Philosophy and the Real World

Philosophy is the art of critical thinking and approach to life that can act as a compass and tool to navigate life. It is the discipline that involves the creation of concepts that broaden our intellectual horizons. Modern culture may view philosophy as pointless musings perhaps without a purpose. But the study of philosophy can result in skills and thought patterns which can help you in a myriad of ways that can’t simply be learning through study and school curriculum.

1. Deepen awareness of your experiences in and around you by forcing one to consider alternative perspectives, especially those often left out of conversations
2. Sharpens analytics skills through constant thought about how our world operates in a multitude of ways that can’t be defined through a singular lens.
3. Reading comprehension due to readings and verbiage that may be unfamiliar to students and what they are used to.
4. Logic and Argumentation as well as reasoning (Trickey and Topping 2004)
5. Improved performance on cognitive exams (Frederick 2005)
6. Improved emotional growth and positive self-esteem, cultivating compassion and empathy (Millett and Tapper 2012, Mohr Lone and Burroughs 2015, Trickey and Topping 2005)
7. Improved learning capability as students truly engage actively in the learning process (Fredericks, Blumenfeld, and Paris 2004)
8. Problem-solving and more informed decision making through an analytical frame
9. Build character and strength

And lastly, an openness to new and divergent thoughts and ideas that is needed in the status quo as political and philosophical dogma continues to divide our world. Philosophy allows that no idea or concept is too abstract or far-fetched. It truly is an area of study that promotes the free flow of information and thought that we hope will open up students and allow them to form their own, personal interpretations of how the world functions. It can help us narrow our focus and at same time broaden our view.

The philosophy of religion concerns alternate concepts of God, religious significance of nature, and the themes that underpin many religious traditions. While philosophy and religion may seem inconsistent with each other (since philosophy is often associated with rational thought and logic while religion is thought as supernatural beliefs in unexplainable powers or beings), they form the basis of one another in many different theories. Religion is constructed via philosophical understandings, and philosophies may have religious aspects that form their foundation. To demonstrate this point, here are a few examples of the multitude of ideologies that demonstrate the convergence of religion and philosophy. For more information on religion and philosophy, read here.

The philosophy of film analyzes the theoretical foundations of the appearances set forth, whether it be their hidden messages, appeal, or general aesthetic. This plays out in a variety of ways, but many film theorists are concerned with the difference between appearance and reality, which can be portrayed and depicted in any way the film director yearns for. Film is said not to be a thesis of the world; instead it presents the world through its lens, sometimes generating criticism from the audience (think about Fake News!). Here are some different areas of study in the Film and Philosophical Realm.

Rather than simply critique art, a philosopher of art attempts to determine the meaning of concepts such as expressivity and representation, providing conceptual foundations that art critics and the general public can utilize. The philosophy of art can be closely linked to aesthetics, or the philosophical study of beauty and taste. Oftentimes, artists may use their painting as a medium to communicate philosophical messages to their audience, demonstrating how art and philosophy can intersect under the wishes of the artists. Here are a few examples of art and philosophy constituting one another.

The Enlightenment was an intellectual, philosophical, and cultural movement during the 18th century that emphasized reason and science over the popular concepts of superstition. It emerged primarily in response to the monarchical powers of Europe, most notably Louis XIV of France. They challenged traditional views of institutions like the Church and the government to move towards emphasizing individual liberties and rights, rationalism (humans are capable of using their reason to gain knowledge), empiricism (knowledge comes from experience and observation of the world), and progressivism (humans can make progress through reason and observation). Click here to read more.

Sports and Philosophy have many intersections that can be easy to miss. Most notably, all sports require ethical guidelines and honor in order for them to run smoothly. Philosophy seeks to highlight the ethical dimensions of sport that inform how it is played, won, and taken advantage of. Below are just a few common examples of various practices and the role philosophy plays in each one of them. Click here to read more.

The title of this section is misleading; philosophy in of itself is creative. No matter whether its pure rationality or logic, this love for wisdom that characterizes philosophical study is defined by pushing the boundaries of what was thought to be possible. When engaging in philosophy, which happens in many aspects of your life, you are concocting original ideas and synthesizing others together to come to your own conclusions. The information below will serve as a stimulus to get you thinking about your values and ideals in life so that you can formulate your own creative philosophy. Click here to read more.