The academic study of philosophy has been traditionally an essential part of the liberal arts. The study of philosophy seeks to develop the intellectual abilities important for life as a whole. Properly pursued, philosophy enhances analytical, critical and interpretive capacities that may be applied to any academic field. Philosophy is as old as human civilization, asking the most general and profound questions; philosophy begins in wonder and, at its best, seeks the path to wisdom. The major seeks to develop the individuals abilities to critically examine, analyze and appreciate these traditions and ideas and, in the process, build personal self-expression, creativity, and an appetite for lifelong learning.