Philosophy: Definition and Purpose
Ayn Rand
"Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology"

1. Definition

• Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of existence, of man, and of mans relationship to existence.
• Philosophy deals with those aspects of the universe which pertain to everything that exists.
• Science deals with only particular aspects of existence.
  
• The task of philosophy is to provide man with a comprehensive view of life.
• This view serves as a base, a frame of reference, for all of his actions, mental or physical, psychological or existential.
  
• This view provides him with the nature of the universe with which he has to deal (metaphysics);
  
• The means by which he is to deal with it i.e. the means of acquiring knowledge (epistemology);
  
• Epistemology is the foundation of philosophy; it is with epistemology that philosophy must begin.
  
• The standards by which he is to choose his goals and values, in regard to his own life and character (ethics)
• In regard to society (politics) ;
• the means of concretizing this view is given to him by (aesthetics.)

2. What is the Purpose of Philosophy

• how and why is it useful

• PHILOSOPHY IS
  
• the organizer of man's mind,
  
• the integrator of his knowledge
• the programmer of his self conconcious
• the selector of his values
• the foundation of science
• and therefore a necessity for a rational being:

• The task of philosophy is to provide man with a comprehensive view of life.
• The foundation of any culture, the source responsible for all of it's manifestations, is it's philosophy
  

• In order to live, man must act;
  
• in order to act he must make choices;
  
• in order to make choices he must define a code of values;
• in order to define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he is-that is the nature of the universe in which he acts-i.e. he needs metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, which means he needs philosophy.
  
• He cannot escape from this need;
  
• His only alternative is whether the philosophy guiding him is to be chosen by his mind or by chance.
• In the realm of cognition the sciences are the trees and philosophy is the soil.

1. what does philosophy include; what are the categories of Philosophy

• Metaphysics; The nature of the universe with which he has to deal
• Epistemology; The means by which he is to deal with the universe i.e. the means of acquiring knowledge
• Epistemology (what do you know and how do you know it) is the foundation of Philosophy
• Philosophy is the foundation for science
• Epistemology--->Philosophy--->Science---->Living a successful life as Man qua Man. Self Actualizing Man---> full potential.