What is philosophy?

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by Brian Griffin (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

Philosophy comes from an Ancient Greek word that means “love of knowledge.” It is a way people search for answers to many of life’s deep questions, and a lot of times, there are more questions than answers! It is a way of thinking that let’s us figure out how the world works and how everything in it fits together. Imagine life as a big puzzle. Philosophy is how we put the pieces together.

Some big questions that philosophy tries to answer are: “What is good?” “What is evil?” “What is art?” “What is science?” and even “What is philosophy?”

We all have our own philosophies. Our philosophies tell us why we do what we do: “Why should I always try to do my best?” “Why should I go to school every day?” “Why should I be nice to people?”

The most common way people get philosophies is through their religions, but they can also come from our families, friends, governments, teachers and from ourselves!

Our philosophies help us solve problems, and they also help us explain the reasons why things happen. The next time you make a decision, you’ll be using your philosophy to guide you!

Finding Your Philosophy

We use philosophy all the time. It tells us the difference between right and wrong. What’s your philosophy?

Imagine a friend of yours does something bad, like cutting in front of someone in line. Would you tattle on your friend or would you not say anything? This can be a very tough situation! Think about what’s best for you and your friend. Your philosophy will tell you the answer. And if you’re ever not sure, you can ask grown-ups that you trust to share their philosophies with you. Thinking about these things ahead of time will help you be ready for when they actually happen.