Lesson 1 Doing Philosophy PDF

LESSON 1 DOING PHILOSOPHY  PHILOSOPHY -Came from 2 Greek words: -Philein - Love -Sophia – Wisdom -Love for Wisdom  LOVE -It connotes intimacy in Greek. (eros) -It describes the persons who are in love, they want to cling to the beloved. -Philein is a desire to sear...

LESSON 1 DOING PHILOSOPHY  PHILOSOPHY -Came from 2 Greek words: -Philein - Love -Sophia – Wisdom -Love for Wisdom  LOVE -It connotes intimacy in Greek. (eros) -It describes the persons who are in love, they want to cling to the beloved. -Philein is a desire to search the beloved fueled by strong emotion.  WISDOM -It means an insight, skill or intelligence. -In Greek mythology, Coeus, the god of intelligence, is described as such due to his inquisitive mind and desire to learn, he gained knowledge and understanding able to see beyond the obvious.  WISDOM vs KNOWLEDGE -KNOWLEDGE ❑Something that we gain from human experiences. -WISDOM ❑The correct or right application of knowledge must be done. ❑It is the mother of MORALITY.  2 KINDS OF WISDOM -Divine Wisdom ❑ This is different from the wisdom of man. ❑ The divine wisdom is a gift from God. -Human Wisdom ❑ It is the quality of having an experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise. ❑ In Philosophy, we define wisdom as a right application of knowledge. ❑ It requires the element of human experience because from experience we gain knowledge.  Characteristics of Divine Wisdom 1. From Above – It is a gift from above. 2. Pure – Free from stains and evil thoughts. 3. Peaceable – Free from strife or disorder. 4. Gentle – It is considerate or kindly in disposition; amiable and tender. Not harsh or severe; mild and soft. 5. Open to Reason – it is willing to listen to logical or sensible thinking. 6. Full of Mercy – It is treating people with kindness and forgiveness. 7. Impartial – It is treating or affecting everybody equally. 8. Full of Good Fruits – It is meant the produce of our lives. WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?  PHILOSOPHY -It is the science of all things in their ultimate cause through the aid of human reason alone.  Philosophy as Science -Science came from the Latin word “Scientia” which means knowledge. -It is a search of knowledge based on facts and demonstrations. Philosophy as Science of All Things -All things that exist are the material objects of Philosophy. -Everything that are seen and unseen, visible or invisible, actual or potential. -Even the existence is in the level of the mind. -Everything is the material object of Philosophy even God himself.  Philosophy as Ultimate Cause -Philosophy identifies the reason behind the existence of everything. -Philosophy seeks to find the cause of an event or scenario. BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY? LOGIC (logos) -The science of correct reasoning COSMOLOGY (kosmos) -The science of inanimate objects. -Based on study, these lifeless beings contribute to man’s searching for meaning. METAPHYSICS (meta and physika) -is a branch of philosophy exploring the fundamental questions, including the nature of concepts like being, existence and reality ETHICS (ethikos) -The science of the morality of human acts. -Morality means the quality of an action. AESTHETICS (aisthetikos) -The science of Arts, Beauty and Taste. PSYCHOLOGY (psyche) -The science of human behavior. EPISTEMOLOGY (episteme) -The science of the theory of knowledge, justification, and the rationality of belief. SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY -The science of principles governing human relations. THEODICY (Theos and dike) -The science of the study of God. PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN -The science of human nature, destiny and existence. -What is the meaning of life? DOES GOD REALLY EXIST? HOW DOES GOD EXIST?  Summa Theologiae (St. Thomas Aquinas) - St. Thomas Aquinas is said to be the “Patron Saint of Education.” - It discusses the topic about “The Five Ways” which proves the existence of God through the use of reason.  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 1. Argument from Motion 2. Argument from Efficient Cause 3. Argument from Possibility and Necessity 4. Argument from Gradation of Being 5. Argument from Design  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 1. Argument from Motion -Everything that is moving is moved by another. The sequence of motion cannot extend ad infinitum (Walang Hanggan). -Therefore, it is necessary to arrive at a first mover. -Who is the first mover?  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 2. Argument from Efficient Cause -Nothing exists prior itself. -Therefore, nothing in this world is the efficient cause of itself. -If the series of efficient causes extends ad infinitum into the past, for then there would be no things existing now. -Who is the first efficient cause or maker?  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 3. Argument from Possibility and Necessity -Every being is composed of matter and form -In science, every being which is composed of matter and has form is possible being. -A possible being can become what they are not. (Wood to a chair; Paper to a dust; being to non-being) -But each possible being has a time it does not exist.  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 3. Argument from Possibility and Necessity -In short, some things exist on their own necessity and do not receive its existence from other being. -Who is the ultimate source of necessity of human-being?  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 4. Argument from Gradation of Being -Every being has gradation whether they are found to be good, better or worse than others. -A being is said to be hotter according as it more nearly resembles that which is hottest. -The maximum in any type is the cause of all in that type.  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 4. Argument from Gradation of Being -Therefore, there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection. -Who is the supreme of all human-being?  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 5. Argument from Design and Governance -Every being is directed towards its goal. -Whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards a goal unless it is directed by some being gifted with knowledge and intelligence. -Example: An arrow directed by an archer.  “The Five Ways” (Summa Theologiae) 5. Argument from Design and Governance -These arguments claim that, since the universe shows obvious design, we can infer the existence of a divine designer or creator. -There is someone who directed to their end. -Who created and directed the universe and other living things?  PHILOSOPHY AS THE SOURCE OF ULTIMATE CAUSE THINK ON THIS… What do you call an object which is made of cement, copper, iron, wood etc. Infrastructure, Statue, Building etc. THINK ON THIS… Who are the person involved in making infrastructures and constructions? Construction Worker, Sculptor etc. THINK ON THIS… What do you call the most important icon or infrastructure in the United States? The Statue of Liberty THINK ON THIS… What is the difference of the Statue of Liberty from the White House? White House – Office of the President of the United States Statue of Liberty – A significant icon in the United States THINK ON THIS… What does the Statue of Liberty signified in the life of the Americans? To celebrate Freedom  CONCLUSION? The Statue of Liberty exist in order for the Americans to celebrate their Freedom REFLECT ON THIS… The ultimate cause for the existence of an object or being is based from its purpose or goal.  What is “ULTIMATE CAUSE”? - The Goal of every Philosophical Inquiry. What is “GOAL”? - It means the “aim or purpose to where should the endeavor end.  Aristotle (Born 384 BC – Died 322 BC) -A Greek philosopher and scientist born in the city of Stagira in the Northern periphery of Classical Greece. -He discussed the four kinds of cause. -According to him, Cause explains the accounts for something. -It means, X is the cause of Y. Therefore, X explains the existence of Y.  Kinds of Causes 1. Material Cause – What is the object made of? 2. Efficient Cause – Who made it? 3. Formal Cause – What makes this object different from the others? 4. Final Cause – Why is it made?  Material Cause – What is the object made of? - It refers to the material composition of an object. Efficient Cause – Who made it? - This is equivalent to that who/which causes change and motion to start or stop.  Formal Cause – What makes this object different from the others? - It is a term describing the form and essence which when present makes matter into a particular type of a thing, which recognize as being of that particular type. Final Cause – Why is it made? - It defined as the purpose, end, aim, or goal of something.  Final Cause – Why is it made? The most important cause since it informs and directs all the other causes. The purpose or “end” of a thing; Greek “telos” – “tell-aws”. “Teleology” is the study of ends and purposes. The reason why it exist.  Final Cause – Why is it made? The “for the sake of which” a thing exists. It is the FIRST in the chain of causes. In Conclusion: “Since nature is twofold, as matter and as form, the form is the end, and since all other things are for the sake of the end, the form must be the cause in the sense of that for the sake of which.” (Aristotle)  TRY THIS… Identify the Four Causes of the following… 1. A school 2. A car 3. A pencil 4. A lifting weights 5. Eating 6. A human being