We study history in high school and I hated it then but read and enjoy it now. But history is not just dates and events. To be understood it must be interpreted. The why and how did an event occur comes from this interpretation. The interpretation must then be directed by a philosophy. Therein is a weakness in our education system, perhaps a tragic weakness. So I posit that philosophy should also be studied in order that history may be interpreted. So what are the main branches of philosophy?
The two main branches of philosophy are metaphysics and epistemology.
Metaphysics concerns physical existence, everything from the universe to an atom. It would discuss questions like what does “table” mean? What differentiates a table from a chair or a bed?
Epistemology concerns thought itself and its extension, communication. Is the thought reasonable and/or logical? Will the words properly convey the thought? What thought is behind those spoken or written words?
Ethics is a third branch of philosophy. Is it a right or wrong action you are contemplating? Does it serve to destroy or enrich a good or evil effect? It rests on metaphysics and epistemology.
Esthetics is a fourth branch of philosophy. Is it beautiful or ugly and why? It also rests on epistemology and metaphysics.
Politics is the fifth and last major branch. It concerns man’s organization into a society and rests on ethics. “What is fair or ethical?” is a key question this branch of philosophy addresses.
Our ethics and politics in this country is built upon an Anglo-Saxon, Judaeo-Christian heritage, as opposed to Arabic-Islamic tradition.
If one were to discuss philosophies meaningfully to understand their consequences, a starting point might be the writings of Karl Marx on the one hand and Ayn Rand on the other.
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