1st-Quarter-Intro-to-Philo-Pointers.pdf

1st Quarter Intro to Philo Pointers/Notes 5 Main Branches of Philosophy M-etpahysics: the study of existence, nature of reality. E- thics: the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and ethically right and wrong and dilemmas E- pistemology: the s...

1st Quarter Intro to Philo Pointers/Notes 5 Main Branches of Philosophy M-etpahysics: the study of existence, nature of reality. E- thics: the discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and ethically right and wrong and dilemmas E- pistemology: the study of the method of acquiring knowledge. How knowledge relates to truth, belief, and justification L - ogic: the study that deals with correct reasoning. A - esthetic: appreciation of art, beauty, and good taste. Holistic Thinking considers large-scale patterns and the big picture of a situation, requiring an open mindset. Partial Thinking focuses on specific aspects to understand problems. Deductive Reasoning starts from general or universal premises and draws specific conclusions Example: Major premise: All humans are mortal. (This is a broad, general statement or rule that applies universally) Minor premise: Socrates is human. (This is a specific statement that falls under the general rule established by the major premise) Conclusion: Socrates is mortal (This is the logical result that follows from the major and minor premises) Inductive Reasoning Inductive reasoning starts from specific observations and derives general principles Example: All observed crows are black. Therefore: All crows are black Five Human Traits 1. Self-awareness - It refers to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including his or her thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions. 2. Self-determination – the power to make decisions for oneself. Guided by our free will. 3. Morality – goodness and badness of an act. 4. Externality - The capability to reach out and interact with others in the world. (Socialization/Interaction) 5. Dignity - The innate right to be valued and respected. Philosophers consider all humans as having an inherent worth or value. The concepts of: Truth – statements that can be proven true or false based on evidence and reality. Remember: Anything that can be proven true or false with evidence is considered a Fact Fallacies - are arguments based on faulty reasoning. Arguments - statements that provide reasons to convince the reader or listener that a claim or opinion is truthful. Opinions - statements that go beyond providing facts. I hope you find this note/reviewer helpful. Please familiarize these concepts.  Transcendence - the ability to surpass limits, overcome oneself, or be in control even if the body reminds us of certain tendencies. Environmental Philosophy and Ethics - the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings with the environment and its non-human contents. Anthropocentrism - Humans are the most important species, other organisms exist to meet human needs. Biocentrism - “Bio” means life. Everything that has life or is considered a living organism must be protected because it has life and not just because it satisfies the needs of humans. Ecocentrism - Places great value on ecosystems and biological communities. All living and non-living organisms or things are treated/valued equally not because they can provide human needs but because they are part of the ecosystem and needed to maintain the ecological balance. Sustainable Development - emphasizes that human activities must not unduly harm the environment, that natural resources must be used wisely, and the environment must be preserved for the next generation. (Take note that it includes utilization of resources but in a wise manner to preserve the availability of resources so that future generations can still avail what we are enjoying) whereas. Environmentalism - a movement and ideology that focuses on the protection and preservation of the natural environment. Focuses advocacies for practices and policies that reduce environmental harm and promote sustainability. (Emphasizes the need for action or concern for the protection and preservation of resources) Environmental Integrity – maintaining the state of the environment. This means that human activities should not unduly disrupt the ecosystems and human communities located in the area. Economic Efficiency – the wise of resources to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste. Familiarize these concepts Phenomenology Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that focuses on how things appear in our conscious experience. It attempts to describe what is given to us in experience. Truth is found by examining the structure of our conscious experiences, rather than relying solely on objective facts or abstract theories. It seeks to describe how things are perceived by individuals without making assumptions about their underlying causes or explanations. Examples: 1. Instead of analyzing why someone feels happy, phenomenology would focus on what that feeling of happiness is like for the individual. It’s the sensations, emotions, and contexts involved. 2. Listening to a piece of music. Instead of discussing the history of the composer or the technical aspects of the composition, phenomenology focuses on your immediate feelings and thoughts while you listen, what emotion(s) it evokes, the memories it brings up, and the sensations you experience in your body. 3. If you think about a cup, phenomenology will focus on your experience of the cup, how it feels in your hand, its shape, the warmth of the coffee inside, and the memories it might evoke rather than just discussing its material composition or function. I hope you find this note/reviewer helpful. Please familiarize these concepts. Existentialism A philosophical approach that emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It focuses on subjective experience and the meaning one gives to one's own life. It asserts that individuals create their own meaning and values through their actions and decisions. Truth is subjective and personal in existentialism. It is discovered through authentic experiences and self-reflection, rather than through external authorities or universal truths. Each person is responsible for finding their own meaning, rather than relying on external beliefs, authorities, or universal truths. Examples: 1. Imagine yourself who feels pressure to become a lawyer because your family expects it. Existentialism would suggest you reflect on what you truly want and value, then make a decision based on your own desires. Maybe you realize your passion is art, not law. In this case, you take responsibility for your choice and pursue art, creating your own path and meaning in your life. 2. In small decisions, like what hobbies to pursue or how to spend free time, existentialism suggests you should choose based on what resonates with you, not what others think you should do. For instance, if everyone around you enjoys sports but you prefer reading, existentialism would say: do what feels meaningful to you. 3. I might feel uncertain about whether to stay in my hometown or move to a big city. There’s no “right” answer, existentialism says. The truth depends on what the person values. Whether I seek comfort and familiarity (which means I’ll stay) or excitement and new experiences (moving). The important part is that I decide what feels meaningful. Analytic Tradition Philosophical tradition that emphasizes the logical analysis of concepts and the study of the language in which they are expressed. The goal is to break down complex ideas into simpler parts to make sure everything is logically sound and easy to understand. This approach tries to avoid misunderstandings by focusing on how we use language and making sure our terms are clearly defined. Example: If someone says, “Homework is a waste of time.” To apply the analytic tradition, we could break this down by asking: What is “homework”? Are we talking about all types of homework or just math assignments? What does “waste of time” mean? Does this mean it’s not helpful, or just that it’s boring? In what context? Is this about homework in general, or just their experience with a specific subject? By doing this, we can better understand someone’s opinion and have a more meaningful conversation about the value of homework. This method helps us avoid confusion and dig deeper into what’s being said. I hope you find this note/reviewer helpful. Please familiarize these concepts.