What IS Philosophy?

The word 'philosophy' comes from the Greek, and it means 'love of knowledge.' The Athenian Socrates (470-399 bce) coined the word in order to distinguish himself from the 'Sophists', who offered to teach rhetoric in exchange for payment. In contrast, Socrates claimed to be a 'philo-sophist' - not one who claimed to have wisdom, but rather someone who loved it.

Socrates spent his life questioning what others take for granted: that the world exists as we see it, that some art is good while some is bad, that democracy is the ideal form of government, that there are right and wrong ways to behave, and so forth. As Socrates demonstrated (to anyone who would listen), even casual reflection reveals that these beliefs are just that - things we take for granted, without reflection. And, as Socrates urged, we ought to investigate these beliefs, for "the unexamined life is not worth living."