Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy

• Philosophy is the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles that govern all things.
• It comes from the Greek words philos (love) and sophia (wisdom), meaning "love of wisdom."
• Philosophers investigate questions about reality, existence, morality, knowledge, and more.

Enduring Questions about Human Existence

• What is real, and can we perceive and understand our reality?
• What is the ultimate reason for everything, and what is our purpose in the world?
• To what extent are choices and actions truly "free"?

Why Philosophize?

• Plato: The need to philosophize stems from a sense of wonder. We question how events occur.
• Rene Descartes: The need to question prevailing ideas and arguments as truths.
• Karl Jaspers: The need to address difficult situations and challenging conditions present through experience, then rise above these to gain new perspectives and gain knowledge.

Branches of Philosophy

• Metaphysics: Deals with reality and existence. Part of this is trying to explain the unreal aspects of our experiences in more tangible terms.
• Ethics: Explores morality virtues and human actions, as well as accounts of our fundamental ethical values.
• Epistemology: Examines the nature of knowledge and knowing, including how we understand things and how we know our knowledge to be true or false.
• Logic: Concentrates on correct thinking and reasoning; its focus is on truth and the validity of arguments, rather than regarding specific subjects
• Aesthetics: Deals with beauty and what defines it. It helps to broaden knowledge and create a deeper connection with culture.

Activity: Philosophy Tree

• Use the different branches of philosophy to express personal ideas and examples.

Performance Task 1: Discussing with the Family

• Discuss a family problem or issue.
• Take into account the perspectives and views of other family members.
• Create your own perspective.
• Explore possible solutions together.

Holistic and Partial Thinking

• Holistic thinking: Examining the whole picture, large-scale patterns, and relationships.

• Partial thinking: Focuses on specific aspects of a situation, analyzing and understanding particular elements of a problem. Allows for better understanding and in-depth solutions for a problem.

• Example of Holistic Thinking: A doctor views a patient's illness as part of their lifestyle or personal circumstances to gain a more complete picture.

• Example of Partial Thinking: A doctor focuses on a specific set of symptoms to determine the cause of an illness.

Formative Quiz No. 1

• Questions testing different aspects of philosophy covered. For example, defining a branch of philosophy.