Philosophy PDF

What is Philosophy? - The word philosophy comes from two greek words: Philos which means love and Sophia means wisdom. - The ancient Greeks used this term to refer to the “love of wisdom” - Philosophy is also the study of discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultim...

What is Philosophy? - The word philosophy comes from two greek words: Philos which means love and Sophia means wisdom. - The ancient Greeks used this term to refer to the “love of wisdom” - Philosophy is also the study of discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles which govern all things - The study of fundamental questions about the existence and the knowledge that could help us understand the reality of life Philosophers - People who are engaged in philosophy - Lover of wisdom Wisdom - The knowledge acquired or coming from the experiences that could answer the unfolded question of a human being Difference between Science and Philosophy Science is best likened to the human mind while Philosophy is to the human heart. Science - Seeks to understand natural phenomena - Concerned with empirical evidence and tastable hypotheses - “Empirical” means it can be observed or experimented Philosophy - Vaguer - Defining it in one concrete sentence may not define it entirely - A school of thought Most Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers Pythagoras - Believed that every relationship was a number related - World of Mathematics Heraclitus - Concerned with explanations of the world around him - People need to live together in social harmony - Unity of the world of experience Democritus - Known in antiquity as the “laughing philosophers”  - Emphasis on the value of “cheerfulness” Diogenes of Sinope - Greek cynic philosopher - Best known for holding a lantern - Searching for an honest man Cynicism - Disbelief in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions - To live in virtue - Natural for themselves - Free from all possessions Stoicism - Self-control - Overcoming destructive emotions - Seeks to transform them with a resolute asceticism - Develop clear judgment, inner calm, and freedom from suffering Epicurus Epicureanism - seeking pleasure (mind and body) Socrates Socratic Method - the art of questioning stimulates critical thinking Plato - Theory of forms - Dialect - Academy Aristotle Deductive Reasoning - general to specific reasoning DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOLISTIC THINKING AND PARTIAL THINKING Partial Thinking - Focuses on specific aspects - Analytical thinking - Focuses on certain areas in order to understand Holistic Thinking - Large-scale patterns in systems - Big picture - An open mindset and an ability to get a general sense or impression regarding a situation THE MARCELLIAN PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION Primary Reflection (Objective) - Exact definition - Facts - Scientific hypotheses Secondary Reflection (Subjective) - Influence of personal feelings - Personal experience THE HUSSERLIAN PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD Epoche - removal bracketing of the biases - Natural attitude towards the subject Eidetic Reduction - Eidetic comes from the Greek word “eidos” which means “shape or essence” - The essence of the object - The actual definition of the object or experience Transcendental Reduction - Very own experience - Personal understanding DETERMINING TRUTH FROM OPINION Truth - Connected with the pursuit of knowledge - To know is to have the truth - Based on facts and proven by the process of science - It exists How to think about the TRUTH? By Mortimer Adler 1. Skepticism - To know something is to doubt - Opinion or facts - Assess and prove 2. Relativism - Dependent on the person - Can be true but it can also be false for other people - Different perspective 3. Pragmatism - Doable - Can apply to personal life 4. Realism - Truth exists - No questions about the existence of the truth 5. Rationalism - Necessary truth - Based on reason - Innate ideas - Cannot change There are truths that can be changed or revised as long we can study and prove them but there is also a truth that cannot be changed. 6. Empiricism - Empirical truth - Based on experience - Doubtful - Agreement with another person - To experience digest the information Opinion - Someone’s point of view - Not based on evidence - Most used in an argument - Some opinions can be based on facts and the truth as long as it was supported by factual evidence or facts Knowledge - Consists of the truth - Facts and proven - Impossible to be false Information - Raw data or ideas can be wrong as we are not able to prove them. It will only be knowledge with factual evidence or if it was proven. PHILOSOPHICAL METHODS AND EVALUATING OPINIONS Four Methods of Philosophizing - Existentialism - Logical - Philosophical - Analytical Philosophical - Critical thinking - How are you going to think about the specific issue or situation Socratic Method - Two interlocutors took turns in questioning and answering - Dialectical method - Art of questioning - Debate Methodic Doubt - Accept nothing as true - Doubt - The idea of doubting a belief - Rational insight Epistemology - “Epis” means knowledge and “logos” that means study - To acquire knowledge Consensus - agreement Evaluating Opinions 1. Authority and Source 2. Relevance and Reliability 3. Context and Purpose 4. Preconception and Bias 5. Hasty generalization and Assumption THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN EMBODIED SPIRIT Inner Self - Body - Soul - Spirit Spirit - The hollow form came from God - Direct connection to the creator Soul - Inner self - Corresponds to thinking and identity - Portray ourselves Body - Vessel to move Intrapersonal - Inner self - Embodied