[hamworld05]

Is philosophy a concept or a study?

[valinors_sorrow]

I know it as a discipline, or a system of concepts or even in a casual sense a study.

Here is the definition from Merriam/Websters, if that helps

Main Entry: phi·los·o·phy

Pronunciation: \fə-ˈlä-s(ə-)fē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -phies
Etymology: Middle English philosophie, from Anglo-French, from Latin philosophia, from Greek, from philosophos philosopher
Date: 14th century
1 a (1): all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts (2): the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology <a doctor of philosophy> (3): the 4-year college course of a major seminary b (1)archaic : physical science (2): ethics c: a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology
2 a: pursuit of wisdom b: a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means c: an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs
3 a: a system of philosophical concepts b: a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought <the philosophy of war>
4 a: the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group b: calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher

[hamworld05]

Oh, that's interesting!

[hamworld05]

Why are some studies academic and some applied? Like sociology. When I looked at a wikipedia articles on it, I came across something like this: Sociology is an academic and applied discipline that studies society and human social interaction.

[valinors_sorrow]

It may be that there are two basic versions or branches of it, one that is further researched, studied, and likely taught (got to pay those bills somehow) in the academic world and another that is more like a field application where what is already known is used in some tangible way or raw data is collected to feed to all those hungry academia types. I mean, shoot, I am only guessing off the top of my not very university-educated head here so bear with me if that seemed too plain. Rather like the difference between a clinical psychologist and a research psychologist -- one has clients and insurance companies LOL and the other has data, studies and published works? Hmm maybe that is a bad analogy, too.

[hamworld05]

That makes sense. Well, sort of. I thought it was because you could have applied sociology or academic sociology.

[hamworld05]

LOL, did I just summarize your paragraph with one sentence?

[valinors_sorrow]

LOL, did I just summarize your paragraph with one sentence?

Sure looks like it! :D

[hamworld05]

Sure looks like it! :D

LOL. Maybe I should be a writer...

[keenu]

Is philosophy a concept or a study?

It is a search for knowledge, a search for the truths and an understanding of what those truths are and how they came to be.

[hamworld05]

It is a search for knowledge, a search for the truths and an understanding of what those truths are and how they came to be.

I see. I can't argue with that!