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hatIsPhilosophy?

whowishestodefineorknowthemeaningofphilosophy,toalwayswaitfor

ordefinitions.Thissectionfocusesonthedifferentconceptionsordefinitions

Youneedtoknowfromtheoutsetthat:Theterm“Philosophy”lendsitselfto

ofthedisciplinefromvariousgroupsorindividual’sperspective.Thisbegins

wehaveseenfromhistoryisthateachphilosopherdefinesphilosophyfrom

manyinterpretations,thustheanswertothisthree-wordquestionisnotas

Thisisinanotherwordcalledthepopularconceptionofphilosophy.Inthis

acceptabletoeveryphilosopher.Unlikeotherdisciplinessuchaseconomics,

fromprofessionalstothelaymanandby‘layman’Imeantheaverageman

3.2.1Under-labourerConception

latterinthecauseofhisorherstudyingphilosophy.Sometimes,itisoften

‘conceptions’and‘misconceptions’,understandingandmisunderstandingof

hisorherperspectiveorthateachphilosopherdefinesphilosophybasedon

philosophy.

fundamentalissuesthatbordersonhumanexistence.

forwarddefinitionoftheirrespectivediscipline,thisisnotpossiblewith

practicesomethingbeforeyouexplainorunderstandit.Forinstance,

philosophizingandtophilosophizeistowonderaboutlifeandaboutthe

bethereasonwhyBodunrin(1981:12)advisesanewcomerintophilosopher,

arguedthatyoudefinephilosophybydoingphilosophy.Although,this

remainspartial.Whatyoushouldalwayshaveinmindisthatwhenastudent

philosophy.Becauseofthis,thedisciplinehasbeengivenvariousmeanings

history,politicalscience,biologyetc.wherestudentscangiveastraight

disciplinenoonephilosophercandefinephilosophyinawaythatwillbe

whatheorsheperceivesasthecentralproblem(s)orwhatwemaycallthe

Thereisnosuchthingastheexactorunivocaldefinitionofphilosophy.What

approachmaynotbecorrect,because,itisnotinallcasesthatyouneedto

in-the-street

subjectmatterofphilosophy.Sincetherearemanyproblemsorissuesthat

beforeheexplainsorunderstandsit.Ifheistoldthattheonlywaytodefine

definephilosophyistoexposeyoutotherigoursofdeepphilosophizing,this

3.2TheVariousConceptionsofPhilosophy

simpleasitlooksorsounds.And,becauseofthecriticalnatureofthe

philosophygrappleswith,therearemanydefinitionsofphilosophy.Thismay

Theproblemwithadefinitionofphilosophyalsoarisesduetothevarious

oneashewouldhavetosettleforoneorachievethisbyhimselforherself

ofphilosophyasksaquestion“whatisPhilosophy”hehasstarted

someoneinterestedinthedefinitionofdeathdoesnotnecessarilyneedtodie

sense,thewordphilosophyisoftenusedtocharacterizeapersonoragroup

deathistodiefirst,heislikelytogiveuptheattempt.Evenifthebestwayto

ofpersons'attitudetolife.Attitudeheremeansthegeneralpatternorthe