The meaning of philosophy is a very complicated issue and can mean many different things. It starts with trying to provide many different explanations to problems that may otherwise have no other answer. Philosophy also tries to fill the void that sometimes science leaves behind it in trying to answer everything in an empirical way. I was raised in Turkey with an Islamic background through which many questions have been brought before me in this life; but at the same time there are many answers that are already given. Therefore the meaning of philosophy to me can both help to answer the questions that my religion and culture have been unable to while also clarifying. It also helps me to better understand those that are already explained. In a sense, philosophy to me is like a tool that spur one towards understanding and explanation, while sparking thought in a mind on issues that may otherwise go un-addressed. These are all philosophical issues because they call into question the nature of knowledge while also asking metaphysical explanations on issues of religion and the universe. They ask the person to take the freedom of thought that one is given and explore issues with the thought and reason that each is
But the main thing that the meaning of philosophy is to me is that each person can use his or her experience to try and gain a different understanding of the world. It is not necessary to have an educated philosopher give all the explanations for everything, every person with his or her experience in life can in some sense become a philosopher in his or her own right. The understanding and explanation that is philosophy therefore can mean as much coming from experience than from anything else. This is a main part of philosophy for me. However this can go both ways also for people can gain a higher understanding of value of the world, or even gain a lower understanding. Two examples will help to spell this example out.
At the same time, philosophy is an effective tool for helping people to understand the world around them. There are many things that may seem apparent to people, but philosophy helps to give them a better understanding and explanation. For example, every person realizes that people think and have the ability to figure things out with the mind. The question can be however that why is this possible? Philosophy to me is the way to clear up such an issue for it can foster people’s ability to come to a better understanding of just how valuable thought can be. Therefore philosophy can have a true meaning of trying to make people come to an understanding of what his or her thought is.
Therefore these are the issues that make up the meaning of philosophy for me. Philosophy can first help to try and give explanations to certain things in the world that may otherwise go unanswered. At the same time it is the effective combination of thought and experience to come up with these explanations. In this sense, I believe anyone can become a philosopher and express his or her views on the world based on his or