Chapter 12. CONCLUSION

Last Issues

In this last module we are to examine the nature of Philosophy itself.  This topic "What is Philosophy?" is one of the Issues in Philosophy.  It is one of the perennial questions.  Philosophy is the only discipline of thought in which to ask "What is Philosophy?" remains a questions within the discipline.  For example if you were to ask, "What is Biology?" the attempt to answer that question is not an activity that is part of biology itself.  the answering of the question "What is Biology?" does not involve the study of life.  Likewise, asking and answering the questions: "What is Poetry?" or "What is geometry?" are not activities that are themselves either poetry or geometry.  Only Philosophy has an examination of its own nature as part of its own discipline. 

In the next  and last section I shall offer my views of the topic of Philosophy.  I shall present and explicate the following notion of what Philosophy is and something of its value. 

Philosophy is the most critical and comprehensive manner of thinking devised by human beings.

Before going to my own concluding thoughts on the nature and future of Philosophy you might want to listen to some mildly amusing comments on and about Philosophy by the actor and comedian, John Cleese.  They are available at the site for the Philosophy Department at the SUNY at Freedonia: http://www.fredonia.edu/department/Philosophy/cleese.html

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© Copyright Philip A. Pecorino 2000. All Rights reserved.  Web Surfer's Caveat: These are class notes, intended to comment on readings and amplify class discussion. They should be read as such. They are not intended for publication or general distribution.