Philosophy Reflection Paper Essay

The Oxford side Dictionary defines philosophy as Knowledge, learning, scholarship a body of association spec. advanced knowledge or learning. By this definition we can receive that philosophy is, essentially, the pursuit of knowledge or understanding on a much higher level than usual. In the following paper I will present my views on philosophy as a full by examining what I entrust philosophy is supposed to do, as fountainhead as how it can benefit the life of both individual willing to invest time in it and the societies that promote such thoughts.Ever since its very(prenominal) beginnings in 6th century BCE, philosophy has been used as a tool to help better understand complex questions regarding logic, knowledge, truth, and even pitying existence itself. I have long considered philosophy to be a method of deeper understanding when it comes to the human life. Why is this? Perhaps it is because a outsize part of philosophy is focused on argument, debate, and overall interact ion with coadjutor humans, as opposed to other methods that do not focus on these aspects. It is my belief that if we were to attempt to answer by ourselves the difficult questions life poses, thus our lives would be very dull and difficult to properly question.Allow me to billow on what I briefly mentioned at the end of the previous paragraph. severally and every one of us is, in my opinion, a prisoner of our several(prenominal) perception. From birth our minds atomic number 18 plagued by outside influences that shape our mind unheeding of how much we try to avoid it. These influences can take on more distinct forms such as media, parents, teachers, etc. What ideologies these influences plant in our minds likewise depends on a number of variables such nationality, class, race, etc. This, in turn, leads to virgule and prevents anyone from being 100% subjective in any matter. We cannot know any one thing or pass off one of our perceptions as absolute truth.In fact, what yo u are currently reading is only my definition of what I have perceived. Therefore, the only way to truly gain an change understanding of our life and the world we live in is to explore our different perceptions by sharing and challenging these views with others in debate and/or argument. As Socrates once said, The unexamined life is not worth living. In other words, if you are not goingto break out of your own prison of perception, because your life will be bland and very difficult.Approaching matters in a philosophical fashion is great for hoi polloi as individuals, scarce it is withal extremely important in societies as a whole. When members of a particular society strive to be thoughtful of their own views or else of just bashing the views of others, then there is an increase of gross profit and open-mindedness. Through this tolerance the society can then obtain a higher champion of fraternity and respect for one another. Societies that promote debate and an open-minded brain tend to be more democratic and infringe on the rights of the people less.Take Ancient Greece for example, Ancient Greece is where philosophy was born and just also happened to be unlike any other society at the time. thralldom did exist and the women were not considered true citizens, but when compared to other, much more tribal cultures at the time, the Greek people experienced a freedom unheard of in any other part of the world. Modern countries would do headspring to incorporate philosophy in areas such as government/politics, education, etc., and gratefully many do.Given the topics discussed in this paper, I find it hard to bank that the introduction of philosophy into ones life would not be beneficial in many ways. Analysis and consideration of all views, the painstaking contemplation of oneself and the environment around them, and the intellectual freedom and open-mindedness that such a practice lends to the societies it is promoted within. I can say with confidenc e that I believe philosophy is an integral part of human life and should be promoted on an international scale in order for countries to work together to logically solve global problems.Philosophy is the highest music. PlatoPhilosophy. Def 1. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Draft adjustment Sep. 2010