Philosophy – Lesson 1: Doing Philosophy

Distinguishing Opinion from Truth

 Etymologically, the word “philosophy” comes from two Greek words:

 Philo – meaning “to love”
 Sophia – meaning “wisdom”
 So “philosophy” is translated literally as “love of wisdom”

Philosophy

Conceptual analysis – thinking about thinking

REASON

Truth

Holistic perspective

Reason

Partial point of view

Holistic perspective

General  specific

Deductive reasoning

General rule  specific instance

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Partial point of view

Specific  general

Inductive reasoning

Specific instances  general rule

Recognize Human Activities that Emanate from Deliberate Reflection

 Branches of Philosophy and Their Basic Questions:

 Philosophy itself – the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters
such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Asks: Why?
 Metaphysics – the study of the fundamental nature of reality. Asks: What is there,
really?
 Epistemology – the study of the nature of knowledge. Asks: How do you know?
 Ethics – the study of moral principles, the concepts of right and wrong conduct. Asks:
How should I live? What is the best way for people to live?
 Aesthetics – the study of art, beauty, and taste. Asks: What is beautiful?
 Ethics and aesthetics together make up axiology – the study of values.
 Logic – the study of reasoning and argument.

Realize the Value of Doing Philosophy in Obtaining a Broader Perspective in Life

 Why does man see the need to do philosophy?

 Plato – the sense of wonder

Plato
(428/427 or 424/423 BC-348/347
BC)
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 Rene Descartes – Doubt, “I think therefore I am.”

Rene Descartes
(1596-1650)

 Karl Jaspers – Experience, “limit situations”

Karl Jaspers
(1883-1969)

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 The love of wisdom – an insatiable desire for truth. Socrates: “I know that I do not
know”; “The uninformed life is not worth living”

Socrates
(470/469 BC-399 BC)

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