在探索此类问题时，哲学致力于发展清晰推理的能力，区分优劣论点，浏览复杂的问题迷宫，澄清令人费解的概念以及在激烈反对的情况下运用智力和逻辑的能力。意见和兴趣。哲学可以帮助人们理解并在各种争议中合理选择竞争性理论或观点。哲学通过使学生能够看到当今世界之外的世界，并发展出对事物可能有纪律性和想象力的认识，拓宽了学生的视野。
In exploring such questions, philosophy strives to develop the ability to reason clearly, to distinguish between good and bad arguments, to navigate through a complicated maze of issues, to clarify puzzling concepts, and to use intelligence and logic in situations where there are fiercely opposing views and interests. Philosophy helps one understand and make reasoned choices of competing theories or points of view in a variety of controversies. Philosophy expands the student's horizons by enabling the student to see beyond the world as it presently exists and develop a disciplined and imaginative awareness of how things might be.<br>In their work philosophers connect with many other disciplines. Philosophy makes available to the student a significant portion of the world's great literature, and makes the student aware of the extent to which scientists, artists, poets, educators, and theologians have depended on the work of philosophers in the course of their own development. Philosophy places the study of such disciplines as the sciences, the arts, medicine, and the law within a broader intellectual perspective and provides logical and analytical tools for understanding them. Since philosophy can enter into so many different programs, philosophical studies are an intrinsic component of any liberal or professional education, and many philosophy students pursue an additional major or minor.