Question: what are the five major characteristics of philosophy?
Answer: 1.) AREA. Foundation and Goal. ... 
Epistemology. What is knowledge? How do I know?
Metaphysics. What is real? What is eternal? ... 
Ethics. What is good? What ought I do?
2.) Attitude. Love of wisdom.
3.) method. Critical use of reason: meaning is more basic than truth.
4) Application. Self-examination.
5) System. World and life view.