In trying to find answers to these questions, lots of other problems arise, many of them fascinating in their own right. If you have ever asked questions like these, you have already started to do philosophy. The answers to the above questions cannot be found by laboratory work or observation alone. So philosophy involves drawing upon and going beyond, what the sciences tell us. The tradition of English-language philosophy emphasizes the use of reason, common sense and a sensitive awareness of contemporary culture in exploring ideas.
Philosophy is one of the world's oldest subjects of study.
In the sixteenth century, physics became a separate subject, and in the nineteenth century, psychology developed a separate identity from philosophy. Currently, new subjects are also emerging from work in philosophy. These include areas like Cognitive Science where philosophers, psychologists and computer scientists work with other experts to try to unravel the nature of intelligent systems and to understand thinking, speech and reasoning. Since it involves questions to which there are no easy answers, philosophy is sometimes confusing and frustrating. Yet the critical skills developed by philosophy can help with other subjects too and will help also in a wide range of careers.