Learn what philosophy really means in simple words. This post explains the definition, origin, and main branches of philosophy, with clear examples and student-friendly revision notes. Perfect for beginners and exam preparation.

Table of Contents

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What is Philosophy? – Simple Explanation for Students

• Philosophy is a very big subject that tries to study everything – both real and imaginary.
• The question “What is philosophy?” is itself a philosophical question.
• It is hard to give one exact answer because philosophy covers a wide range of topics.
• Anything that exists (like a highlighter) can be studied in philosophy.
• Even things that don’t or can’t exist (like a “married bachelor” or “round triangle”) can be discussed in philosophy.
• In this class, the question “What is philosophy?” will be explored in four different ways.
• Students are advised to follow the class slowly and carefully, without rushing.

Summary

Philosophy is the study of everything—real or imaginary. It asks deep questions about identity, existence, and meaning. Even impossible things can be talked about in philosophy. In this lecture, the teacher will explain what philosophy means in four simple ways.

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Meaning of the Word Philosophy – Explained Simply

• The word Philosophy comes from the Greek word Philosophia.
• Philo means love and Sophia means wisdom. So, philosophy means love of wisdom.
• The word traveled from Greek → Latin → Old French → English, but its meaning stayed the same.
• A philosopher is like a lover of wisdom—someone who always wants to understand more deeply.
• Philosophers explore new ideas, reflect on old ideas, and search for truth and clarity, not just facts.
• Around 2600 years ago, the Greek thinker Pythagoras (famous for the Pythagoras Theorem) was the first to call himself a “philosopher.”
• Pythagoras explained life as a festival of games:
  • Some people compete for fame or money.
  • Some do business for profit.
  • But philosophers are like spectators—they quietly observe and try to understand life.
• This section helps us begin to answer: “What is philosophy?” by looking at the meaning of the word.

Summary

Philosophy means “love of wisdom.” It is about going beyond facts and searching for true understanding. Just like a lover wants to deeply know the one they love, philosophers want to deeply understand ideas and life. Pythagoras described philosophers as people who observe life like spectators, focused only on truth.

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Branches of Philosophy – Pure and Applied Philosophy Explained

Pure Philosophy – 4 Main Branches

• Logic – Study of reasoning and arguments.
  • Checks if arguments are valid or invalid.
  • Example of a valid argument:
    • All humans are mortal.
    • Socrates is a human.
    • Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
  • Example of an invalid argument:
    • All singers are famous.
    • Sachin is famous.
    • Therefore, Sachin is a singer. (Incorrect reasoning)
  • Logic helps us learn how to reason correctly.
• Epistemology – Theory of knowledge.
  • What is knowledge?
  • How do we know something is true?
  • Can we trust our senses and experiences?
  • What is truth and how can it be defined?
• Metaphysics – Study of reality and existence.
  • What exists and what does not?
  • Do numbers exist? Does God exist?
  • Is the physical world real?
  • Is there something beyond what we can see?
• Ethics – Theory of value, right and wrong.
  • What makes an action right or wrong?
  • Is morality based on religion?
  • Ethics studies moral values and duties.
• (Bonus) Aesthetics – Study of beauty and art.
  • What is beauty? Why do we care about it?
  • Some count this as a part of ethics.

Applied Philosophy – 6 Major Fields

• Philosophy of Religion – Studies God and religious beliefs.
• Philosophy of Science – Questions the methods of science and their truth.
• Philosophy of Mind – What is the mind? How does it connect with the body?
• Philosophy of Language – How does language represent reality and thought?
• Political Philosophy – Studies power, justice, government, and laws.
  • Example: Plato’s Republic.
• Applied Ethics – Applies moral thinking to real-world issues like:
  • Is abortion right or wrong?
  • Is the death penalty moral?
  • Includes business ethics, legal ethics, bioethics, etc.

In Short

• Philosophy is a very wide subject.
• It can be applied to any field—science, math, history, politics, art, and more.
• The title PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) shows the highest level of learning in any subject.
• For simplicity, we remember:
  • Pure Philosophy = Logic, Epistemology, Metaphysics, Ethics
  • Applied Philosophy = Religion, Science, Mind, Language, Politics, Applied Ethics

Summary

Philosophy is divided into pure and applied branches. Pure philosophy deals with deep thinking about reasoning, knowledge, existence, and morality. Applied philosophy connects these ideas to real life—like religion, science, mind, language, and politics. This structure helps us understand what philosophy covers and how wide its reach is.

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Definition of Philosophy – Explained in Simple Words

• According to Wikipedia, philosophy is:
  “A systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language.”
• Systematic study means:
  • Organized and structured thinking
  • Using logic and methods
  • Deep analysis
  • Proper documentation

What Are General and Fundamental Questions?

1. General Questions

• General means abstract – not about a specific object.
• Opposite of general is concrete or specific.
• Examples:
  • “What is that noise?” → Specific question (concrete)
  • “What is noise?” → Less specific
  • “Why do events happen?” → Very general/abstract = philosophical
• Another example:
  • “What is the meaning of this sentence?” → Specific
  • “What is the meaning of a sentence?” → General
  • “What is meaning?” → Very general and philosophical

2. Fundamental Questions

• Fundamental means ultimate – the most basic and final question.
• They are not approximate, and you can’t go further beyond them.
• Example chain:
  • Why did he fall? → Because he was drunk
  • Why did he drink? → Because he was unhappy
  • Why unhappy? → Because he was divorced
  • …and so on…
  • Eventually: “What is the first cause?” → This is a fundamental question.

Complete Meaning of the Definition

• Philosophy is a structured and logical study of the most abstract and ultimate questions.
• These questions relate to:
  • Existence (Metaphysics)
  • Reason (Logic)
  • Knowledge (Epistemology)
  • Value (Ethics)
  • Mind (Philosophy of Mind)
  • Language (Philosophy of Language)

Summary

Philosophy is the deep, structured study of the most general and ultimate questions in life. It does not deal with specific events but with abstract ideas and final truths. It focuses on big questions about reality, logic, knowledge, values, mind, and language.

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Doing Philosophy – The Best Way to Learn Philosophy

• The best way to understand philosophy is to practice it.
• Philosophy is not a fixed or dead subject—it is alive and always evolving.
• It’s like a flowing river, full of new ideas and changes every day.
• You must engage with philosophical problems, discuss ideas, and think deeply.
• This is what we’ll do in future lectures—do philosophy, not just study it.

Summary

Philosophy is not just something to read—it’s something to do. By thinking, questioning, and discussing with others, you will naturally start understanding philosophy. The real learning happens through involvement.

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Summary of What Is Philosophy? – Quick Revision for Students

• The word Philosophy comes from Greek, meaning “love of wisdom.”
• The term was first used around 2600 years ago by Pythagoras.
• Philosophy has two main categories:
  • Pure Philosophy:
    • Logic
    • Epistemology
    • Metaphysics
    • Ethics
  • Applied Philosophy (main fields):
    • Philosophy of Religion
    • Philosophy of Science
    • Philosophy of Mind
    • Philosophy of Language
    • Political Philosophy
    • Applied Ethics
• Philosophy is a systematic study of deep questions related to:
  • Existence
  • Reason
  • Knowledge
  • Value
  • Mind
  • Language
• These are general (abstract) and fundamental (ultimate) questions.
• Philosophy is a living and dynamic subject—it keeps evolving.
• To truly understand philosophy, you must actively think, question, and engage with its ideas.

Summary

Philosophy means love of wisdom. It is the structured study of the deepest and most abstract questions about life and reality. It is divided into pure and applied branches, and to really understand it, you need to actively do philosophy, not just read about it.