The Value of Philosophy

Introduction: What Is Philosophy

The word “philosophy” has its roots in ancient Greek, derived from the combination of two ancient Greek words: philos (φίλος) and sophia (σοφία). Noting that philosophy in a modern context is a global conversation, not just a Western one, understanding the meanings of these individual words in the ancient Greek language can help shed light on the origin and essence of the term as it comes to us. This can also help us find our own words to express what philosophy means in our current moment.

Philos and sophia, simply translated, mean “love” and “wisdom,” respectively. So philosophy, loosely, is “the love of wisdom,” and the story of philosophy, in a way, is a love story—but what kind of love story? Why is it a love story rather than some other kind of story? Why is it not an adventure, or a comedy, or a tragedy? Perhaps if we look a little closer, we might find some insight that will help us understand.

The ancient Greek people had three different words for love. In the ancient Greek language, three distinct words were used to describe different forms of love: philos, eros, and agape. Each of these terms captured a unique aspect of love and carried its own significance in Greek philosophical and cultural contexts.

Philos means loving friendship. It represents the love between friends. It embodies a deep bond rooted in mutual affection, trust, and companionship. Philos love is characterized by loyalty, shared experiences, and a sense of camaraderie. It reflects the idea of reciprocal goodwill, where individuals genuinely care for and support one another. Philos love emphasizes the importance of friendship, community, and the interpersonal relationships that enrich our lives.

Eros (ἔρως) signifies passionate or romantic love. It encompasses desire, longing, and intense emotional connection. While Eros is often associated with the physical and sensual aspects of love, its meaning goes beyond mere physical attraction. It represents the profound yearning for union and the pursuit of beauty, in both a romantic and an aesthetic sense. Eros love encompasses the exhilaration and intensity that can arise from the pursuit of romantic relationships and the exploration of physical and emotional intimacy.

Agape (ἀγάπη) is a selfless, unconditional, and compassionate love. It is dutiful love, necessary love. It is the love of home, family, nature, and community. It transcends personal interests and desires and extends to all beings universally. Agape love is characterized by goodwill, empathy, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. It is often associated with acts of kindness, charity, and altruism. Agape love seeks to nurture and support the flourishing of others without expecting anything in return. It embodies a profound sense of empathy and compassion and a recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals.

These three types of love—philos, eros, and agape—offer different perspectives on the multifaceted nature of human connections. Philos emphasizes friendship and companionship. Eros signifies passionate and romantic love. Agape embodies a selfless and compassionate love that extends to all.

So again, philosophy is a combination of the words philos and sophia, meaning “the love of wisdom.” The Greek word philos can be translated as “love” but means, specifically, “the love of friendship.” In the context of philosophy, philos refers to the love or pursuit of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. It signifies an earnest desire to engage in intellectual inquiry, to seek truth, and to gain insight into the fundamental nature of reality and human existence. But why is it philos and not eros or agape? What is different about the love of friendship from romantic love or the love of family?

As we have mentioned, the second component, sophia, means “wisdom” in Greek. It encompasses a combination of knowledge, insight, understanding, and practical reasoning. Sophia is associated with the ability to discern and comprehend the fundamental truths or principles that underlie the world and human experience. It represents a deeper and more profound form of wisdom, beyond mere factual knowledge, emphasizing the pursuit of understanding and the search for profound truths.

The thing about wisdom, though, is that it doesn’t just happen on its own. Earning knowledge, insight, and understanding is a hard process. It requires choice—one must choose to question the world around them rather than merely going along accepting everything without critical thought. This aspect of wisdom, to the ancient Greeks, was most like the love of friendship.

People who have fallen in love will tell you that it is like being struck by lightning. I saw my beloved, and I was in love. Eros happens to you. Romantic love, when it strikes, is undeniable, and while it is the greatest and most desirable thing, true love is not a thing you get to choose. True love finds you, and it only exists if it is real.

Similarly, you don’t get to choose to be born. Agape love, the love of the world, or family, or home or country, is a love that you inherit as your birthright. You are born to a place, and that is the state of things. You are born to parents, and they are the only biological parents you get, like it or not. For the ancient Greeks, whether or not you incidentally love the country of your birth, or your bio-parents, or any other aspect of your person, agape love represents a kind of love that emanates from the fact of life itself. It is the love of the golden rule, of care for the environment and the human community. It is intensely noble and pure, but it does not come from free choice.

The philos of philosophy is appropriate because you choose your friends, and further, you choose good friends. Bad friends are not friends for long. When we grow, we choose new friends. We choose friends who help us, who help us grow into greater versions of ourselves. Combining philos and sophia, the word “philosophy” thus captures the essence of the loving, friendly pursuit of wisdom and the active choice of seeking knowledge and understanding. It reflects the fundamental drive of philosophers throughout history to explore the nature of reality, the principles of knowledge, the meaning of life, and the principles of ethics.

Philosophy is a broad and complex field of inquiry that seeks to understand fundamental aspects of human existence, knowledge, reality, ethics, and the nature of the universe. It explores deep questions about the nature of reality, the limits of human knowledge, the meaning of life, the principles of morality, the nature of consciousness, and much more.

At its core, philosophy involves critical and systematic thinking, analysis, and contemplation. It aims to investigate fundamental concepts, assumptions, and beliefs, often by engaging in rigorous reasoning and logical argumentation. Philosophy can be seen as both a theoretical discipline, which seeks to provide conceptual frameworks and theories, and a practical discipline, which explores how these ideas can be applied to everyday life.

Philosophy covers a wide range of subdisciplines or branches, many of which we explore in this textbook. These branches include epistemology (the study of knowledge and belief), metaphysics (the study of the fundamental nature of reality), philosophy of religion (understanding the meaning of life), philosophy of science and technology (the study of the nature and methods of science as well as understanding technology and tools), ethics (the study of moral principles and values), sociopolitical philosophy (the study of government and society), and aesthetics (the study of art and beauty), as well as many others.

Throughout history, philosophers have posed and debated fundamental questions, often challenging prevailing beliefs and assumptions. They have contributed to shaping our understanding of the world, human existence, and our place in it. Philosophy encourages critical thinking, reflection, and the exploration of different perspectives, ultimately aiming to deepen our understanding and promote intellectual inquiry.