Philosophy is. A Simple Definition.

[Barkun]

Philosophy is study of the fundamental known.

Knowledge is an average of all your analysed data. Philosophy is analysis of knowledge in retrospect. Retrospectively, this is fundamental because it's knowledge-breaking, changing all of the average at once.

There are many different philosophies, that's because as well as knowledge is our use of it.

Therefore, philosophy can be fundamentally subjective and we ought build our own philosophy to suit our character, influenced or not.

[AgentSmith]

There seems little interest in philosophy outside of academia for obvious reasons. To make matters worse there's no Nobel prize in philosophy. Forums like this one are a rarity but thank God they exist if only as an expression of interest in the subject as opposed to actual philosophizing.

Philosophy's roots go back 2 millennia into the past and that says a lot about how people were and are.

[Pattern-chaser]

Philosophy is study of the fundamental known.

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Therefore, philosophy can be fundamentally subjective and we ought build our own philosophy to suit our character, influenced or not.

I think philosophy is any sort or form of serious, considered thought. And I think that philosophy — to be relevant and useful — should be subjective, in the sense that it should be aimed at human beings living lives in the real world. But these are just my opinions.

What is it, exactly, that you hope to discuss in this topic? Are you seeking to discuss your ideas of what philosophy is, or are you asking others to contribute their ideas of what it is?

[Barkun]

Philosophy is study of the fundamental known.

8<

Therefore, philosophy can be fundamentally subjective and we ought build our own philosophy to suit our character, influenced or not.

I think philosophy is any sort or form of serious, considered thought. And I think that philosophy — to be relevant and useful — should be subjective, in the sense that it should be aimed at human beings living lives in the real world. But these are just my opinions.

What is it, exactly, that you hope to discuss in this topic? Are you seeking to discuss your ideas of what philosophy is, or are you asking others to contribute their ideas of what it is?

I think philosophy is what I have outlined. I put it up for discussion or debate. Serious, considered thought warrants elaboration. What makes thought serious, considered?

[Pattern-chaser]

Serious, considered thought warrants elaboration. What makes thought serious, considered?

It's always good to be clear what we mean, but here I think that simple dictionary definitions offer what we need.

Adjective

serious (comparative more serious or seriouser, superlative most serious or seriousest)

Without humor or expression of happiness; grave in manner or disposition

It was a surprise to see the captain, who had always seemed so serious, laugh so heartily.
Synonyms: earnest, solemn

Important; weighty; not insignificant

This is a serious problem. We'll need our best experts.

Really intending what is said (or planned, etc); in earnest; not jocular or deceiving

After all these years, we're finally getting serious attention.
He says he wants to buy the team, but is he serious?

(of a relationship) Committed.

Adjective

considered

Having been carefully thought out.

It is my considered opinion that the accused is innocent.

Noun

thought (countable and uncountable, plural thoughts)

(countable) Representation created in the mind without the use of one's faculties of vision, sound, smell, touch, or taste; an instance of thinking.

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

(uncountable) The operation by which mental activity arise or are manipulated; the process of thinking; the agency by which thinking is accomplished.

Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.

(uncountable) A way of thinking (associated with a group, nation or region).

Traditional eastern thought differs markedly from that of the west.

(uncountable, now dialectal) Anxiety, distress.
(uncountable) The careful consideration of multiple factors; deliberation.

After much thought, I have decided to stay.

A very small amount, distance, etc.; a whit or jot.

As we can see, each of the 3 words carries multiple meanings, but that's OK. It doesn't distract from our purposes because most of the meanings are compatible with what we're discussing. The ones that aren't especially useful to us — e.g. thought being "A very small amount, distance, etc.; a whit or jot" — are fairly obvious.

[Consul]

In his Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences in Basic Outline Hegel defines philosophy as "thoughtful contemplation of things" ("denkende Betrachtung der Gegenstände").

[LuckyR]

Outside of academia, philosophy seems to be of little interest, for obvious reasons. Even worse, there isn't a Nobel Prize in philosophy. Forums like this one are uncommon, but it's a good thing they exist, if just to exhibit interest in the topic rather than engage in philosophical discussion. The history of philosophy dates back two millennia, which reveals much about how people have been and are.

Uummm... I think you meant: "2" millennia, not "two" millennia.

[Cherryblossom]

Philosophy is really very complex term and is considered a multifaceted field that offers us a wide variety of directions to understand or untangle complex things, It helps to overcome our own biases and prejudice which is too very important in today's world where we are constantly and increasingly exposed to a wide variety of perspectives, assumption, and tradition. In Simple words, Philosophy is more like exploring the nature of reality.

[Barkun]

I don't know what a tree is. I goto a tree using my #Good #Senses, and attempt to #Understand it. After a period of time, as my senses are good, my #Understanding leads to #Acknowledgement. I then through my interest and excitement proceed to passively #Analyze the tree. The product of this #Analysis increases the average of my #All-#Data #Comprehension. This is #Knowledge.

[Pattern-chaser]

Uummm... I think you meant: "2" millennia, not "two" millennia.

Surely the two are synonymous, and both are acceptable, in anything but the most formal text, yes?

[Barkun]

Philosophy is protocol of the mind concerning subjective fundemental nature, and the study of fundamental nature objectively, but that is not fundamentally nature, that's the fundemental nature; the aspects of nature which are fundemental. When we study philosophy, we change our knowledge, aligning it with new perspectives or reinforcing old ones. However, philosophical transactions are made all the time. Sometimes we seek to change everything about our future actions, in one big decision-making event horizon, this is a protocol of mind, tinkering with knowledge.

[LuckyR]

Uummm... I think you meant: "2" millennia, not "two" millennia.

Surely the two are synonymous, and both are acceptable, in anything but the most formal text, yes?

He knows what I'm getting at.

Hint, look at the second post in the thread.

[psycho]

Philosophy is study of the fundamental known.

Knowledge is an average of all your analysed data. Philosophy is analysis of knowledge in retrospect. Retrospectively, this is fundamental because it's knowledge-breaking, changing all of the average at once.

There are many different philosophies, that's because as well as knowledge is our use of it.

Therefore, philosophy can be fundamentally subjective and we ought build our own philosophy to suit our character, influenced or not.

For me, philosophy is using the logical regularities noted in the consolidated reality (what is supposed to be known) to analyze the novelties that the use of new technologies makes evident or to rethink facets of that reality that, under new paradigms, are no longer coherent with the accepted model.

As an exploratory vanguard in areas that are not yet within the reach of science.

[Barkun]

Philosophy is study of the fundamental known.

Knowledge is an average of all your analysed data. Philosophy is analysis of knowledge in retrospect. Retrospectively, this is fundamental because it's knowledge-breaking, changing all of the average at once.

There are many different philosophies, that's because as well as knowledge is our use of it.

Therefore, philosophy can be fundamentally subjective and we ought build our own philosophy to suit our character, influenced or not.

For me, philosophy is using the logical regularities noted in the consolidated reality (what is supposed to be known) to analyze the novelties that the use of new technologies makes evident or to rethink facets of that reality that, under new paradigms, are no longer coherent with the accepted model.

As an exploratory vanguard in areas that are not yet within the reach of science.

I understand how your definition correlated to mine but I still 'prefer' my own definition, I don't believe we have any grasp of what is 'supposed' to be known, per se.