The Six Branches of Philosophy Essay

Words: 3874
Pages: 16

Metaphysics
1. What is real?
Do any of us really know for sure what is real and what is not? A few years ago I read a book, although the name of it escapes me, that really had me thinking. “Is this life real or are we dreaming? I wondered if what we’re doing is dreaming and if our dreams are actually our reality.
2. Is the physical world more or less real than the spiritual or psychological world?
I believe it is all real. The physical world of course is real, how else would we feel pain? Love? Happiness? And the spiritual world is just as real as this world, we just can’t see it. There are too many unexplained things that happen to not believe in the spiritual world. For instance, one year my family and I sat down to

A virtuous action is only virtuous if you set out to do to the action to help someone else. If you set out on the path to do a virtuous act only because you want something from it, then it is in fact not a virtuous act, it is a selfish act.
5. How does living in a society affect morality?
I believe that living in a society affects our morality only if we let it. If you are in a crowd and they are doing something that you know isn’t the right thing to do, then you have a choice, you can either leave or join in. It just depends on the person who has to make that choice. Most of us would think twice and turn around and leave for fear of being caught and not wanting to get into trouble.
There are those though that wouldn’t think twice about joining in, even if it is something that they wouldn’t ordinarily do if they were alone. Because they want to live on what they think “the edge” is. They like the thrill of danger.
6. Is morality culturally based, individually based, or is there a universal morality?
I think that morality is actually individually based, because you see people everyday cheating on tests or their spouse and in today’s society it is more common and people don’t seem to be bothered by it anymore.
For example, I have a friend who is dating/sleeping with a man who happens to be married and she doesn’t see anything wrong with it. But for me, I see it as just absolutely wrong. I believe that no matter what, if someone