Branches of Philosophy

The 5 Branches of Philosophy

Healthcare is considered one of the backbones of our society and is integrated into every aspect of our lives. When talking about different areas healthcare, we can use philosophy to better understand the basic principles involved in healthcare. Philosophy can be divided into five different branches; metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, politics, and esthetics. These five branches show the different perspectives of healthcare to better understand how the related to one another.

Philosophy and healthcare can be related using the example of female circumcision. While female circumcision is a practice and ritual that is very common in many societies, it is viewed on the opposite spectrum here in the United States. The use of philosophy allows an individual to see female circumcision for what it is and from a more unbiased position.

Metaphysics is the study of existence, and asks the question, "What is out there?" There are probably many people in the United States that have not heard of female circumcision, and if it wasn't for the recent media interest on the topic in the last few years I would be one of those people. But it is out there, and the study of philosophy allows that to be known. If philosophy did not exist, there would be no known knowledge of other cultures and more ignorance would exist. By widening our existing knowledge and looking to different cultures, people are able to learn new things outside of the things that exist in their daily lives. Philosophy helps open peoples eyes to what is truly out there.

Epistemology is the study of knowledge, and asks the question, "How do I know about it?" The knowledge of female circumcision exists because of the pure wonders of human nature. Human beings are innately born with the need for knowledge and are interested in learning as much as they can. By looking out to different societies, new ways of doing things and cultures are found. Female circumcision is an example of such. People in our society were interested in obtaining knowledge from the world around us. This knowledge of female circumcision allows us to determine fact from fiction because we have multiple sources of information.

Ethics is the study of actions, and asks the question, "What should I do?" Ethics is the study of right and wrong within human endeavors, and is the way we sort out our values. Female circumcision is something that is not ethically acceptable in our society. However in many other societies it is an ethically acceptable norm. What is right to one person or society can be considered wrong to another. Ethics allows the differing cultures to have their own standards. I personally will never be able to understand the rationality behind female circumcision and that is because I have my own set of ethics.

Politics is the study of force, and asks the question, "What actions are permissible?" Female circumcision is not permissible in our society, and as previously mentioned there