Richard Golian

1995-born. Charles University alum. Head of Performance at Mixit. 10+ years in marketing and data.

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Richard Golian

Hi, I am Richard. On this blog, I share thoughts, personal stories — and what I am working on. I hope this article brings you some value.

What is Philosophy? What Did I Actually Study and Why?

Philosophy from Plato to phenomenology

By Richard Golian

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I’ll never forget my grandmother’s reaction when I told her I was pursuing philosophy for my master’s degree. She was bewildered, even disappointed. To her, philosophy seemed impractical, pointless. But to me, it made perfect sense. In an ever-changing world where fields of study rise and fall, philosophy stood out to me as something that had endured through the ages. It offered a timeless perspective.

When choosing a field that has stood the test of time, the options narrow: mathematics, physics, and philosophy. I’ve always admired certain aspects of mathematics and physics—concepts like the weak law of large numbers or the law of conservation of energy can profoundly shift one’s worldview. Yet, what transformed my perspective on life the most were certain branches of philosophy.

Philosophy’s first lesson is its own complexity. After thousands of years, humanity has yet to agree on its exact definition or boundaries. Is it the broad, rational exploration of the world, humanity, and their relationship, as seen in antiquity? Or is it the meticulous, language-focused analysis characteristic of 20th-century philosophy? For the sake of readability, I’ll simplify: philosophy is the love of wisdom.

The question of what philosophy is might be an excellent starting point for a newcomer to the field. However, I’ve reached a point where debating its definition feels less important. Philosophy, derived from Greek, translates to “love of wisdom.” Perhaps that’s the only definition it truly needs.

The journey of philosophy begins with an emotion

So, why study something with such ambiguous boundaries? Why devote myself to a discipline even its practitioners can’t define? The answer lies in curiosity—a curiosity sparked by reading works like Gorgias (Γοργίας) and The Defence of Socrates (Ἀπολογία Σωκράτους). If those texts awaken something in you, as they did in me, there’s no turning back. The opinions of others fade in the face of a lifelong pursuit of understanding.

Summary

I chose philosophy because it had endured through the ages. After reading Gorgias and The Defence of Socrates, there was no turning back. Philosophy's journey begins with an emotion — and that emotion matters more than any definition.
Richard Golian

If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.

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Common questions on this article's topic

What is philosophy?
Philosophy, from the Greek philosophia, means the love of wisdom. It is the systematic study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. Unlike sciences that investigate specific domains, philosophy examines the assumptions that underlie all other disciplines. The tradition spans from ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle through medieval, modern, and contemporary thought — making it one of the oldest continuous intellectual traditions in human history.
What are the main branches of philosophy?
The five classical branches are: metaphysics (the nature of reality and existence), epistemology (the nature and limits of knowledge), ethics (what is right and wrong), logic (the principles of valid reasoning), and aesthetics (the nature of beauty and art). Most philosophical questions fall into one of these categories. In the article, the focus is on epistemology and phenomenology — branches concerned with how we perceive and understand the world.
What is the Socratic method?
The Socratic method is a form of inquiry developed by Socrates (469–399 BC) in which questions are used to expose contradictions in a person's beliefs, stimulate critical thinking, and arrive at deeper understanding. Rather than lecturing, Socrates engaged in dialogue — preserved in Plato's works like Gorgias and the Apology. The method remains widely used in law schools, philosophy seminars, and critical thinking education. In the article, reading these dialogues is described as a transformative experience.
Is philosophy practical or purely academic?
Philosophy has significant practical applications. Applied ethics shapes medical, legal, and business decision-making. Epistemology informs how organisations evaluate evidence and make decisions under uncertainty. Phenomenological methods are used in qualitative research, user experience design, and consumer studies. In the article, philosophy is applied in marketing, managerial decision-making, and investing — focusing on how people perceive and interpret information in complex environments.
Why has philosophy endured for thousands of years?
Because the questions it asks — What can we know? What is just? What is a good life? — remain relevant regardless of technological or social change. In the article, philosophy is grouped with mathematics and physics as the three disciplines that have stood the test of time. While specific fields of study rise and fall, philosophy continues to provide frameworks for thinking about problems that no other discipline fully addresses.