Philosophy Notes PDF

Philosophy as the guiding principle on how one Doing philosophy helps you think of ought to live life. many things, including those that leave you confused or without an acceptable Importance of philosophical answer. You can do philosophy by...

Philosophy as the guiding principle on how one Doing philosophy helps you think of ought to live life. many things, including those that leave you confused or without an acceptable Importance of philosophical answer. You can do philosophy by reflection yourself, with a partner, or with a group. Philosophical reflection is the process by which a person undergoes a Philosophy, meaning “love of wisdom”. reflective state or evaluates his or her Is a science where reason and logic are experiences first before making any used to understand reality and answer related action (introspection - ability to questions of knowledge, morality, and self reflect). The use of philosophical human nature. It comes from the Greek reflection is important as it enables words philos (love) and sophia (wisdom thought to be looked into using a - correct application of knowledge). deeper, holistic perspective, In effect, actions are directed towards greater It can be described as either a body of sources of wisdom and truth. knowledge (established concepts) provides methodologies and insights on Human activities animated from how societal questions, such as moral deliberate reflection dilemmas of euthanasia or same sex Emanate means “originate from”. In the marriage, can be answered. process, one can learn more about himself or herself, including personal On the other hand, philosophy as an beliefs, ideas, or values. Previous intellectual activity (questions with no experiences may be seen as important basis) is an analytic procedure of aspects of making reflections because addressing individual thought processes they facilitate deeper thinking and such as resolving conflict and confusion, understanding of the self. Aside from testing positions, and analyzing beliefs. knowing the self, many other activities In all instances, doing philosophy also emanate from reflection. prescribes logic, reason and ethics leading to wisdom. Examples: -learning from your previous mistakes The meaning of philosophy and and not repeating them again philosophy of the human person -evaluating and knowing the best choice Philosophy applies to human experience from a set of options or everyday life denotes the use of -gaining a holistic point of view first philosophy as an intellectual activity, before making any conclusion Also known as philosophy in life, this concept is important because it serves  Meaning and process of doing Example:​ philosophy A teacher scolds Student A after Doing philosophy means engaging Student B accused him of stealing his oneself in “matters of utility” and pencil. Thus, the teacher only listened to methodologies to eliminate any practical the side of Student B, and automatically problem or abstract idea. In the process punished Student A. of doing philosophy, it is critical to have a holistic point of view and the Looking at all the characteristics of perception of looking at all aspects of a holistic and partial points of view, it can situation first before making a be concluded that using a holistic conclusion. (Only humans can perspective is more desirable in doing rationalize) Some other skills involved in philosophy than using a partial doing philosophy are critical, logical, and perspective. Partial points of view only analytical thinking, observation, and promote limited knowledge on the communicative skills. situation. This leads to wrong conclusions. Learning philosophy Holistic and partial point of view requires learning to look into all Before engaging in philosophical inquiry, available perspectives and work on their one must be able to distinguish between relationship to come up with sound, a holistic and partial point of view. This logical, and valid conclusions. In the is critical for anyone doing philosophy process, doing philosophy helps one to because it sets a limit in coming up with develop the skill of broadly looking at conclusions about a given situation. the situation first before concluding Holistic Point of View anything. -Looks at all aspects of the given problem or situation Importance of doing philosophy -All aspects are given importance when Doing philosophy can be applied in day making conclusions to day activities and life perspectives. -All aspects are ties in together to form a Because it involves an evaluative general overview of the problem or process, doing philosophy allows a situation person to make better decisions and act Example: accordingly to situations with the help of A teacher listens first to both stories of various philosophical skills. her two arguing students before making any conclusion of the issue Furthermore, doing philosophy directs Partial Point of View how a person will perceive these factors -Looks at only a limited number of in life and how they will be faced. In any aspects of the given problem or situation setting, wisdom is always gained when -Conclusions are made based on philosophy is applied to formulate a considering some, but not all, sides of conclusion about a certain concern. the problem or situation  reality. This is beyond (Meta) things The process of doing philosophy should (Physica) we can see. not be mistaken for the Filipino activity of pamimilosopo or pedantry (based on Ontology - focuses on the classification senseless knowledge) where a person of existing things. displays useless knowledge or minute observances of small details. 2.​ Questions of Certainty -How do we know what we know? The 4 Major Questions -Are the things that we know true? 1.​ Question of Reality -What is real? Certainty refers to perfect knowledge -Are we able to perceive and that is free from error or doubt. Truth is understand reality and everything in it? the central concept in the question of certainty. Knowledge is also related to Reality refers to the state of existence of the question of certainty and that means things independent of human by which man is able to know. consciousness. In the broadest sense, reality includes physical things that we Rationalism (priori knowledge) is a see, feel, taste and smell, as well as theory of knowledge which believes that things that we cannot easily perceive knowledge is a priori knowledge or and comprehend. based on pure reasoning without the benefit of any experience. Philosophers believe in the existence of an “objective and absolute” reality which Empiricism - a posteriori knowledge; means that everything that exists in knowledge from experience reality has a specific nature or Skepticism - all knowledge is uncertain character. Man has the ability to sense (asking evidences) and perceive reality. Concrete (tangible) Epistemology - Study of knowledge. and abstract (unseen, e.g., love) reality Derived from Greek words: Episteme are the two general categories. and Logos Concepts of time, space, nature of the universe, and the nature of the human 3.