What is Philosophy?

Philosophical inquiry begins with foundational questions.

Can we know the world as it really is? What does it mean to have knowledge? What kind of thing am I? What is the nature of consciousness? What are my moral obligations? How should scare resources be distributed? How should social injustices be remedied? What is an emotion? What is the relationship between space and time?

Philosophers investigate and evaluate classical, historical, and contemporary approaches to questions like these. The study of philosophy provides students with conceptual and methodological tools to aid them in articulating their own answers to philosophical questions and evaluating the reasoning processes that led to these answers. Philosophy students develop critical thinking, reading and writing skills, which enables them to better express their ideas both orally and in writing. These skills are fundamental no matter what career path students ultimately decide to pursue.

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