Philosophy Week 1-2 Review

What is Philosophy?

• Philosophy derives from the Greek words "Philo" (love) and "Sophia" (wisdom), meaning "love of wisdom."
• Defined as a science that studies the fundamental causes or highest principles of all things using reason.
• Begins with a sense of wonder about existence and the nature of reality.

Fundamental Aspects of Philosophy

• Science: Philosophy involves systematic and step-by-step procedures in inquiry.
• Natural Light of Reason: Relies solely on human reason or common sense, without external investigative tools.
• Study of All Things: Addresses the entirety of existence, distinguishing it from other sciences.
• First Cause or Highest Principle: Investigates the most basic principles and causes of being.

Principles Under First Cause

• Principle of Identity: States that whatever is, is; nothing changes its essence.
• Principle of Noncontradiction: No statement can be both true and false simultaneously.
• Principle of Excluded Middle: No middle ground exists between being and not being.
• Principle of Sufficient Reason: Everything that exists has a sufficient reason for its existence.

Greek Philosophers

• Thales: Water as the fundamental substance; everything experienced is essentially water.
• Anaximenes: Proposed air as infinite and eternal, equating it to God.
• Pythagoras: Contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and music theory.
• Protagoras: Introduced relativism with three key claims about man’s perception of truth.
• Socrates: Emphasized the eternal nature of the soul and the significance of questioning.
• Plato: Introduced dualism of body (material) and soul (immaterial); described soul's components.
• Aristotle: Unified body and soul; founder of empirical philosophy and ethics.
• Zeno of Citium: Established Stoicism, emphasizing control over responses to external events.

Branches of Philosophy

• Metaphysics: Explores the nature of reality and existence, asking what things truly are.
  • Subparts: Ontology (study of being), Cosmology, Theodicy, and Psychology (nature of the mind).
• Epistemology: Studies knowledge and how we acquire it through our senses.
• Logic: Focuses on valid reasoning and the structure of arguments.
• Ethics: Examines moral virtues and evaluates human actions.

Methods of Philosophizing

• Phenomenology: Focuses on conscious experience; relies on first-hand experiences to understand truths.
• Existentialism: Emphasizes choices and free will; truth shaped by personal experiences.
• Post-Modernism: Challenges traditional truth notions; believes truth is subjective and based on interpretation.
• Analytic Tradition: Analyzes language to clarify philosophical concepts.
• Logic and Critical Thinking: Prioritizes argument validity based on structure, rather than content.

Understanding Transcendence

• Transcendence: Ability to rise above physical or psychological limitations; signifies personal growth.
• Key Aspects of Transcendence: Includes forgiveness, appreciation of nature, vulnerability, dealing with failure, combating loneliness, and the enriching experience of love.

Human Relationship with Nature

• Anthropocentric Model: Views humans at the center, valuing nature based on its utility to people.
• Ecocentric Model: Recognizes the intrinsic worth of nature, promoting environmental sustainability.

Origin of Nature According to Philosophers

• Thales: Water as the fundamental element.
• Anaximenes: Air as the essential substance.
• Anaximander: Introduced apeiron, describing it as the boundless source of existence.

Modern Philosophical Perspectives on Nature

• Herbert Marcuse: Discussed technology's disconnection between humans and nature.
• Jurgen Habermas: Advocated for participatory democracy for environmental issues.
• Deep Ecology: Shifts focus from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism, valuing all life forms.
• Social Ecology: Links environmental crises to social inequalities and emphasizes the need for social change.

This quiz covers the basics of Philosophy, including the definition and fundamental aspects such as the love of wisdom and the systematic study of first causes. It's designed to reinforce your understanding of the initial concepts of Philosophy. Test your knowledge and deepen your appreciation for this discipline.