Philosophers pursue questions in every dimension of human life, and their techniques apply to problems in every field of study and endeavor. The broadest subfields of philosophy are most commonly taken to be Logic , Ethics , Metaphysics , Epistemology , and the History of Philosophy . The study of logic helps us see what we are committed to when we take a view, and to avoid adopting beliefs for which we lack adequate reasons. Metaphysics seeks basic criteria for determining what sorts of things are real.
Epistemology concerns the nature and scope of knowledge.
The History of Philosophy studies both major philosophers and entire periods in the development of philosophy, such as the Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Nineteenth Century, and Twentieth Century periods. It seeks to understand great figures, their influence on others, and their importance for contemporary issues. The history of philosophy in a single nation is often separately studied, as in the case of American Philosophy. So are major movements within a nation, such as British Empiricism or German Idealism, as well as international movements with a substantial history, such as existentialism and phenomenology. Copyright 1995, University of Regina.