Philosophy involves the investigation of existence through subfields like epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics. It uses methods of critical, rational, and reflective thinking to find conclusions. Philosophy differs from religion in its emphasis on critical thinking and analysis over faith. In Plato's Republic, he outlines his ideal society and identifies virtues like temperance, courage, wisdom, and justice as necessary for a good life.

1. What is Philosophy? Essay
The subject of Philosophy and its subcategories have been widely discussed in both the Western and
non–Western world albeit with different focuses. Philosophy includes many different subfields
involving investigation into our existence. These subfields include epistemology, ethics, logic,
metaphysics, philosophy of science, social and political philosophy, and Metaphilosophy.
Epistemology focuses on the study of Knowledge, also known as "Theory of Knowledge". Ethics
involves the study of moral values and rules, Logic; the study of reasoning. Metaphysics is the
study of being and knowing also known as the principles of reality. The Philosophy of Science
analyzes the nature and results of scientific inquiry. Social and Political Philosophy...show more
content...
These methods of thinking include Critical, Rational, Systematic, Reflective, and normative
thinking. Each of which helps find a conclusion or truth.
The method of critical thinking explores what it means to be critical and how we think critically.
Critical thinking can be defined as an approach to ideas from the standpoint of deliberate
consideration. Philosophy differs from Religion in that this critical thinking is a primary
characteristic used in Western Philosophy. Religion is a belief and way of life while philosophy is
the knowledge or understanding of life. In Greek Philo means love of and Sophy, wisdom. Hence
philosophy is most directly the love of wisdom. Non–western Philosophy incorporates both science
and religon to answer questions. Furthermore, all Sciences are subsets of philosophy. Philosophy
represents the mind, a process of thinking and religion, a process of faith. Philosophy is Dogma
while Religion is a code of conduct revealed upon mankind through revelation. Furthermore religion
depends upon a superior being or unknown force (think god). Because of this, when a philosophy is
codified into rituals and faith, it becomes a religion. Religion tends to back away from rational
discourse, as opposed to Philosophy, which is all about rational discourse and critical thinking.
Similar to critical thinking, the method of rational thinking interprets how we think rationally. Logic
plays a specialized role in rational thinking. Rational thinking
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

2. Essay about Plato
Plato was a philosopher and educator in ancient Greece. He was one of the most important thinkers
and writers in the history of Western culture. Plato was born in Athens into a family that was one of
the oldest and most distinguished in the city. His father Ariston died when Plato was only a child.
The name Plato was a nickname meaning broad shoulders. Plato's real name was Aristocles. Plato
had aspirations of becoming a politician, however these hopes were destroyed when his friend
Socrates was sentenced to death in 299 B.C. Extremely hurt Plato left Athens and traveled for
several years. In 387 B.C., Plato returned to Athens and founded a school of philosophy and science
that became known as the Academy. Topics such as astronomy,
...show more content...
Plato was interested in how we can apply a single word or concept to many words or things. For
example how can the word house be used for all the individual dwellings that are houses? Plato
answered that various things can be called by the same name because they have something in
common. He called this common factor the thing's form or idea. Plato insisted that the forms differ
greatly from the ordinary things that we see around us. Ordinary things change but their forms do
not. A particular triangle may be altered in size or shape but the form of a triangle can never
change. Plato concluded that forms exist neither in space or time. They can be known not only by
the intellect but also by the senses. Because of their stability and perfection, the forms have greater
reality than ordinary objects observed by the senses. Thus true knowledge is knowledge of the forms.
In his most well known work, The Republic, Plato states that in his view, only in a good society
can the good life be achieved. The Republic outlines Plato's idea of a perfect or utopian society. He
also identifies the four cardinal virtues that are required for a good society. These cardinal virtues
are temperance or self–control, courage, wisdom, and justice. Without these virtues he believed that
the good life could not be obtained. In The Republic Plato also discusses two different forms of
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

3. Philosophy of Ethics Essay
The word "ethics" comes from Greek ethikas meaning character. Today, we use ethics to describe the
normative standard of behavior. The history of philosophical ethics has been broken up into five
rational methods: Virtue, Traditional, Modern, and Post–Modern Ethics. Within these periods, the
philosophy of ethics changed along with the changes being made within society. The first rational
method is Virtue Ethics. The major philosophers during this period were materialists such as Plato,
Aristotle, Epicurus, and Plutarch. Greek were concerned with finding eudaimonia meaning the good
life, but what is the good life? Known as the greatest Western philosopher, Plato developed the
Cardinal Virtues: Justice, Courage, Moderation, and...show more content...
One of the last major philosophers of Virtue Ethics was Plutarch who advocated virtue but disagreed
with Epicurus because he believed there was no true pleasure. At this same time, between 400 B.C.–
40 B.C. Stoic philosophers such Cicero, who combined the philosophies of Aristotle and Plato,
developed his idea on ethics and how everyone has a duty and should imitate virtue for others. He
said duty has two points which are to achieve the Supreme Good, and follow the rules for daily
living. Cicero was a strong believer in rationality incorporated Plato's Cardinal Virtues into his three
rules of conduct: master desires through reason, know true value of goals and be moderate in
actions and lifestyle. Following Virtue Ethics, a major shift occurred in thinking. The philosophers
of Virtue Ethics were materialists and believed we only have what we have and after death, we have
nothing. Traditional Ethics shifted the focus on religion once it began to spread. Also known as
Biblical Ethics, philosophers started a systematic study of Biblical themes and principles surrounding
ethics and morality. St. Augustine was trained as a philosopher and combines his understanding of
the Bible to ethics by answering the same question as Plato and Aristotle did, "What is the highest
good?" He answered this question with happiness just like Aristotle but since Aristotle
Get more content on HelpWriting.net