Feel free to contribute... Consider, that in the natural order of things, one learns first, and contributes last...Consider this as a test meant to teach, which is life, testing first, teaching last...

If I were you, I would consider history, as philosophy has often played into history...But even a history of philosophy will put a lot of people into some relief, and I am not against owning a few myself...Get a dictionary if you cannot afford a good encyclopaedia...And get a better dictionary if you cannot afford a better Encyclopaedia; but consider that history does not change so quickly as to make 99% of the information irrelivant, but dictionaries are the smartest book, because if you know every definition, you know everything...

I will be happy to define philosophy in such a fashion that you can grasp its parts, and its purpose, and its methods...If you are interested in a liberal education you must be able to see the forest through the trees, that is, the general through the specific...

One can learn chess by reading books and following the great games of the masters, but until one actually sits down against an opponent, makes a move and hits the clock, and plays the game to conclusion, one doesn't really understand what playing chess is.

So too, in philosophy, one can learn to understand different perspectives and positions, one can learn by example critical thinking; but until one attempts to articulate a theory or even a question, one cannot understand what philosophy is about.

Philforum provides both a place to learn about the masters of philosophical thinking, as well as a place to practice (and learn) philosophical diction.

Welcome to the community!
Regards,
John

Hello and welcome to the forum. It's great to discuss in a forum like this one alongside taking a philosophy class.