​ Question of Causality being or what makes a man what he is. -What are the ultimate causes of all things? Derealized people - People with no -To what extent are our choices contact with reality. considered free? Metaphysics - a branch of philosophy Related terms: which addresses questions regarding Origin - Source of things/beginning Purpose - reason for existence/why Philosophers employ a skeptical attitude things exist in looking at ideas, events, or things. Ultimate cause - the final purpose of Each aspect of the topic in question is things analyzed to determine its validity or Agency - capacity to think, decide, truthfulness. (Freudian slip of tongue choose, and rationalize mentioned) Free will - ability to choose without 2.​ Argument hindrances Philosophers engage in discussion and Choice - the act of choosing from all debate on their ideas. choices 3.​ Dialectic Determinism - everything that happens Varied ideas and perspectives are has underlying factors analyzed and from the information Destiny - everything that happens has gathered, new ideas and views are specific reasons formulated. Etiology - the study of causes Problem-Solving Devices Teleology - the study of purpose 1.​ Socratic Method A method of analyzing a topic by 4.​ Question of Ethics formulating a series of questions -How should one live his or her life? designed to analyze its various aspects, -What is the right course of action in the and examine and clarify a person’s face of problems? views on it; asking. ​ 2.​ Axioms Ethics deals with the standards of right Assumptions which are taken for and wrong. As a field of study, it granted in a philosophical discussion. discusses and defines concepts and They provide a foundation and direction principles which are meant to govern in philosophical studies. E.g,. “existence reasoning and action. It seeks to exists” formulate a set of standards and norms 3.​ Occam’s Razor of “acceptable”, “correct”, and “good” States that among the possible behavior which are applied to daily life. explanations, the one which has the least assumptions is the most Moral philosophy seeks to apply and acceptable; the simplest answer is analyze these concepts in various correct. situations, contexts, and cultures, and 4.​ Formal Logic recommends guidelines that will govern A systematic analysis of the validity of the decisions and actions of people. arguments and statements. It uses syllogisms or logical arguments Methods and Tools Philosophers Use presented as a series of related 1.​ Systematic doubt statements.  eventually proven to have no significant effects on health. 5.​ Thought Experiment or How do we know that what they are Allegory telling is true? Imagined scenarios used to illustrate a Truth lies at the heart of any inquiry. certain problem or describe a theory. Knowledge must be truthful to gain (e.g., cloud 9; iceberg theory by Freud) validity and acceptance. But the concept “Floating man” - perception and human of truth remains a controversial and mind (e.g.: Kim Noble, person with DID) much discussed topic among philosophers. What is true, or even a Practical uses of philosophy definition of truth, is a tricky concept in 1. Requires a person to engage in philosophy. Philosophers agree that analysis and interpretation of concepts, there is no absolute measure of truth. definitions, arguments, and problems. Rooted in an ancient Greek philosophy’s 2. Problem-solving and decision-making concept of knowledge as ‘justified, true are important aspects in life which can belief’. This concept states that benefit from a knowledge of philosophy. something is true because you believe it 3. A philosopher is also a good is true, and there is justification for such communicator who can clearly and belief. adequately present his or her ideas Theories of truth (credibility) 1. Correspondence Theory 4. Attaining wisdom States that something is true if it 5. Knowledge of philosophy can corresponds to reality or the actual state contribute to self-development. of affairs. This theory assumes a direct relationship between an idea and reality Patient 2 - Person with nihilistic and that can be taken as fact. delusion. A nihilistic delusion is a false Example: belief that the self or the world doesn't 1.​ “A dog barks” is true exist 2.​ “Pigs can fly” is false since in reality pigs do not have the How do we use Philosophy to figure capability to fly out what is true? 2. Coherence theory In today’s society, we are often It proposes that something is true if it bombarded with a lot of information. makes sense when placed in a certain Most of these are helpful, but there are situation or context. some that seem to mislead us to utterly 3. Pragmatic Theory false ones. These kinds of information States that something is true if it works often have a negative impact in our or is useful in practical situations. In lives. People have been misled by other words, a statement or belief is true claims of ‘miracle drugs’ which were if it helps us solve problems or achieves time connection for a cause-effect our goals in the real world. connection 4. Constructivist Theory ​ 8. Fallacy of Composition It holds that knowledge is shaped by Involves taking attributes of part of an social forces and influenced by culture object or class and applying them to the and history. entire object or class. 5. Consensus Theory ​ 9. Fallacy of Division​ It views knowledge as based on Occurs when one reasons that argument, and that something is true if something that is true for a whole must almost everyone agrees that is true. also be true of all or some of its parts. Determining the truth of any statement Biases are not necessarily errors in Ideas and claims are often presented in reasoning, but refer to tendencies or the forms of Arguments. These influences which affect the views of arguments are called Fallacies. people. Fallacies​ Biases ​ 1. Ad Hominem 1.​ Correspondence Bias Attacking the person making the Tendency to judge a person’s argument instead of the argument itself. personality by his or her actions, without ​ 2. Appeal to Force regard for external factors of influence. Using threat or force or an undesirable 2.​ Confirmation Bias event to advance an argument Tendency to look for and readily accept 3. Appeal to Emotion information which fits with one’s own Using emotions such as pity or beliefs or views and to reject ideas or sympathy as a form of argument views that go against it. ​ 4. Appeal to the Popular 3.​ Framing The idea is presented as acceptable Focusing on a certain aspect of a because a lot of people accept it. problem while ignoring other aspects ​ 5. Appeal to Tradition 4.​ Hindsight Bias The idea is acceptable because it has The tendency to see past events as been true for a long time. predictable, or to ascribe a pattern to ​ 6. Begging the Question historical events. An argument based on unsound 5.​ Conflict of Interest reasoning in which a claim is made and A person or group is connected to or accepted to be true, but one must has a vested interest in the issue being accept the premise to be true for the discussed. claim to be true. AKA circular reasoning 6.​ Cultural Bias ​ 7. Cause and Effect Analysing an event or issue based on Falsely assumes that one event causes one’s cultural standards. another. Often a reader will mistake a