What is philosophy?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Philosophy is the critical examination of the grounds for fundamental beliefs and analysis of the basic concepts employed in the expression of such beliefs. Britannica also defines philosophy as reflection on the varieties of human experience, or as the rational, methodical, and systematic consideration of the topics that are of greatest concern to mankind.” Or as the Greeks would call it: “love of wisdom”. Philosophy probes and asks probing questions, but can every question be reasoned? And even more important, who defines what the most important question is? I think that when it comes to your every day Joe, or Joanne, we decide for ourselves what the most important question is because philosophy is subjective; it is also cultural and exceedingly personal.
Philosophy, I’ve learned, touches every aspect of our lives and is very much reflective of who we are as human beings. The great philosophers throughout history deser...