What is a philosophical question?

Answer 1

Questions concerning human nature, what it means to be human, how we should live, who we are, what really is meant by these abstract concepts that are so important to humans(beauty, love, etc) and can we ever achieve them, how should we act, how should we treat each other, what is the nature of the universe, what is the nature of our culture and how does enculturation influence us, is there in fact any metaphysical existence.

They are essentially questions that try to get to the essence of existence.

Answer 2

Philosophy isn't a perfume.

It's a discipline with a very Textual history.
A well-formulated question presents a challenge to some aspect of a theory that we can analyze and assess. If you really want to pose it right, you should give at least a cursory gloss of the failings of the arguments leading up to your own.

Philosophy doesn't come out of thin air.
We can go in circles for days chasing the meaning of meaning, the truth of truth, the nature of nature. This is why they don't teach Ayn Rand in any philosophy department. It has no textual basis, addresses no arguments, attempts to solve all our problems with fantasy, straw men, pablam and is fundamentally unconvincing because of it.

Look at Eroticohio or hq3's Q&A-- I admit I'm a philosophical neophyte, but I realize philosophy isn't some loose conversation about the meaning of life over pizza. How many times does the "meaning of life" get asked? It's far TOO open-ended, it doesn't make sense, refers to nothing we can talk in detail about. It ends progress rather than helping it along.

It's all about the argument. Read Plato. Socrates would question the interlocutor about his theory, and after many articulations on what the theorist was saying, he would demonstrate a contradiction.

Philosophy lives in the argument, in the details, in logic and method. Logic isn't just "good reasoning", it Proves the conclusion with Certainity if the premises are true. There are many places where a philosopher may not have used the best reasoning, made a confusion, assumed a premise illegitamately-- and you can prove it using the most easily accesible informal logic.

Criticism isn't the only thing to philosophy, but positive theory takes work-- and if you're missing the history, the details and arguments, you're missing the point.

You wouldn't ask "Does the Earth's crust move on tectonic plates?" in the mathematics section, so why do we get stuck with all the theology questions, the social darwinism, the what's your favorite color? It's like asking an astrological question in the astronomy section. There might be s o m e common ground but it's not substantive, or you'll have to write a book to make the connection.

I realize the people here lack training, and are obviously curious-- and philosophy IS broad enough to explain alot of phenomena, but asking the right question takes critical contemplation to engage us in the right way.

For instance, though this question lacked added details, it may be one of the best questions I've encountered in a few days-- and I really don't care about points, I always express my perspective or go against what's given.

The best question I've asked, which notably was not well-formulated, was probably "If everyone believed there exists a purple dragon, would it be there?" It may seem ridiculous, but I was really trying to engage philosophers and lay people alike. I enjoyed the responses. I encountered reprobation, intrigue, and actual discussion.

Answer 3

I have to agree with Smiley, several posts up. There are "questions", which are about anything and everything, and then there are "philosophical questions." Philosophical discourse involves reason, logic, examination, etc. It is a systematic method of ascertaining the simplist, most likely answer. Its like asking "what is art". Well, it could be argued that most anything is "art." But its commonly accepted that art falls within certain established parameters. Too call everything art is to diminish Art, and to call every question "philosophy" does the same.
So I'd define a PQ as a clearly defined query that requires further reasoning to fully conclude.

Answer 4

I think a philosophical question is one in which preconcieved notions are challenged, where you have to think and analyze the possibilities. I understand philosophy has a disciplined background but I think that definition becomes too limiting. It excludes people who consider themselves less intellectual.

Answer 5

Asking about those things, actions and facts are not clear to understand easily..

Answer 6

Basically a question asking "why is this the way it is"?

Answer 7

an open ended question

Answer 8

I say ask deadphilosopher. He seems all fired up about it.

Answer 9

a question that has no one answer.

Like... Why are we here?
....What is our meaning in life?
Would you like fries with that?

Answer 10

IF.......?