Philosophy Notes PDF

PHILOSOPHY  TOPIC OUTLINE Nature of Philosophy The Definition of Philosophy The Stages of Development  Greek Philosophy  Christian Philosophy  Modern Philosophy  Contemporary The Branches of Philosophy Learning Tasks and Objectives Define philosophy Trace the history of philosophy Identi...

PHILOSOPHY  TOPIC OUTLINE Nature of Philosophy The Definition of Philosophy The Stages of Development  Greek Philosophy  Christian Philosophy  Modern Philosophy  Contemporary The Branches of Philosophy Learning Tasks and Objectives Define philosophy Trace the history of philosophy Identify the branches of philosophy; and Appreciate the nature of philosophy  Nature of Philosophy Philosophy for the Chinese means doing what one is saying, or putting one’s words into action.  Pythagoras (570-504 BC) One of the great philosophers of ancient Greece He coined the term Philosophy, which derived from Greek words: Philo which means “Love” and Sophia which means “wisdom”. Literally, philosophy means “love of wisdom”.  Wisdom vs Knowledge Wisdom- Described as the right application of knowledge, involves deeper understanding of how knowledge can be put to good use. Knowledge- is what is known about things through the sense of perception such as seeing (reading, observing), hearing (listening), touching, tasting, and smelling. For Ancient Greeks Philosophy refers to the love of knowing the truth, searching for truth and desiring to “live in it”  The Definition of Philosophy Philosophy- is defined as a science which investigates the ultimate nature and cause of things by the use of human reason alone. As a science, philosophy is a certain and organized knowledge derived from facts. As a nature, refers to a particular combination of qualities that makes something what it is and makes it different from other things. In other words, it is which makes a thing what it is. As a cause, is that from which something proceeds. Hence, it makes something happen. Palmiano explains that since philosophy attempts to understand reality it studies the ultimate “what” and “why’s” of all realities of things. By human reason alone means that knowledge is acquired through reasoning without the aid of instruments. But the act of reasoning is combined with experience, observation, and reflection. Philosophy, therefore, is not purely abstract or hypothetical speculation but an attempt consistent with the truth, the good and the beautiful. The Beginning of Philosophy Mascia (1957:14) states that the historical beginning of philosophy came through four great successive civilizations: Indian, Classic (includes Ancient Greek period), Christian, and Modern. So, historically, Oriental philosophies predated the oldest Western philosophies. When Thales of Miletus and his students like Anaximander and Anaximenes also from Miletus began their inquiry into the nature of things, it marked the beginning of Western Philosophy. As Western philosophy began to emerge Oriental philosophy started to decline. Then, Western philosophy had dramatic developments when Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle came into the picture. Eastern philosophy emphasized benevolence, harmony, wisdom, and family. Western philosophy emphasized ambition, individualism, rationality, power, and liberty. The Stages of Development The Greek philosophy began with a pre-historic period known as the Age of Universal Animism (spirits) and the Age of Anthropomorphism (gods and genii). Greek Philosophy (Classic Civilization) The history of Greek philosophy consisted of the following periods: 1. Naturalistic Periods 2. metaphysical Periods 3. Ethical Period 4. Religious Period Naturalistic Periods Was composed of the Ionians, the Pythagoreans, Heraclitus, the Eleatics, and the Pluralists. The philosophers focused on cosmological problem asking about the origin and the end of things. Hence, the first period of Greek philosophy was generally a philosophy of nature, with Thales of Miletus known as the first Greek philosopher.  Metaphysical Period The concern during this period was man in his knowledge, morality and justice. The Sophists, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were the leading thinkers of metaphysical period. Ethical Period It aims to find “a way of life worthy of a philosopher” Composed of; 1. Stoicism- appealing to reason 2. Epicureanism-appealing to senses 3. Skepticism-distrust both reason and senses  Religious Period In this period, the philosophers were called Christian philosophers. Christianity appeared, not as a philosophy, but as a revealed religion given by Jesus Christ-God-man, with a doctrine of redemption and salvation and love. Three sub-periods: 1. Period of Evangelization -spreading of Christianity by Jesus Christ and His Apostles 2. Patristic Period- Christianity defended itself from pagans and heretics. 3. Scholastic Period- Christianity created its own philosophy in harmony and dogmatic teaching  Modern Philosophy (Modern Civilization) Is generally said to have begun with DESCARTES (1596-1650) in France or with FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) in England. Under Modern Philosophy, Rationalism and Empiricism emerged. Rationalism- taught that knowledge is acquired by reason without resort to experience. It argued that reason is the only source of knowledge. Empiricism- held that sense experience, observation, and experimentation were the only means of acquiring knowledge. Illuminism (or the Enlightenment)- emerged as a strong opposition to all past ages, particularly, the Middle Ages. In general, it aimed to reestablish the entire order of human life in the “light of reason.” Idealism- it is a doctrine that nothing can be directly known outside of the mind of a thinking being. George Berkeley, the Idealism’s major philosopher, said that ideas can exist only in mind. Positivism- was a system of philosophical doctrine elaborated by Auguste Comte. It maintained that the data of sense experience were the only object and the supreme criterion of human knowledge. Contemporary Philosophy Pragmatism- is a contemporary philosophy which teaches that the value of a concept is not but relative to its utility (or use) in practice. “What is useful is valuable.” William James was Pragmatism’s major philosopher. Existentialism - another contemporary philosophy, is indeed a philosophical movement which claims that individual human beings create the meanings and essence of their own lives. Hence, they are responsible for what they make of themselves. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche are considered as the Fathers of Existentialism. The Future of Philosophy The future of philosophy is bound up with the human being’s intellectual life. There is no reason why philosophy should cease. Only an unreflective person could say that philosophy is now ready for retirement. Philosophical reflection will cease only when human beings cease to think. The Branches of Philosophy 1. Aesthetics. A philosophical study of the beautiful, it establishes the criteria of beauty. 2. Cosmology or Philosophy of Nature. It is a philosophical study of the physical world and the final principles of material beings. 3. Epistemology. This deals with human knowledge, and focuses on truth. 4. Ethics. This deals with the principles and laws governing the morality of human acts and the nature of moral judgments. 5. Ontology of General Metaphysics. This studies beings in general, the different reasons and principles of the reality of things, or the nature of things (the cause, the substance, and the ultimate meaning or purpose of things) 6. Philosophy of Man. Centers on the nature of man. 7. Social Philosophy. Studies the sociality of man, the nature and principles of human society. 8. Rational Psychology. Studies living things, the principles of life, the nature of the vital operations and powers, and their classification. 9. Political Philosophy. An inquiry into the questions concerning the existence of the state. 10. Theodicy or Special Metaphysics. Also known as Natural Theology, this studies the first cause of contingent beings and of emergent reality and the Supreme Being. 11. Logic. The philosophical science of correct thinking.,