Article: An important part of philosophy is the investigation and analysis of the world. Put differently, a central task of philosophy is finding ways to define and describe the fundamental structures and patterns of life, often by breaking them down into smaller component parts. There is no single, superior method of investigation, so you will need to develop an approach that is both intellectually rigorous and compelling to you. The decisions you'll be making in this stage involve what sorts questions you'll be asking or relationships you'll be exploring. Are you interested in the human condition? Political arrangements? Relationships between concepts, or between words and concepts? Different areas of focus may lead you to different approaches to asking questions and forming theories. Your reading of other philosophical works will help you make these determinations by exposing you to the ways others have approached philosophy in the past. For example, some philosophers only trust their minds and logic, and not the senses, which may at times deceive us. Descartes, one of the most respected philosophers in history, was one who took this approach. By contrast, others use their own first-person observations of the world around them as the basis for investigations into the nature of consciousness. These are two very different but equally valid approaches to philosophizing. If you can, it's great to be the source of your own investigation. Since you're always available to yourself, any line of investigation about yourself (and there can be many) allows you to always make some progress. Consider the basis for what you believe. Why do you believe what you believe? Start from scratch and interrogate your reasoning. Wherever you decide to focus your inquiry, try to be systematic in your thinking. Be logical and consistent. Engage in comparison and contrast, take things apart mentally to try to understand how they work, ask what would happen if two things were combined (synthesis), or if something was removed from a process or relationship (deletion). Keep asking these questions in different circumstances. There are 4 domains to help you think: convergent awareness (all existing understandings - your investigations will start here), critical thinking (logic and deduction), creative thinking (induction and extrapolation), and divergent thinking (free association and brainstorming). These strategies progress from what is known to what you wish to discover by increasing the cognitive window, and as such, are very powerful reflective tools. Write down what you think about the subjects of your inquiry, including ideas you think you shouldn't write down (possibly because you think others may think they are stupid). While you may not be arriving at any striking conclusions, you will be exposing your own assumptions to yourself. You will probably marvel at how silly some of your assumptions can be, and in the process you will mature. If you don't know where to begin you can start with questions that other philosophers have explored before, such as how one should treat the existence of god, or whether we have free will or are controlled by fate. The true power of philosophy lies in the continuity of thought that you'll be maintaining in your writing. As you investigate a concern, a single entry may do little on its own, but as you return to that concern throughout the day(s), the different circumstances you encounter in a day will allow you to bring fresh insights to your investigation. It is this cumulative power of thought that will bring you to those 'Eureka!' moments. As you write, you should begin to develop your own philosophical perspective, arriving logical and well-considered ideas about life and the world. It is common for philosophers to adopt a perspective over time, especially about a specific issue. These are frameworks, patterns of thought. Many of the greatest philosophers have developed such frameworks. At the same time, remember to examine each issue with a critical eye. The central task that underlies the effort of the philosopher is that of model development. Whether we're aware of it or not, each of us has an abductive model of reality that is constantly modified to fit our observations. We can employ deductive reasoning (e.g. "given the existence of gravity, the stone is obviously going to fall when I let it go"), and inductive reasoning (e.g. "I've seen that weather pattern many times; I'll bet it'll rain again") to create this model of successive approximations. The process of developing a philosophical theory is the process of making these models explicit and scrutinizing them. Through several drafts, you should organize your ideas more formally and let others read your work. You can ask friends, relatives, teachers, or classmates to offer some thoughts on your work, or you can post your writings online (through a website, a blog, or a message board) and look for responses there. Be prepared to receive criticism, and use it to improve your own ideas. Always remember to analyze the evidence presented in order to find understanding, and let the perspectives and critiques of others help you expand your own thinking. Be wary of criticisms that show little or no signs of thoughtful exchange (e.g. that your premise was understood, or even read). Such critics have assumed that they are thinkers without actually accepting the philosophical discipline presented here, but still feel they are entitled to philosophical consideration. Such 'debates' will go on fruitlessly and ad nausea. After you receive feedback from your readers, rewrite again, incorporating any feedback you find useful.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Develop an approach to investigation and practice it. Start writing down your ideas. Develop a philosophy of life. Rewrite and get feedback.
Article: Good foods you may want to consider adding or substituting into your diet are as follow: Good protein sources include skinless chicken breast, ground turkey, bison, egg whites, Greek yogurt, and tofu. Good fat sources include almonds, peanuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, fish, egg yolks, and olive oil. Good carbohydrate sources include unprocessed carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, fruit, oatmeal, bran, wheat germ, Bulgarian wheat, beans, and vegetables. Highly processed foods include bread, pastries, pasta, fast food, and frozen prepared meals. The reason for avoiding processed food is threefold: First, processed food is usually high in calories and low in nutrients. Second, processed carbohydrates usually have high glycemic indexes, which means they cause insulin spikes that can promote weight gain - not what you want when trying to lose body fat. Third, processed food usually does not contain much fiber, which can leave you feeling hungry. It helps to diet with the people you live with. It is easier to eat clean if you are not surrounded by temptation and bad influences. Try to enlist family and roommates to join your diet. Do yourself a favor and throw out any junk food in your house. It is easier to stay on your diet if tempting junk food is not in easy reach. Go to the store and stock up on the food you need for your diet, lean proteins, vegetables and complex carbohydrates. Spread your calories out throughout the day. Consider eating 5-6 small meals a day instead of just three. Also make sure to eat breakfast when you first wake up. Drink water with and between meals. This will help you feel fuller while dieting. The only way to make this diet work is to follow it. The only way you know you are following this diet, is if you record everything you eat or drink. This includes recording accurate portion sizes. Do not estimate portion sizes; use measuring cups/spoons, or better yet weight everything.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Incorporate good foods into your diet. Cut out highly processed foods. Enlist family/roommates. Clean your kitchen. Go grocery shopping. Eat frequent, small meals. Drink water. Record everything.