Most thoughtful people encounter, at some time in their lives, a question or a problem that captivates them at the same time that it seems insoluble. They are questions like these: Is there a way for people to live together with peace and justice? Can I ever be sure that I understand something or someone? Is the thing that I want to do also the right thing for me to do? Is the world made up of the things that I am familiar with, or is there something more to reality? What is the value of art? What makes a mind different from a body? Are scientific theories true or are they just the creations of scientists?

These are interesting questions, but once questions such as these have been asked, most people do not know how to go about answering them. Philosophers have a way of dealing with such questions that is rewarding and engaging. Aristotle, one of the greatest of all philosophers, said "Philosophy begins in wonder." Aristotle's teacher, Plato, said "Philosophy meets the test of critical discussion." These two quotations give us the essence of philosophy. Philosophers wonder about matters that most people either ignore or take for granted. But their wondering is structured, reasoned and careful - it is wondering with a purpose, and that purpose is rational understanding.

Studying philosophy is a path toward such understanding. It is a way to clarify core beliefs, to understand them fully, to recognize when a path is a dead end, and - most importantly - it is learning how to defend the beliefs that we have. Philosophical problems arise in every endeavor - they are problems that have been felt by men and women in all cultures and at all tunes in human history. So even if you have decided to study chemistry or art or economics, philosophy can be of use to you. If you are the sort of person who asks "Why is it this way?" - if simply learning the facts about a subject is never quite enough for you, then in philosophy you may find a second academic home. Philosophy helps you to think logically, to solve problems reasonably and to express yourself precisely. It also helps you to clarify your ideas and can help you highlight - and critically assess - the important concepts in any subject. This is one reason that philosophy is often a second major, or a minor, for people who choose another discipline.