I agree with the thrust of what you write. But this is wrong: "Philosophy requires no 'givens', which is to say it is a valid field without requiring you to m

I agree with the thrust of what you write. But this is wrong: "Philosophy requires no 'givens', which is to say it is a valid field without requiring you to make any assumptions to partake in it." In 1748, David Hume explained why this isn't right. Hume was a philosopher himself. The most important assumption that you must make in the natural sciences and in every brand of philosophy with which I'm familiar is causality. Check out http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume/ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume/ for more.