Introduction to Philosophy

• Philosophy is the "Love of Wisdom", with "Philo" meaning love and "Sophia" meaning wisdom
• Philosophizing stems from awe and curiosity
• Wisdom differs from knowledge; being smart without wisdom equates to being stupid

Heraclitus

• Change is the only constant
• "You can't cross the same river twice"

Branches of Philosophy

Logic

• Logic is the art of correct thinking, involving vitality

Deductive Reasoning

• In deductive reasoning one uses syllogism such as if a=b, and b=c, then

Inductive Reasoning

• In inductive reasoning one uses experience (principle)

Metaphysics

• It is the study of all 'being' (ONTOLOGY)
• The "META" means beyond

Epistemology

• It is the study of knowledge (EPISTEME), according to Kant

Rational, Inate

• As Descartes says- "You are what you think"

Empiricist

• According to John Locke- "Experience gives you ideas"
• It studies the nature and scope of knowledge

Ethics

• It the study of human act and moral concepts
• Ethics is related but not the same with law- laws are related by virtue of reason, but not the same
• "Not all legal are ethical” (e.g. cutting of trees)
• It is different from psychology, which is feelings or patterns of behaviour
• It is also different from religion, which gives meaning to life
• The ethics differs from Social Medicine (Sociology), which is the science of interpretation
• It is the opposite of Hermeniutics, which is the art of correct pronunciation
• Morality moves culture (way of life)

Kinds of Ethics

• Metaethics relates to the source of interpreting the 'goods'
• Bioethics relates to the study of human life, from Birth to Death
• Social ethics relates to civilization and/of history
• Health ethics relates to wellness (‘heal' - whole)
• Personal ethics relates to hygiene and healthcare
• Environmental ethics relates to nature and the cosmos
• General Ethics relates to the study of human act (willful, voluntary, knowledge)

Human Act vs Act of Man

• A human act involves responsiblity and moral judgement
• Human acts can be controlled/ voluntary
• Acts of man are simply bodily movements (cannot be controlled/involuntary)
• A Human Act can be considered an Act of Man depending on the awareness

Terms in Ethics

• Moral/Ethical is defined as reasonable
• Immoral/Unethical is defined as unreasonable
• Amoral is defined as indifferent
• Non-Moral is defined as factual but not objective

Ethics of Being vs Ethics of Acting

• Ethics of Being – priority of something essential/necessary/important/valuable/ideal (self-fulfilling; character building)
• "Character makes a Man"
• Ethics of Acting – participation/engage
• Acting - element of “PRESENCE” (You do what you want to do)

Ethics of Care

• We are Care
• Care constitutes body and spirit
• We are built from care
• According to M. Heidegger, the "Nature of mankind is care” (sorge)
• Human – Humus – Soil
• Breathe (ruah) – Bios – Life (Spirit)
• Zoe- Body + Spirit

Empathize

• To care is to act on our feeling
• To empathize is to act on our feelings
• To sympathize is to feel without acting out
• "Bullshit" – Is an expression of dismay/disappointment; to cover up the truth

Decision Making

• Ethics deals with human acts, focusing on the decision-making process and taking responsibility
• We intentionally do an act.

Processes of Decision-Making

Scientific

• Scott Rae developed 2 processes of decision making
• One of the processes scientific

Spontaneous

• The other process is spontaneous, involving dynamic and quick decisions
• It involves intuitive knowledge from the idea of ‘emotivism’ and more on 'gut feeling'
• Alfred Ayer says that what is good is difficult to define

Scott Rae's 7 Stages of Moral Reasoning

• Gather the facts with details of circumstances
• Lived experiences has meaning in the "life-world"
• Epoche involves bracketing / suspending natural attitude
• Filetic reduction involves “we”; common experience
• Transcendental Ego means owning of the experience, thus understand
• Identify the Ethical Issue
• Consider the Stakeholders
• List alternative solutions
• Consider the alternatives, comparing you have and consider the "triple E" you are using (Guide)
• Consider the Consequences
• Make a decision

Moral Conviction

• This is about what principle we held
• Requires faith (ultimate concern of a person)
• A perspective of standing on a principle
• Necessary Courage [synonym- fortitude (an element of holding, grasp)]
• "If there is no Faith, there is no love, nor hope.”
• "To be faithful is to commit oneself." -The problem in Faith is not doubt, but fear.

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

• Pre-conventional is there is a command/social affirmation
• Conventional is individual perspective of what is moral
• Post-Conventional is mostly ages 50-60; contentment
• Through these three, we can achieve certain ability to be convinced.
• As we nurture, we develop a sense of morality.

Phenomenology of Love

• Phenomenology – lived experiences, "let things be"
• Erik Fromm explains we cannot equate
• Sex with love – it is just an expression of love
• Infactuation with love – love is not just attraction ,and there is always changing trust
• Romance with love -love is not about life status

When Does True Love Start

• It starts with the experience of Loneliness and a feeling of incompleteness
• It starts with an encounter of Sharing of interest and differences
• It starts with Equality/Union and it should be "We", not "I" nor "You" with open communication
• There must be constant reminding and nurturing
• To talk to your heart and Speak to your mind, Being happy is to Speak to your Mind
• It is something that would require Faith

Impediments to Reasonable Decision-Making

• Mind COMBINED, we have to consider the Heart and Mind. in order to do the action
• It is not only about IQ

Egocentrism

• Arrogance (Pride)
• Ego-"I"
• A Strong emphasis on “I”

Refusal

• Failure to upgrade our maturity
• Involves Responsibility (Moral Conviction)
• Maturity is...
• Controlling emotion
• Accepting rebuke
• A matured individual is capable of accepting negative truth or refusal

Subjectivism

• Inability to think objectively, to think and see from another's point of view
• Selfishness is being emphasised, and others get refused to be listened