What is philosophy? Most definitions of philosophy have been fairly controversial in part because what has been called philosophy has changed drastically in the course of history. The word philosophy originated from Greek words philia (love) and sophia (wisdom) carrying the meaning love of wisdom. Philosophy is a general overview of how our society functions, how we think and the many ways in which we act. It could also be described as the love of wisdom. As individuals we are introduced to ideas that test our knowledge of the different concepts of life, with questions such as who are we and why were we brought here? Philosophical questions have made an impact on us with thoughts that don't usually have an answer to the question which was brought forward, and to which neither side knows the answer to.
Philosophy searches for the truth and questioning the unquestionable. It satisfies, or seeks to satisfy, the intellectual desire for comprehensive knowledge and understanding. Philosophers need to be open-minded and never closing door. They have to be accepting and be able to accept changes. A philosopher is curious, reflective and critical. Big philosophical questions like Who is god?', Where does the world come from?', What is life?' has remained unanswered. Questions of this genre are asked in every culture, every religion and through every period of time. Philosophy attempts to search the evidence of all beliefs. It takes a second look at cultural norms. They attempt to think through a variety of life problems. It leads the mind to a critical evaluation of things, but critical evaluations often differ from person to person for their personal expierences, cultural background may vary widely. Philosophy tries to relate reality to belief. It tries to find evidence and speculates the truth behind our daily assumptions.
Philosophy, being a vast field examines and probes many different fields.