Here I offer a perspective of what Philosophy itself is and what it isn't. We'll begin with what it isn't and endeavor to dissipate some normal false impressions and abuses of the word.
Philosophy isn't a "Lifestyle". Each individual does not have his or her own "Philosophy". Philosophy isn't just a hypothesis about something. Nor is Philosophy a conviction or a desire. Philosophy is a movement: a journey after insight. Philosophy is an action of thought. Reasoning is a specific one of a kind sort of thought or style of considering. Philosophy isn't to be mistaken for its item. What a philosopher gives is a group of philosophic ideas NOT a Philosophy. A philosopher enacts a Philosophy, a journey after wisdom.
Philosophy isn't a picking and choosing what assortment of thoughts one might want to call one's own or might want to have faith in; a decision in view of individual inclinations or emotions. Philosophy is an interest. One can be philosophical. One can be a philosopher. One can NOT pick a Philosophy. Philosophy, seeing that it might be associated at all to a "lifestyle", is a type of intuition intended to manage activity or to recommend a lifestyle. The scholarly lifestyle, if there is one, is shown in an existence in which activity is held to be best coordinated when philosophical reflections has given that bearing; e.g., SOCRATES the worldview of a savant.
