Philosophy

[Allen537]

Having said all of that. Philosophy is my cross to bare in life. I am not an academic by any means. It is very very very difficult for me.

Hey, don’t feel too bad about that. I am also a philosophy major and I found it to be very difficult at first. I am now a senior at my university and I am only realizing now how much of philosophy I actually know. I’m not sure how far along you are, but I think you’ll be surprised how much you actually learned early on when you begin doing things like you senior seminar in Philosophy, or any of your other upper level courses that tend to tie alot of the stuff already learned into new ideas and concepts.

You’ll be in my prayers!

 

[cpayne]

Same as what Allen537 said.

 

[franco_antonio]

correct me if im wrong!,
Philosophy is the study of all things in its ultimate cause and first principle through the use of **human reason alone **while Theology is the study of all things in its ultimate cause and first principle through the use of faith and reason

It is basic to learn about philosophy but when you believe in or have faith in what you know/learn, it is not philosophy anymore.
And when your learning/reasoning is inline with our spiritual faith & principle … i think is it Theology…this is just an opinion.

 

[jimmy85]

in layman’s terms, why is philosophy important?

theology is the study of God, so that is clear.

but why is philosophy important?

Philosophy normaly is divided in 4 branches:

Metaphysics: Attempts to answer the questions of our human existens.

Epistemology: It studies the way in which we obtain the knowledge.

Ethics: is the study of the moral behaviors

Logic: is the study of the principles and criteria of valid inference and demonstration.

There are also many other branches.
Each one of this branches in a way are extremly usefull in order to know yourself and be a better person. In my humble opinion, I think that is the main scope of philosophy, when it is well used.

 

[Dranu]

Wisdom is one of the cardinal virtues (prudence). Philosophy means lover of wisdom. That is why.
It is also not this wish-washy, opinionated thing alot of people think it is, and believe me, it favors Catholicism. Reading works of St. Augustine, St. Anselm, and the likes, can be life changing. Even Plato’s works are amazing. If you read the Republic, I think you will be surprised what Socrates/Plato were coming to through reason and a little bit of fidelity (considering Socrates trial and death).

 

[Greg27]

Philosophy is extremely important. I think a lot of arguments could be given for philosophy, but I think Aristotle said it best when humans have a natural capacity to wonder and to want to know. Thankfully philosophy has generally (until quite recently) been nurtured well in Western culture, and had great esteem. I think the biggest challenge to philosophy is science, particularly when scientists sometimes seem to claim philosophy hasn’t got much else to do but slowly follow the trails blazed by science. I think philosophy is also important personally as few people these days (religious or not) seem to reflect on their actions and their beliefs and the consequences these can have. Moral life these days seems to be hedonistic, indulgent and focused on materialism and consumerist gratification, without any concern for what makes a good and meaningful and virtuous life, well lived to the full.

 

[a_priori]

in layman’s terms, why is philosophy important?

theology is the study of God, so that is clear.

but why is philosophy important?

Man is driven by aspirations whose goals he cannot hope to reach, yet cannot accept as unreachable. -J.T. Fraser