What Is Philosophy? Big Questions and Ways of Thinking - Introduction to Philosophy: Big Questions and Key Thinkers

Q: Which of these is the BEST example of a philosophical question?

Is it more important to be honest or to be kind?. Option B is philosophical because it asks about values and what we should do (ethics). The other options can be answered by looking up facts.

Step 1: What Is Philosophy, In Simple Words?

A Simple Definition

Philosophy is the careful thinking we do about the biggest and most basic questions in life. A simple way to say it: Philosophy = thinking hard about big questions using reasons.

How Philosophers Think

Philosophers do not just say what they feel. They ask clear questions, give reasons for their answers, listen to objections, and try to avoid mistakes in thinking.

Classic Big Questions

Some classic philosophical questions are: What is the right thing to do? What is real? How do we know anything? What makes a fair society? What is a mind?

Where The Word Comes From

The word "philosophy" comes from ancient Greek and means "love of wisdom". People in many cultures began asking deep questions about life, knowledge, and the universe.

What You Will Learn

In this module you will learn: what makes a question philosophical, the main branches of philosophy, how it differs from science and religion, and how it can help in everyday life.

Step 2: What Makes a Question Philosophical?

Non-Philosophical Questions

Non-philosophical questions can usually be answered by looking something up. They need a fact, number, or description. Example: What is the capital of France?

Philosophical Questions

Philosophical questions are very general and deep. They do not have easy final answers and need reasons and arguments, not just data.

Examples of Philosophical Questions

Examples: What makes an action right or wrong? Is there free will? Can we be 100% sure about anything? What makes a person the same over time?

A Helpful Test

If more facts alone can solve it, it is probably not philosophical. If we still must decide what facts mean or what we should do, it is probably philosophical.

Where Philosophy Starts

Philosophy often starts where science and common sense leave off, asking: What does that really mean? Is that always true?

Step 3: Is This Question Philosophical?

Decide if each question is philosophical (P) or non-philosophical (N). Think about the test from Step 2.

"What is the boiling point of water at sea level?"
"What makes a person a good friend?"
"How many students are in your school this year?"
"Is it ever okay to lie?"
"Do we see the world as it really is, or only as our brain shows it to us?"

Your task:

Write down P or N for each.
Then check yourself with this guide:

Suggested answers and reasons:

N – This is a science/fact question. We can test it in a lab.
P – This is about value and character. Facts help, but do not fully decide it.
N – This is a number you can look up.
P – This is an ethics question about right and wrong.
P – This is about knowledge and reality (epistemology and metaphysics).

If any of your answers were different, ask: Did I think about facts only, or also about meaning and value?

Step 4: The Main Branches of Philosophy

Why Branches?

Philosophy is huge, so people divide it into branches. You will learn five big ones: ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind.

Ethics

Ethics studies right and wrong, good and bad. It asks: What should I do? What kind of person should I be? Is it ever okay to break a rule?

Metaphysics

Metaphysics studies what is real and what exists. It asks: Do we have free will? What is time? Are mind and body the same thing?

Epistemology

Epistemology studies knowledge and belief. It asks: What does it mean to know something? How certain can we be? When should we trust experts?

Political Philosophy

Political philosophy studies power, justice, and how we should organize society. It asks: What makes a government fair? What rights should people have?

Philosophy of Mind

Philosophy of mind studies mind and consciousness. It asks: What is consciousness? Can machines think? How are thoughts related to the brain?

Branches Overlap

Branches often overlap. For example, asking if AI should make life-and-death decisions uses ethics, political philosophy, and philosophy of mind together.

Step 5: Everyday Examples for Each Branch

Ethics in Daily Life

You see a friend bullied in a group chat. Should you defend them or stay silent? This is ethics, because it asks what you should do.

Metaphysics and Reality

You watch a deepfake video. You wonder: What is real if images can be faked? This is metaphysics, asking what is really real.

Epistemology and Online Info

You see health advice on social media. How do you know if it is true? This is epistemology, about how we know what to believe.

