Definition of Philosophy: Showkeen Bilal Ahmad Gul, Department of Education, Aligarh Muslim Unive

Definition of Philosophy By: Showkeen Bilal Ahmad Gul, Department of Education, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P (India) According to Showkeen Bilal Ahmad Gul, “Philosophy is the rational approach of solving unsettled or unsatisfied questions and redefining various entities of the universe in its own way” Description: Man is always curious to know: his origin, his aim, his relationship with god, his destiny etc. & this constant effort of man to understand reality may be termed as philosophy. It is an attempt to unfold life’s mysteries and find meaning in them. Hence it is called the Mother of all Arts and the Science of all Sciences. we can say that philosophy is a rational approach of answering unsettled questions and redefining various entities of the universe in its own way. It is a body of content which deals with the nature of reality (the metaphysical question); the nature, origin, methods, and limits of human intelligence (the epistemological question), the beliefs about values (the axiological question).

Nature of philosophy: 1. According to Plato, Philosophy finds its origin in wonder or curiosity created in the mind of man (this curiosity motivates him to think in diverse ways).

2. According to Descartes, Philosophy originated from the feeling of scepticism in the mind of man. (Man tries to discover proof to confirm his doubts).

3. Third view is that human mind is restless. It is always active in the search of truth and reality. When man faces miseries or difficulties in this world, he is shaken and he tries to find the ways and means to solve these problems.

4. Philosophy is systematic enquiry about the ultimate reality of the universe.

5. Philosophy is study of general principles & understanding of all that comes in the range of human experience.