man must act; in order to act, he must make choices; in order to
make choices, he must define a code of values; in order to define a code of
values, he must know what he is and where he is—i.e., he must know his own
nature (including his means of knowledge) and the nature of the universe in
which he acts—i.e., he needs metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, which
means: philosophy. He cannot escape from this need; his only alternative is
whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance.