Introduction to Philosophy - Quarter 1, PDF

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY QUARTER 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Lesson 1: PHILOSOPHY IN GENERAL What is Philosophy? There is no best definition of Philosophy as a discipline. Hence, for the sake of our understanding, we will looked...

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY QUARTER 1: DOING PHILOSOPHY Lesson 1: PHILOSOPHY IN GENERAL What is Philosophy? There is no best definition of Philosophy as a discipline. Hence, for the sake of our understanding, we will looked into its etymological and technical definition.. a. Etymological definition Philosophy comes from the two Greek words philo meaning “love” or “friendship” and sophia meaning “wisdom.” Thus, philosophy means “love of wisdom.” Love is an urge or a drive of a will towards a particular object. As a drive, love always seeks unity with its object and desires to possess its object. Thus, wisdom cannot be dissociated from knowledge. Truth is the ultimate object of knowledge. Philosophy is absolutely committed to the truth, “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Hence, truth is being shown and practiced by a man of wisdom. Now, if philosophy means love of wisdom, to philosophize, therefore, is to be in quest, or to have a desire towards loving and living the truth (Babor, 2007) b. Technical definition Philosophy is defined as “the science of beings in their ultimate reasons, causes, and principles acquired by the aid of human reason alone (Bittle, 1984).” To better understand Philosophy, let us break down the statement into the following: 1) Philosophy is a science. - Science is about acquiring a certain kind of knowledge. Philosophy is a science because the questioning is given more importance than the answers to the questions, since answers can become questions themselves. (Babor,2007) 2) Philosophy is a science of beings. - As a science of beings, it covers all the things that can be reached by the human mind. This includes man, the world, God, everything that is, or becomes, or is known. 1  3) Philosophy searches for the ultimate reasons, causes and principles of beings. - This means that philosophy studies the ultimate “whys and wherefores” of beings. To illustrate: Philosophy does not investigate plant life, but rather, it seeks an answer to the question: “What does it mean to be a living thing as opposed to a non-living thing?” 4) Philosophy uses the power or natural light of reason. - The study of philosophy help us acquired by the aid of human reason alone. Meaning, philosophy doesn’t base its knowledge on authority, but solely on the reasoning power of the human mind. Hence, divine revelation is formally excluded as a source of information although it can and should assist the mind of man by pointing out the proper direction for the philosophic solution of a problem along purely natural line. What are the divisions of Philosophy? Philosophy is classified into practical and speculative. Man’s philosophical questions tend to fall into any of the following fields: 1. Practical Divisions of Philosophy - is composed of philosophical fields, which study not only to obtain knowledge and wisdom but also to use that knowledge and wisdom for practical purposes. It includes logic, ethics, axiology, aesthetics, and semantics. a) Logic (Questions related to Reasoning). Logic studies the laws of thought. It is the science of correct reasoning. This covers the study of simple apprehension and ideas, judgment and proposition, reasoning and arguments. Logic attempts to resolve the following questions: “What makes good arguments good and bad arguments bad?” b) Ethics (Questions related to Morality). Ethics deals with development of a virtuous and moral character. It is the science of the morality of human acts as ordained to the end. Ethics attempts to resolve questions like: “What makes my action right or wrong, and how could I know it?”. “Is there a norm good and evil? 2  c) Axiology (Questions related to Values). It is the science of value. It is the study of the origin, nature, functions, types, and interrelations of values. Axiology attempts to resolve questions like: “How are values experienced?” “What are the kinds of value?” d) Aesthetics (Questions related to Beauty and Taste). It is the science of beauty and art. Beauty means the quality attributed to whatever pleases the beholder such as form, color, and behavior. Art is creativeness and skill in making or doing things that have form and beauty. It includes the concept of creativity, expression, representation, form, and style. Aesthetics attempts to resolve questions like: “What are the essential characteristics of beauty?” “What is aesthetic value?” “Do the arts provide knowledge?” e) Semantics (Questions related to Meaning). It is the science of meaning. It studies the natural and artificial language scientifically. This includes the study of the relations of words to the objects denoted by them, the relations of words to the interpreters of them, and, in symbolic logic, the formal relations of signs to one another (syntax). Semantics attempts to resolve questions like: “What sorts of meanings do human grammars yield, and by what rules are these meanings assembled?” “How does grammatical knowledge develop in children?” 2. Speculative Division of Philosophy - is made up of philosophical fields whose main concern is the acquisition of knowledge without any thought of applying it for any practical use. It includes epistemology, theodicy, cosmology, philosophical psychology, and metaphysics. a) Epistemology (Questions related to Truth and Knowledge). Epistemology is the science of knowledge. This includes the statement and solution to the critical problem, nature, origin, objectivity, and validity of knowledge, truth and certitude. Epistemology attempts to resolve questions like: “What is knowledge?” “What is fact?” “What is truth?” 3  b) Theodicy (Questions related to God). Theodicy is the science of God - His nature, existence, essence, attributes and operations. Theodicy attempts to resolve questions like : “Does God exist?” “Why God allows evil?” c) Cosmology (Questions related to Universe). Cosmology is the science of the universe – its origin and development with its parts, elements, laws, especially its characteristics with regard to space, time, causality and freedom. Cosmology attempts to resolve question like: “How did the world begin and where will it end?” d) Psychology (Questions related to Soul). Psychology is science of soul. The study deals man not only as a sensing or thinking subject but also as a being composed of body and soul. Psychology attempts to resolve question like: “Is there really a soul?” e) Metaphysics (Questions related to Being and Existence). It studies the nature of the mind, the self, and consciousness. It is the science which deals with the nature of being, its attributes, constituent principles, and causes. Metaphysics attempts to resolve the following questions: “What is being?” “Why is there being rather than non-being?” “What is existence?” “What is essence?” Why the study of Philosophy is important? According to Zunjic (2011) studying or doing philosophy could be beneficial in many regards such as: 1. Philosophy enlarges our understanding of the world. It expands our intellectual horizons and freedom of thought. 2. Philosophy raises public awareness and helps in forming engaged and responsible citizens. 3. Philosophy can increase our sensitivity for universalistic moral values and stimulate our readiness to stand up for the principles of justice and fairness. 4  4. Philosophy can give one self-knowledge, foresight, and a sense of direction in life. Why is there a need to philosophize? 1. Men have the tendency to wonder (Plato). For example: we asked questions about our existence 2. Men also have the tendency to doubt ( Rene de Cartes). For example: Men have to test and verify information before accepting it. 3. Men do philosophize because of his/her experience ( Karl Jaspers). Our daily experience challenged our ideas and way of thinking. For example: Giving money to a beggar, and found out that he uses it for gambling. 4. Men’s love for wisdom (Socrates). Men’s desire for truth or seeking of knowledge is not to claim ownership of it but to get the bottom of things. Who are the most notable ancient Greek philosophers? The most notable ancient Greek Philosophers 1. Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE) – He is a mathematician and a scientist, and he was credited with formulating the Pythagorean theorem. 2. Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)- He proposed that everything that exist is based on a higher order or plan which he called logos. 3. Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) – He primarily remembered today for his formulation of an atomic theory of the universe. He was the first to propose that matter is composed of tiny particles called atom. 4. Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)- He was known as advocate of living a simple and virtuous life. His teachings and views influenced the development of several schools of philosophy such as Cynicism and Stoicism. 5. Epicurus ( 341 BCE to 270 BCE) – He believed that philosophy could enable man to live a life of happiness. His perspective gave rise to Epicureanism – a school of philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple living will result in a life free of fear and pain. 6. Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) – He was considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times. He contributed much to the field of ethics. He was known of developing Socratic Method - a means of examining a topic by devising a series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his knowledge and views regarding the topic 7. Plato (427 to 347 BCE) –A student of Socrates, he wrote some of his mentor’s teachings and incorporated some of his own ideas. a) Plato’s most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms, which proposes that 5 everything that exist is based on the idea that can only be perceived in mind. b) He is famous for his dialectic - a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt to arrive in a new knowledge. 8. Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) – He attended the Academy and was a prominent student of Plato. He go against the idea of Plato’s theory of forms and took a different stance in interpreting reality.  For him, all ideas and views are based on perception and our reality is based on what we can sense and perceive. Aristotle was involved in a great variety of discipline such as zoology, psychology, ethics, and politics.  He formulated a formal process of analyzing reasoning – deductive reasoning – the process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization. 6 Lesson 2: PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION The statement “life is not a bed of roses” implies that as human beings we live life confronted with issues, challenges, problems and concerns, big or small, that affects our way of thinking. It is in this premise that men are seeking ways on how to deal with life situations. In this lesson, you will be enlightened with the ways on how to view the issues, challenges, problems and concerns that is pressing on you. What is Philosophical Reflection? Philosophical Reflection Refers to the careful examination of life situation. This involves the weighing of alternatives and using specific standards to evaluate one’s action. An individual reflects philosophically when he builds on previous actions, events and or decisions. According to the words of Socrates, the great Greek philosopher,” the unexamined life is not worth living.” One of the major things that distinguishes man from other animals is his ability to think, use his creativity and his critical thinking. Reflection It requires a person to be willing to examine one’s thought, feelings and actions and learn more about one’s life and experiences. One can reflect on almost any subject. For instance, the moment you go to bed, you can already reflect upon the things that you plan to do for the next day. Reflection helps you sort your priorities in life. Simple actions take a whole new meaning when one engages in reflection. When buying clothes, for example, think of the questions that you ask yourself as you consider buying the t-shirt or blouse you are holding. You may start with simple questions: “Will these fit me?”, “Do I look good in these colors? Can I afford to buy these stuffs?” Any buyer would ask these usual questions himself or herself. However, since we are in a reflective and philosophizing mood, let us now try to think of “deeper” questions and reflect on the situations. You may find yourself asking the following questions. o “Why will I buy this shirt?” o “Is it reasonable to buy this shirt?” Notice the difference when you engage in reflection. The simple task of buying new shirt becomes something much more. If you concentrate only on the simple questions, you would just buy that shirt immediately. But, your reflection allows you an opportunity to think deeply about your action, your motivations for doing such an action, and even its possible consequence. 7  Reflection is vital in ensuring that our actions and decisions are well thought out and are done with due regard for their implications and consequences on others, our surroundings, and ourselves. Is holistic and partial thinking the same? Partial thinking A way of thinking that focuses on the specific aspects of the situation. The partial view is an important component of analytical thinking, on certain areas or aspects of the problem in order to understand it. Holistic thinking Refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in systems. This is often described as looking at the “big picture” when describing and analyzing a situation or a problem. A holistic perspective requires an individual to have an open mindset and an ability to get a general sense or impression regarding a situation. Look at how these two concepts are differentiated. a. Partial Perspective People tend to apply an partial perspective when looking at problems or situation. For instance, doctors often focus on a specific set of symptoms to determine the cause of the patient’s illness. Once a particular cause has been identified, the doctor then prescribe the appropriate Source:freepik.com medicine and other treatments to address the illness. In case of a person who experiences a stomachache, a doctor may prescribe the appropriate medicine that will address the physical causes of the problem. 8  b. Holistic Perspective Looking the same picture in the partial perspective, a holistic thinking can be shown in this manner. In this view, the doctor will be able to identify the underlying causes of the illness by digging into the patient’s habits and lifestyle, which would lead to the discovery of fatigue and stress as factors that cause the illness. Hence, the doctor can advise the patient to make changes in his or her habits to reduce stress and Source:freepik.com eventually improve his or her well-being. In addition, a holistic perspective also enable a person to step back and SourceFreepik.comm consider the general aspects of a certain problem. It gives rise to a more appreciative aspect about life, as we are able to look at life in its totality. This means that we try to understand a situation from different advantage points so we can see it more clearly. Just as we savor food in its entirety and not to pick out each ingredient and taste it. We experience and appreciate life in its entirety and not just its specific “flavors” of happiness, sadness, sorrows, etc. We learn to value and recognize our individual experiences as important aspects of a larger and more meaningful life. 9  Our ability to engage in philosophical reflection helps us develop beneficial skills, which are deemed important in our daily situations such as: 1. Philosophy enables a person to develop a critical and analytical mindset in processing information and addressing certain issues encountered in life. - Our ability to critically think helps us from being tricked by false claims and manipulative schemes. 2. Philosophy helps us develop problem solving and decision-making skills. - It is through our engagement with philosophy that we learn how to analyze a problem and come up with alternative solutions is very important skill learned through philosophy. 3. Philosophy trains us to become precise and clear in presenting our ideas and thoughts. - As we engage in discussion and debate, philosophy enables us to convey our ideas precisely and clearly. 4. Philosophy contributes greatly to the self-development of a person. - In our quest to become a better version of our self, philosophy encourages us to understand our self, our strength and weaknesses, our identity and our very purpose in life along with our engagement in the community, the nation and the world.