Philosophy Introduction Quiz (JSCC Edition)

Learning Objectives

• Understand the academic study of philosophy and its distinction from other disciplines.
• Recognize major philosophical topics and their significance.

What is Philosophy?

• Encompasses all rational inquiry excluding scientific investigation.
• Historically perceived as thinking and debating ideas, evolving into a formal academic discipline.

Philosophy vs. Science

• Philosophy addresses questions beyond the scope of science, such as the limits of human inquiry and knowledge.
• Historical dominance of Logical Positivism which suggested that only scientific matters are worth inquiry is now challenged.

Major Topics of Philosophy

• Philosophical issues are categorized primarily into three areas: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.

Metaphysics

• Explores fundamental questions regarding reality, existence, and the nature of things.
• Key questions:
  • What is the nature of reality?
  • Does free will exist?
  • What is the relationship between space and time?
  • Are abstract entities like numbers real?
• Historically met skepticism, yet is experiencing a revival in contemporary discussions.
• Aims to clarify how various claims about reality connect and conflict, rather than defining comprehensive metaphysical systems.

Epistemology

• Focuses on the nature, scope, and limits of knowledge and justified belief.
• Central questions include:
  • What constitutes knowledge?
  • Is knowledge achievable?
  • Can we know moral laws or the existence of others' minds?
• Skepticism ranges from doubt about specific knowledge types (e.g., morality) to complete denial of all knowledge.
• Distinction made between skepticism regarding science and other domains of knowledge.

Ethics

• Explores dimensions of human life, including morality and moral principles.
• Questions about what constitutes ethical behavior and the basis for moral judgments are central to ethical inquiry.

Philosophy Overview

• Philosophy comprises all rational inquiry outside of science.
• Historical views, such as those from Logical Positivists, suggested only scientific inquiry was intelligible, but this is now contested.
• Issues around the scope of rational inquiry highlight philosophical questions, rather than scientific ones.

Key Areas of Philosophy

• Philosophy spans various inquiries beyond scientific topics, often categorized into three primary branches: metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics.

Metaphysics

• Explores fundamental questions about the nature of reality.
• Traditional questions include:
  • Existence of God.
  • Nature of human free will.
• Contemporary queries focus on:
  • Definition of a "thing."
  • Relationship between space and time.
  • Existence of the past and future.
  • Reality of abstract entities like numbers and properties.
• Historical skepticism towards metaphysics has shifted; recent interest has emerged even though definitive truths remain elusive.
• Modern analytic metaphysics aims to understand how various claims about reality are logically connected.

Epistemology

• Concerned with the nature of knowledge and justified beliefs.
• Central questions include:
  • What constitutes knowledge?
  • Is knowledge possible, particularly regarding natural laws, morality, and other minds?
• Skepticism is a significant topic, with extreme forms denying any possibility of knowledge.
• Some accept scientific knowledge but remain skeptical of moral knowledge.
• Ethical and scientific knowledge share similar skeptical concerns but may resolve these issues differently.
• Rational justification of beliefs is a key focus, emphasizing that even without absolute certainty, beliefs can still be reasoned.

Ethics

• Addresses what actions we ought to take and how lives and communities should be structured.
• Many students are surprised to learn that moral reasoning can be systematic and rational.
• Ethical concerns often involve considerations of individual and societal well-being beyond divine command.