Philosophy Paper Writing

What is philosophy?

The best way to define philosophy- or anything, really- is to do it. Only by doing philosophy can you understand what it means, and only through this understanding will you achieve the mindset needed for learning how to do it yourself. -So what does that mean?

Philosophy literally comes from two Greek words: philos, which means “love” or “friendship,” and sophia, which means wisdom. Put them together, and philosophy literally means “love of wisdom.” And as such as it is the root for both ‘philosophy’ and ‘philanthropy’, we can see that this love of wisdom is something shared with goodwill toward all- it means to be benevolent with that which is great.

-So what is it good for?

Philosophy is useful in everyday life, just as it was for Socrates, who claimed to have only ever been concerned with ethics. Yet the more modern idea of philosophy has broadened its view beyond one small aspect of humanity to consider all things- from the grandest of ideas to the smallest of actions. For anyone who wants to become a better thinker, this is indispensable.

-Alright, so how do I go about doing this?

Philosophy does not have any specific way in which it’s learned or taught; however, there are many useful guides and exercises that can help one achieve the abovementioned goal. One of the simplest methods is to write a philosophy essay, which- although it may sound intimidating- is just another form of self-expression. And while you write about what you believe, you’re also open to new ideas and might just change your mind! So get writing.

-Is that all?

Well, no. There is a wealth of different ideas and schools of thought within philosophy, from the realistic to the fantastical, that can help you understand not just what it means to write a philosophy essay but also how to write well in general. These will be covered in depth later on- for now, let’s get started!