What is philosophy?

"What's the use if the ocean has plenty of water we could bring home only what little we could " This is philosophical . Some are of opinion that philosophy is a language that only intelligent can speak & understand & ordinary can't. Such people appreciate it. And there are others who despise it too. It is also heard philosophy is one that one who couldn't do anything speak.Positive thinking gives rise to positive philosophy & negative thinking gives rise to negative philosophy.

What is philosophy ? Philosophy is an academic discipline that exercises reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer fundamental questions about knowledge, life, morality and human nature. The term “philosophy” means the love of wisdom, and those that study philosophy attempt to gain knowledge through rationality & reason. Every lesson in life is a product of philosophy.Philosophy doesn't emanate easily it emanates from the depth of life's experiences. Philosophy is one of the basic necessities of life. The words or concepts sin, just , happiness, sorrow, heaven,hell, truth, reality & wisdom etc find place in philosophy.They develop awe, comfort, satisfaction and such other feelings in man.One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes. .... The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven.One who couldn't do anything often talks philosophy. Those who talk philosophy come together.All are free to talk philosophy. But all cannot talk philosophy . Philosophy must be practical.

Philosophy is a school of thought .It's a thinking which one stands for or advocates .It's a common sense which man would have gradually . Preaching is always easy . Practising is always difficult . Philosophy too is easy to proclaim but difficult to practice. It's difficult and deserves undivided attention. Philosophy is not a collection of catchy phrases or our personal world views. Philosophy depicts both good & bad. Poet William Blake rightly questions in his poem " The Tyger" Did he who made the lamb make thee.

There are countless philosophical sayings . Here are some of them. Philosophy is good to listen.

Isaac Asimov says

"It has been my philosophy of life that difficulties vanish when faced boldly "

"Holding on to anger is like drinking poison & expecting the other person to die. " --- says Buddha

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi says

"Life is not a struggle ,not a tension, Life is bliss . It is eternal existence "

Many philosophy questions are easy to understand but difficult to resolve.But thinking about them systematically & clearly can help us improve our critical thinking, and gain a better understanding of ourselves and the world.

No one is born philosophical. One becomes philosophical step by step as they lead their life.Life teaches more philosophy than a school. In world countless talk philosophy. Philosophy is not talking big only. One needn't be a saint or a renouncer to talk philosophy. It's talking truth. It is talking facts. It is not a language of disappointed & disgruntled. It is language of learned to layman too.Experienced knowledgeable persons speak philosophy.Those who couldn't do anything also speak philosophy. Those who have undergone failures speak philosophy. Old people generally also speak philosophy. Rich, poor,educated, uneducated and all speak philosophy .Philosophy is said to be a science of convenience too.What is there in life ? One who is born has to die one day. Nothing is permanent. This is a philosophical saying . When a man would become philosophical it could n't be said at all. Some talk philosophy but don't practice it at all. Many people today would say that philosophy is useless in our scientific world, yet nothing can be further from the truth. If anything, we need it is philosophy now more than ever. It is needed for the following reasons.

To think, speak, and write clearly and critically,

To communicate effectively,

To form original, creative solutions to problems,

To develop reasoned arguments for one’s views,

To appreciate views different from one’s own,

To analyse complex material, and

To investigate difficult questions in a systematic fashion.

Philosophy develops one into thoughtful, responsible citizen who can participate in the governance of a democratic society. Successful democracies need well-informed, thoughtful, rational people as citizens. The habits of mind that come from studying philosophy can be very useful in this regard.

Nobody need teach us philosophy. Life teaches us philosophy. Life develops philosophy in us. Life is philosophy . Philosophy is life. Even depressed dejected people often talk philosophy.They say there is nothing in life .Everywhere there is gloom gloom only. We have to understand a man to understand his philosophy.Where is no philosophy ? It is in movies. It is in religion . One hero sings in a film " Earth is as long as we breath our last . Wife is up to door step and son is up to burial ground. Who is up to the end ? Puradhara Dasa , a great devotee of God sings " Nobody is for nobody in this leased life . Bubble on water is not at all true. " Philosophy covers all aspects of life. Shakespeare says "Dost thou think thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale " How beautiful Edward Fitzgerald poems are. They talk only philosophy. Fitzgerald says "Unborn TOMORROW, and dead YESTERDAY,

Why fret about them if TODAY be sweet! World is full of philosophy.

Philosophy of everyone is not the same. It differs from person to person. Life makes one philosophical .Rigor of life makes one talk philosophy . Philosophy of rich is different and philosophy poor is different. Let me only prosper is philosophy of some people . Let all prosper is philosophy of some people. It doesn't matter if we don't prosper let them don't prosper at all is philosophy of some people.Philosophy works or influences some only. It doesn't work or influence some at all. Some doesn't listen to others philosophy at all.

It is under philosophy only one takes refuge in times of need. It is it that gives one comfort when they are mowed down in life. Philosophy is a comforter in life. It is good days would arrive soon. " It is Acche Din Ayega" . It gives rise to optimism It is truth only. Nobody can deny it. Philosophy helps to bear anything in life. It is a friend in need. Anything can be interpreted philosophically . Philosophy keeps one calm & cool. It is philosophy which doesn't allow a man to run away from life. It says "Live & achieve victory" Even when a person does a wrong or a mistake he makes use of philosophy to defend himself. He says to err is human.

Philosophy makes one wise. It enables one read between the lines . Here is a story -" Lessons on Life ".which I came across in web.

There was a man who had four sons.He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly . So he sent them each on a quest, in turn ,to go and look at a pear tree that was at a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter , the second in the spring , the third son in summer and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and comeback ,he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent ,and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise .

The third son disagreed ; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen .

The last one disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit,full of life and fulfilment.

The man explained to his sons that they were all right because they had each seen only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree ,or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure , joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end ,when all the seasons are up .

If you give up when it is winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer , fulfilment of your fall.

Moral Lessons

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don't judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through difficult patches and better times sure to come some time or later.