The Value of Philosophy Essay - 754 Words

The Value of Philosophy The word â€Å"philosophy† is derived from two ancient Greek words, â€Å"philos† meaning ‘love of’ and â€Å"sophia† meaning ‘wisdom’. Philosophers are lovers of wisdom. They have had the time and resources to sit back and wonder about what things really are like when all the pieces are fitted into one final accounting. The history of philosophy is generally divided into four stages or periods. Ancient philosophy covers Greek and Roman philosophy. Medieval philosophy deals with the great attempts by Christian, Jewish, and Arab thinkers to synthesize their religious faiths with Greek and Roman philosophy. Modern philosophy includes the various philosophical attempts in the 17th and 18th centuries to react to the†¦show more content†¦Russell was a leader in the revival of the philosophy of empiricism in the large field of epistemology. He wrote Our Knowledge of the External World (1914), The Analysis of Matter (1927) and Human Knowledge, Its Scope and Limits (1948). He also wrote Principles of mathematics (1903), Principia Mathematica (with A.N. Whitehead; three volumes, 1910 – 1913), and Introduction to mathematical Philosophy (1919). Russell agrees that philosophy deals with issues with uncertain answers. Yet in this uncertainty, he sees philosophy’s chief value – that in contemplating the great questions one is freed from narrow personal interest alone. Let’s review the problems of philosophy, and then make conclusion, what is the value of philosophy. In view of the fact that many men, under the influence of science or of practical affairs, are inclined to doubt whether philosophy is anything better than innocent but useless trifling, hair-splitting distinctions and controversies on matters concerning which knowledge s impossible. This view of philosophy appears to result, partly from a wrong conception of the ends of life, partly from a conception of the kind of goods which philosophy strives to achieve. Philosophy, like all other studies, aims primarily at knowledge. The knowledge it aims at is the kind of knowledge which gives unity and system to the body of the science,Show MoreRelatedValue of Philosophy Essay971 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosophy is the study of examining and thinking about questionable ethical problems and/or generally accepted certainties. Philosophy aims at knowledge that combines a variety of academic fields as well as convictions, prejudices and beliefs. What is Russell’s essay about? Present Russell’s position in your own words. Bertrand Russell’s essay addresses many issues concerning philosophy. In the writing, he states philosophy’s nature, value, and criticisms. The essay explains these aspects ofRead MoreThe Values Of Philosophy : Questions1017 Words   |  5 PagesName Instructor Course Institution Date The Values of Philosophy Question #1 String theory seeks to explain the origins of universe and combines the four forces of nature. It is apparent that it was impossible to integrate the theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity before the string theory. For three decades, string theory has played a key role in theoretical physics because the theory explains the Big Bang that took place some 300 billion years ago, which led to violent riseRead MoreThe Value Of Philosophy : Lord Russell1522 Words   |  7 PagesValue is defined as something that is considered important or beneficial. 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He makes the point that goods of the mind are as important in life as goods of the bodyRead MoreThe Value of Philosophy Essay example604 Words   |  3 Pages9:30 T/Thu Philosophy In Russell’s discussion â€Å"The Value of Philosophy,† he asserted that the true goal of Philosophy wasn’t a tangible, or even reachable, goal. He says that Philosophy won’t lead us to any definite answers, because once you acquire solid knowledge of a subject, it instantly becomes another science. Instead that the greatest value of this study comes from the mental freedom you get when you begin to question the status quo and not just accepting things as they are. He also saysRead MoreThe Value Of Philosophy And Its Influence On Society1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe value of philosophy lies in its ability to influence a society and/or provide wisdom to others. Often philosophy is mistakenly thought of as inadequate compared to science. 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It is limitations he puts on how he defines philosophy and the weaknessRead MorePersonal Value Philosophy Paper1461 Words   |  6 Pagesassessment tool used to analyze one’s perspective and style thru a series of questions asked and answered. The tool provides deeper insight into an individual’s core belief system. The tool refers to four broad characterizations represented in ethical philosophy. This tool was used by the writer for an Interdisplinary Capstone class taken in January 2007. The writer learned her ethical perspective is most likely to be based on a blended profile Character and Obligation, and her least ethical perspectiveRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Health Policy Values871 Words   |  4 PagesHealth Policy Values As human beings, we all have our own values, beliefs and attitudes that we have developed throughout the course of our lives. 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