philosophy

Etymologically, philosophy comes from the ancient Greek meaning “a love of wisdom”. When I majored in philosophy in college, I was taught there were five branches of philosophy (that number has changed over time), which were:

1. Metaphysics: what is the nature of reality?
2. Epistemology: how do we know what we know?
3. Ethics: how should we act?
4. Politics: how should we coordinate our actions with others?
5. Aesthetics: what is the nature of beauty?

The Point of Philosophy

“The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it.”
Karl Marx, in his gravestone inscription

I agree with Mark about the point of philosophy, but would dispute him in that many philosophers have changed the world.