Western Philosophy

In the west, philosophy (phile - love + sophus - wise) means love for wisdom. The origin of western philosophy can be ascribed to the curiosity to know the external world. The ancient philosophers were amazed at various seemingly unrelated natural phenomena and were anxious to explain the reality behind them. In due course of time as this explanation came of age, it has begetted various branches to philosophy as follows:

1. Metaphysics: It is the study of reality in its true sense. Under this we study existence, time and space, the relationship between mind and body, objects and their properties, whole and their parts, events, processes and causation. Metaphysics can be divided into cosmology, the study of the universe in its wholeness and ontology, the study of being.
2. Epistemology: It is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge. Under this we study the sources as well as the limitation of knowledge. So the objects of study here are the relationships between truth, belief and theory of justification.
3. Logic: It deals with the principle of correct reasoning. Here we have two types of reasoning, deductive and inductive. In deductive reasoning we start with the general and reach the particular and in inductive reasoning we do the just opposite, that is we start with the particular and reach the general.
4. Ethics: Here, the concepts of right and wrong conduct are studied and moral behaviour of human beings is brooded over.
5. Aesthetics: Under this branch of philosophy we study beauty, art, enjoyment, sensory emotional values, perception and matters of taste and sentiment.