spirit - The body is equal to the soul Man - Represent the entire human race - Disregard the gender Human - Classification and species - Living human or man is under the classification of Mammalia Human Being - A separate man from other classification Person - Individuals who possess self-awareness, self-determination, a rational mind, and the capacity to interact with others and himself Personhood - Being with a unique, sacred, and ethical status Human Nature - Deepest and natural behavior - Collective traits - No one can be discovered man without human nature WHAT IS THE HUMAN PERSON Self-awareness - Having a clear perception of oneself Rationality - human thought Self-determination - Make choices and decisions based on their own preferences Free Will - To do action - Choose a course of action Consequences - Result of the effect of an action Morality - Goodness or badness Dignity - Valued and respected WHAT IS IN THE HUMAN NATURE THAT ENABLES US TO BECOME A PERSON? Tangible element in the body - Physical being Intangible - Spirit Embodied - Materialized or incarnated Embodied Spirit - Spirit being incarnated Christian Philosophy - Inseparable union of body and soul Plato - Metaphysical dichotomy - Doesn’t believe that our soul died when the body died Material = mutable destructible Immaterial = immutable indestructive Dichotomy = contradiction between the body and the soul Body’s existence (dependent) = soul Soul’s existence (independent) = body Soul - Immutable - Immaterial - Indestructive Body - Mutable - Material - Destructive Rational soul - Spiritual and appetitive souls Spiritual and appetitive souls - Motion and activity of the whole person Appetitive - Thirst, hunger, and other physical wants Spiritual soul - Abomination, anger, and other emotional feelings Rational soul - Think, reflect, analyze, comprehend, draw conclusions Aristotle - No dichotomy between the person’s body and soul - Cannot talk about the soul apart from the body and vice versa State of unity = inseparable The soul is the English translation of the greek word “psyche” Soul = concept of life - Anything that has life has a soul Soul = body to live and animates the body - The soul is the form of the body while the body is the matter of the soul If your body dies, your soul will die at the same time. 3 Levels of Soul - Vegetative = plants - Sensitive = animals - Rational = humans The human person is just an animal that thinks. “ Man is a rational animal.” Transcendence - Ability to surpass limits INTERSUBJECTIVITY - Unique relationship - Social interaction Seeming - Presents himself or herself in a certain way when dealing with others WHAT CHARACTERIZES A GENUINE HUMAN INTERACTION? Dialogue - These lead humans to strive to achieve deeper and more substantial interactions and relations with other people Without proper dialogue = cause conflict Intersubjectivity - Social interactions among individuals - The shared perception of reality between or among two or more individuals Communarization - Other individuals are extensions of the self and serve as the “alter ego” of a person’s being IMPORTANCE OF INTERSUBJECTIVITY - A significant contribution to society and relationships - Validates real and authentic subjective experience - Facilitates interaction among individuals - To look at others equally - Promotes a sense of community and unity among individuals - The emphasis that can contribute to society PRINCIPLE OF PATERNALISM - The Latin term “pater” means to act like a father - Paternalism is gender neutral anagram LEGAL MORALISM - Laws can be used to prohibit behaviors that conflict with society’s moral judgment - Permissible for the state to use power to enforce society’s collective morality HARM PRINCIPLE John Stuart Mill = Liberalism - A person can do whatever he wishes as long as it will not harm others BASIC ELEMENTS OF LOVE - Giving - Care - Responsibility - Respect - Knowledge HOW DOES INTERSUBJECTIVITY DEFINE OUR INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE? 1. Empathy - Ability to share emotions 2. Availability - The willingness of a person to be present and be at the disposal of another 3. Ethics of care - The ethical theory that emphasizes the moral dimension of relationships and interactions 4. Alienation - Who view other people negatively and consider human actions as being influenced by selfish interest HOW CAN PHILOSOPHY HELP YOU EVALUATE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS? Acceptance of differences and embracing diversity. ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY Environmental Ethics - Discipline philosophy studies the moral relationship of human beings with the environment and its non-human contents Anthropocentrism - Focuses on the significant role of humankind in the world and considers nature as the means by which humans are able to meet their needs and survive Biocentrism - Believes that humans are not the only significant species on the planet and that all organisms have inherent value and should be protected Eco centrism - Places great value on the ecosystem and biological communities WHAT CAN I DO TO UPHOLD ENVIRONMENTALISM AND CARE FOR NATURE? 1. Sustainability or sustainable development - Focuses on reconciling human activities and economic development with the protection of the environment 2. Reduce Waste  3. Eliminate toxic materials usage SUSTAINABILITY 1. Environmental integrity - Maintaining the state of the environment 2. Economic efficiency - Refers to prudence in decision-making regarding the use of resources to ensure that there is minimum to zero waste 3. Equity - Use natural resources TWO IMPORTANT VALUES 1. Prudence - Ability to regulate one’s actions and behavior 2. Frugality - Is being thrift with the use of one’s resources