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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Compilation of Islamic Philosophy and Theology [edited] Chapter One: What is Philosophy? This chapter tries to provide a definition of philosophy. Real universal sciences are often defined by their subjects. Thus, in order to define philosophy, we have to know its subject and for that purpose we have to know what the subject of science in general is.

In treating the subject of science, we start our discussion by comparing philosophy with other real universal science considering the variety of questions they discuss(the scope of their realm). The scope of philosophy To understand the range of philosophy, it is better to consider the following philosophical question: Is there a reality outside the mind? If there is, is it a knowable reality? I f so, what, essentially, is knowledge?

Is there a substance called a ‘corporeal body ‘or there are only corporeal accidents, such a colour, shape, heat and so on? If there is such a substance, is it compound or simple ?if it is compound , what is its simplest part? Do accidents have any existence other than the substance they characterize? Does God, that is a being who is the cause of all things but needless of any cause, exist? Doe God have attributes? if so , in what way do these attributes exist?

Are they identical with existence of God or different from it ? Are they limited or unlimited? Does spirit exist? If so, is it material or immaterial? What about angles? Is there life after death? What is movement and where does it occur? Does it occur only in the attribute and accidents possessed by bodies or it takes place in the depth of their existence as well? Do time and space exist? If so, what is their reality? Does the world have a temporal beginning and ending?

Does it have any spatially? Does an existent become non-existent or vice versa? Once an existent become nonexistent is it possible to bring it back into existence. These are a few of the issue discussed in philosophy. But a careful consideration of even these few questions will show how extensive the realm of philosophy is. It discusses both the mind and the external world. Its investigations range from the simplest parts of the body to spirit, angels and god.

It studies the accidents and the appearance and also the essence and the depth of things. It concerns itself with all that exists in the world and in the hereafter, from time without beginning to eternity without end.