Philosophy to me is understood in many different ways, helping us to pos questions to ourselves, our elders, our educational systems, our way of living. Philosophy is a way to help in understanding history, of why believes are what they are today because of people that asked the questions of why we did things, or what the purpose of doing them was. I believe that philosophy is used in order to help us in our checks and balances of our daily lives. "...an understanding of ourselves, our ethics and why we are who we are." (Class, 08/23/02) Philosophy helps in freeing our minds to raise questions that would in other words not even be questioned. "Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it rises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom." (Wisdom, 5) Philosophy is used in different branches to help determine different things; it has been used to define what the world is made of, helped in the definition of knowledge, the definition of reality, it has helped in values and the values in our society today as we know them.
             Philosophy is functional, or beliefs of what you believe. "The function of philosophy consists of providing sound judgments about issues of life, the examination of belief, thinking one's way to a well-rounded set of beliefs" (Quillen, 08/22/02). The method behind philosophy is understood as the activity of reason, which in other words is aimed at objectivity "Though study of principles that determine whether or not inferences are justified, and the study of valid inferences." (Quillen, 08/22/02).
             The area of philosophy that is used to help determine values is Axiology which there are three areas of study, Aestretics which is the study of Art-the Nature of Beauty, Ethics – Tells you what to do and how to be (character) and Social/ Political Philosop...