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PHILOSOPHY 01: LOGIC

I. PROLEGOMENA

A. FUNDAMENTALS OF PHILOSOPHY
1. Etymology and Definition
a. Greek Etymology
Philosophy comes from the two Greek words, Philos which means LOVE and Sophia which means
WISDOM. So philosophy in this context means the LOVE OF WISDOM. An alternative Greek etymology
of philosophy is derived from the two great Greek figures: Homer and Herodotus. Homer, in his ILIAD,
calls the skill of the carpenter sofia and Herodotus used the verb filosofein in a context in which it would
mean nothing more than the ”desire to find out.” Philosophy can, then, be more appropriately understood
as the “love of exercising one’s curiosity and intelligence.” Philosophy can also be understood as the skill
and desire to search for something.
b. Chinese Etymology
The Chinese defines philosophy as Zhe- Xue. Zhe means wisdom Xue means study. Philosophy then is
understood as study of wisdom. Moreover, the Chinese character Zhe bears the emblem or symbolism of
mouth and hand. This connotes the inseparability of words and actions.
c. Hindu Etymology
For Hindu, Philosophy is Darsana which literally means seeing; however, seeing here does not only
imply seeing with one’s eyes but through the whole being of the one that sees. So there must be a holistic
outlook of one’s perspective.
2. Branches of Philosophy
a. Metaphysics
Metaphysics is the theory or reality. It literally means “after physics.” It tries to investigate questions such
as (1) what exists, (2) what is existence, (3) Does God exists.
b. Epistemology
Epistemology deals with the theory of knowledge. It distinguishes justified beliefs from mere opinions.
c. Ethics
Ethics is a philosophical reflection on how we should live and therefore on questions of right and wrong,
good and bad, duty, etc. It tackles moral issues like universal moral law, preservation of life, etc.
d. Logic
Logic is the study of reasoning; it answers questions like, which form of arguments are valid/ invalid,
why? It is the science and art of correct thinking.
e. Philosophical Anthropology (Philosophy of Man )
It deals with the study of man, his nature and his condition in the world in the context of his culture and
society. It basically answers the questions, “Who and What I Am?”

B. FUNDAMENTALS OF LOGIC
1. Etymology
Logic comes from the Greek word logike which means “thought.” Hence, the term Logic would etymologically
mean a treatise on matters pertaining to the human thought.
2. Definition
Logic is defined as the philosophical science and art on correct inferential thinking.
3. Deductive and Inductive Logic
Deductive logic arrives at truth claims that cannot be otherwise, hence a necessary truth. Inductive logic
arrives at truth claim that is only a matter of probability
4. Traditional/Aristotelian and Modern Symbolic Logic
Aristotelian logic, named after a great Greek thinker, Aristotle, deals with arguments that are based on the
relations of classes of objects to one another. Modern symbolic logic, also known as mathematical logic, uses
symbols usually letters of the English Alphabet to represent and determine the validity of arguments.
5. Brief History of Logic
a. Aristotle (384 – 322 BCE) – Greek philosopher, pupil of Plato and mentor of Alexander the Great, is the
founder of this science. He wrote six treatises on logical matters, the collection which was subsequently
called the “Organon” by his followers.
b. Zeno (336 – 264 BCE) – introduced the actual name of Logic. The Stoic logic mainly expanded the
Hypothetical Syllogism, with a discussion on the criterion of Truth.
c. Porphyrius (232 – 304 CE) – A Neo-Platonist, who wrote an introductory treatise to the Categories of
Aristotle, called the Isagoge, a Greek word meaning Introduction.
d. Severinus Boethius (470 – 524 CE) – A Roman Christian Philosopher who translated the Organon of
Aristotle and wrote the commentaries on the Categories and on the Isagoge of Porphyrius.
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e. Avicenna (980 – 1037 CE) and Averroes (1126 – 1198 CE) – Arabian philosophers who also wrote
commentaries on the Organon of Aristotle.
f. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274 CE) – A Medieval Christian Philosopher who wrote extensive
commentaries on the logical works of Aristotle. From him, we received our comprehensive science of Logic
g. Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626) – English philosopher and scientist who made an attack on the very
foundations of the Aristotelian Logic and formulated his own version of Logical works called, Novum
Organon (New Organon) which introduced the Theory of Induction.
h. George Boole (1815- 1864)- English mathematician and logician who is considered as one of the first
proponents of Modern Symbolic Logic ( this brand of Logic covers the same subject matter as our Standard
Logic) but differs as to the mathematical symbols and language that it uses)

References:
1. Bachhuber, Andrew. Introduction to Logic. Quezon City: National Bookstore, 1966.
2. Copi, Irving & Cohen, Carl. NJ: Logic: Language, Deduction and Induction. Pearson & Prentice Hall, 2005.
3. Evangelista, Francis. Critical Thinking: A College Student’s Introduction to Logic. Manila: National Bookstore, 2007.