Political Philosophy at School

Your school sets new phone rules. Is a full ban fair? Who should decide? This is political philosophy, about power, rules, and fairness.

Philosophy of Mind and AI

You chat with an AI that seems smart. Does it really understand, or just follow patterns? This is philosophy of mind, about thinking and consciousness.

Step 6: Philosophy, Science, and Religion – How Are They Different?

Science

Science mainly uses observation, experiments, and measurement. It asks questions like: What causes earthquakes? How does a virus spread?

Religion

Religion uses sacred texts, traditions, spiritual experiences, and faith. It asks: Is there a God? How should we live according to our faith?

Philosophy

Philosophy mainly uses careful reasoning and argument. It asks: If God exists, why is there suffering? What counts as a good scientific explanation?

How Philosophy Relates

Philosophers clarify concepts, examine arguments in science and religion, and ask questions that may not be testable in a lab.

What Makes Philosophy Special

Philosophy is special because it uses reasons that anyone can examine, even if they do not share the same beliefs or background.

Step 7: Try Philosophical Thinking on a Real Problem

You have a limited amount of free time each day.

You can use it to:

Scroll social media
Study
Help your family
Rest or do a hobby

Task: Think like a philosopher about this everyday choice.

Describe the situation clearly.

Write 2–3 short sentences about how you usually use your free time.

Ask at least two philosophical questions about it. For example:

Ethics: "What is the right balance between helping others and taking care of myself?"
Political philosophy: "Should schools give homework that takes away most of our free time? Is that fair?"
Philosophy of mind: "Does constant scrolling change how I pay attention or feel?"

Give one reason for each question.

Example: "I think balance matters because if I never rest, I burn out and cannot help anyone well."

Optional challenge:

Imagine a friend disagrees with you. What might they say? How would you answer them?

You have just done philosophy: you took an ordinary choice, asked deep questions about it, and gave reasons.

Step 8: Quick Check – What Is Philosophy?

Answer this question to check your understanding.

Which of these is the BEST example of a philosophical question?

What is the average temperature in July where I live?
Is it more important to be honest or to be kind?
How many bones are in the human body?
What year did my country gain independence?

Show Answer

Answer: B) Is it more important to be honest or to be kind?

Option B is philosophical because it asks about values and what we should do (ethics). The other options can be answered by looking up facts.

Step 9: Review Key Terms

Use these flashcards to review the main ideas.

Philosophy: The careful use of reason to think about the biggest and most basic questions in life, such as what is real, what we should do, and what we can know.
Philosophical question: A deep, general question that cannot be settled by simple facts alone and needs reasons and arguments about meaning, value, or possibility.
Ethics: A branch of philosophy that studies right and wrong, good and bad, and how we should act or live.
Metaphysics: A branch of philosophy that studies what is real and what exists, including questions about time, free will, and the nature of objects and persons.
Epistemology: A branch of philosophy that studies knowledge and belief: what it means to know something and how we can tell what is true.
Political philosophy: A branch of philosophy that studies power, justice, rights, and how societies and governments should be organized.
Philosophy of mind: A branch of philosophy that studies mind, consciousness, and their relation to the brain and behavior.

Key Terms

Ethics: The branch of philosophy that studies right and wrong, good and bad, and how we should act.
Philosophy: The careful use of reason to think about the biggest and most basic questions in life, such as what is real, what we should do, and what we can know.
Metaphysics: The branch of philosophy that studies what is real and what exists at the most basic level.
Epistemology: The branch of philosophy that studies knowledge and belief: what it means to know and how we can know.
Philosophy of mind: The branch of philosophy that studies mind, consciousness, and their relation to the brain and behavior.
Political philosophy: The branch of philosophy that studies power, justice, rights, and how societies and governments should be organized.
Philosophical question: A deep, general question that cannot be answered by simple facts alone and needs reasons and arguments.
Argument (in philosophy): A set of reasons given to support a claim or answer to a question, not a fight or shouting match.