What Is Philosophy - Essay Example

Philosophy exists in different branches of thought that address different philosophical areas of focus. Some of the branches and their areas of focus include the following, epistemology which is the study of nature and knowledge (Lawhead).

Epistemology expresses the relationship between beliefs, truth, and theories that justify such beliefs and truth. The other area of concern is metaphysics, this involves the study of aspects of reality and the illustration of these features including existence (Lawhead). Ethics includes the other branch involved in the study of philosophy addressing things that people have to do and how they should do them. The final branch of philosophy includes logic, which involves precise reasoning to determine the components of good and bad reasoning in addition to determining the effectiveness of reasoning.

Ethics is an essential branch of philosophy that is important in improving human life, thus it has a major principle in influencing human well-being in the world. Aristotle was an influential individual in the establishment of ethical concern as guidance in human relations. Aristotle in support of Plato’s ideas regards some virtues as being ethical, for instance, these virtues include the following, temperance courage, and justice (Bhaskar 120). According to Aristotle, there are things that an individual need to possess for them to live a happy life, they include virtue, pleasure, honor friendship, and wealth (Das 82).

Accusations of these things have to be in a morally decent way that does not conflict with the virtues of society. For effective coexistence, it is also necessary to acquire practical wisdom that comes through the practice of social skills and emotion for consideration of well-being. In addition, some essentials of happiness in life deprive one of their happiness, for instance, lack of wealth, and loss of children and close friends through death (Das 104). In the execution of any activity, it is necessary to think critically about necessary things that one has to do and things they do not have to do.

Thomas Aquinas suggests that one has to be under the guidance of intelligence to make effective decisions to achieve valuable goods in a morally and honest manner (Peil & Irene 159). In the process of making such decisions, it is important to consider the benefits that other human beings enjoy from it, but not for just individual gain alone. Philosophy is an important aspect of liberation under the influence of ethics as a branch of philosophy. Marxist feminism expresses a fundamental link between the subordination of women and capitalism (Peil & Irene 164).

Marxists illustrate situations that undermine women in society based on social and economic such as in the family and labor market respectively, thereby calling for the establishment of corrective measures. Philosophy also involves understanding the importance of human existence instead of the world (Sartre, Kenneth & David 17). For the effective existence of human beings, Sartre illustrates that they have to use their consciousness to and create value that will determine the meaning of their lives (Sartre, Kenneth & David 29). This is because; initially human beings did not have any essential value and individualism that can facilitate the use of one’s awareness.