What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is concerned with the most general and fundamental problems that confront human beings in their attempt to understand reality; problems concerning human nature itself, as well as the physical and social world we inhabit.

• What is good?
• How ought I to live?
• Is there a god?
• What is reality? Is it relative to a cultural perspective?
• Is there free will?
• What is truth?
• Can we know anything with certainty?
• What is the mind?
• Can machines think?
• What is meaning?
• If we knew a complete physical story of the Universe, would we know everything there is to know? Would we know what everyone was thinking? Would we know what colours things are? Would we know what is right and wrong?

Philosophers are prepared to face up to hard questions such as these and find thinking about them clearly and systematically a great adventure.

Why Study Philosophy?
This subject matter is intrinsically interesting but, more than that, the study of Philosophy provides an excellent intellectual training. To make headway with difficult abstract questions, one must learn to think, speak and write clearly and systematically, argue vigorously and question deeply-held assumptions.

The language and reasoning skills developed by studying Philosophy equip students for a very broad range of careers, and employers appreciate the value of graduates who can think for themselves. Philosophy also adds a valuable infusion of skills into other programmes of study. Why not take a philosophy paper or two and see how you like it?