What makes philosophy original ?

Question

I mean, compared to other sciences for example (sociology, theology...)
If you have suggestions of books I could read as far as my question is concerned, I would appreciate as well.
Thanks

Answer 1

Philosophy is the only discipline that examines the basis of other disciplines. In a way it is the original in that it had to form the basis of it's own discipline

Answer 2

Philosophy was well as sociology and other sciences tries to understand the world around us, in different ways and different terms. Philosophy is more interested in human nature and the way we perceive and interact with the world and people around us. There are similarities between this and sociology etc., in that they are both concerned with humans, but the approach is different: sociology (being quite modern in relative terms) is more about looking at statistics and patterns and fitting those to a theory, rather than getting into the mindset of individual people, or looking at the world in different ways. Theology is the study of different religions, which can tell us about the mindset of different peoples, and explain some of the reasons why they view the world and life in those ways. But these disciplines are all distinct. If you'd like to know more about Philosophy, a good introduction for you would be to read "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder. It outlines the ideas of the different philosophical schools of thought, shows the differences between religion and philosophy, and helps the reader get their head around the nature of Philosophical thought.

Best of luck in your exploration of Philosophy!!

Answer 3

Thank you rollo for defining original.

Anyway, on to the philosophy. It is an interesting question, and I think you probably need to see ways in which philosophies have been combine together and see the ways that the contradictions between them have been resolved. In resolving the disagreements, a new philosophy can be the result. As an example, Marxism could be seen as the resolution of contradictions between a Hegelian philosophy and classical economic theory (Adam Smith, Ricardo etc).

I don't see, though, how philosophy can be seen as a science, but that is a whole other debate. The relationship between the purely philosophical realm (pure thought) and the empirical world is a huge area of debate. If you see philosophy as abstract theorizing, then it is quite difficult to perceive of an origonal thought. If, though, you take a more empirical stance, you could argue that the interpretation of the material world can always provide new philosophical insight, as the world is changing all the time.

Answer 4

The philosophy and religion are useless if they can't stop us from the circle of birth and death. The philosophy is original always when an avatar (an incarnation of God or a representative ) come to the Earth and preach accordingly with the time and circumstance . I have been read many books by Swami Prabhupada and practise the instructions on it for about 14 years. It is great: "Life come from life", "Perfect Questions, perfect Answers", "Srimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is".

Answer 5

Philosophy, like other sciences, is based upon logic. Now, there are many perspectives on a logical basis. But all perspectives on one thing, in their own aspirations, equal the same thing. However within the time given, when a problem solver does not detect the full scheme of all properties within a perspective(s), he/she may find aspects of the equation to be different. Thus, a sense of originality ensues. The observationalistic entity(s) of the problem will further react to this gap, to cycle the anomolay once more.

Answer 6

I would imagine you might consider it to be 'original' because you have not previously studied it. However, it lies at the heart of everything we do or study, because even the attitudes of science and scientists are shaped by the view they hold as to the meaning of the universe and the role we play in it, both individually and en masse.
Would recommend a book that will give you the basics - start with an Idiot's Guide from Amazon - I've pasted a link below.

Answer 7

There is a saying that applies to artists,however it can apply to any and all disciplines,'It has all been done before' there is nothing new,
the response is ''it may have been done before ,but not by me''
the originator of thought is the applier of those thoughts you may apply the same thought as me, but get a different answer,ergo it becomes an original extrapolation,when modified the same conclusion are applied into a theory or idea or indeed a philosophy.
Sophie's choice an excellent book to get the brain cells working. LF

Answer 8

All I can say is that Philosophy differs from other sciences because of the variation on ideas not dependant on the scientific proofs ie " The theory of relativity etc". Unlike theology philosophy is not dependant on the god head.
break down the word philo-sophy and the last segment spells sophy or Sophia the goddess of wisdom.

Answer 9

The best book you could read is Sophies World by Jostein Gaarder. Philosophy is original because it is new to you.

Answer 10

My DASHING philosophy teacher, Timmy W.