Definition of Philosophy

1. Etymological definition
 The word “Philosophy” is a said to be invented by Pythagoras. According to him, only
the Gods should be called “wise” while men should be called “ lovers” or “friends of
wisdom”. Hence the term “philo” and “sophia” were formulated and literally mean
“love” and “wisdom” respectively.
 It is derived from the Greek words “philo” meaning “love”. “sophos” meaning “wise”
and “sophia” meaning wisdom.
2. Formal Definition
 It is defined as “Certa Scientia per ultima causas” which means certain knowledge
through ultimate causes-acquired by the use of human reason alone.
3. Philosophy can be regarded as a private wisdom giving the person ability to look things in a
positive way or view. Hence, this given man the opportunity to be optimistic especially in times
of misfortune.
4. Philosophy is the science of sciences. It does not only unify all sciences but also criticizes and
defends the conclusion of other sciences.
5. Philosophy is the science that seeks to organize and systematize all fields of knowledge as a
means od understanding and interpreting the totality of reality. (Good,p.395)
6. Philosophy is the attempt to give a reasoned conception of the universe and of man’s place in it.
(W.P. Moniagne, Lacuesta, et.al.45)
7. A complete philosophy includes a world view or a reasoned conception of the whole cosmos,
and a life-view or doctrine of values, meanings and purposes of human life. (J.A. Leighton,
Lacuestra, et.al., 45)
8. Philosophy is a search for a comprehensive view of nature, an attempt at a universal explanation
of the nature of things. (A. Weber, Lacuestra, et.al., 45-46)

Relationship of Philosophy and Education

 While Philosophy establishes the fundamental principles (concepts, theories, learning),

it is Education that carries out these principle.
 Furthermore, it is philosophy that provides the goals or aims while Education is the
instrument in realizing these goals.
 Philosophy and education complement each other. Both of them spouse theory and
practice. The absence of one will make a man insufficient and aimless.

Branches of Philosophy

Metaphysics

 Deal with the first principles, the origin and essence of things, the causes and end of things.
 Metaphysics was first introduced by Aristole (384-322 B.C.) as “meta to physika” which simply
means “with the things of nature”.
 As a branch of Philosophy it deals with the nature of being and reality, essence, truth, space,
time, causation, essence of God, as well as the origin and purpose of the universe.
 Under Metaphysics are the following subdivisions

1. Cosmology
 It is derived from the Greek word “cosmos which means universe. It tries to explain the
origin and nature of the universe as well as the theories on the origin of the universe
including creationism and evolutionism among others.
2. Teology
 Tries to elucidate whether or not there is a purpose in the universe.
3. Ontology
 Deals with the meaning of existence and tries to resolve the question of whether existence
is identical with space, time, nature, spirit or God.
4. Epistemology
 Deals with knowledge and are concerned with the ways of knowing. The different kinds of
knowledge are: conceptual (ideas formed in mind), perceptual (knowledge gained through
the senses), and intuitive (cognition of a thing independent of reason, inference, or cause).
 Epistemology is derived from the Greek word “episteme” meaning “knowledge” and
“logos” which means “ the study of”. It is synonymous with the Latin word “scientia”.
Basically, it deals with the study of knowledge.

Under Epistemology are the following subdivisions;

1. Agnoticism
 It is the doctrine that conclusive knowledge of ultimate reality is an outright
impossibility.
 It also claims that it is impossible to for man to prove the existence of God.
2. Skepticism
 It is the doctrine that any true knowledge is impossible and everything is open to doubt.
 The foremost advocates of this idea were: Pyrrho (ca. 300 B.C) and Rene Descartes
(1596-1650) whose philosophy was based on doubt and popularized the idea of Cogito
Ergo Sum.
 A Posteriori – is a Latin phrase meaning “from behind hand”. It advanced the idea that
knowledge comes experience.
 A priori – is a Latin phrase meaning “from before hand”. This is the reasoning that
knowledge comes from pure reason alone and knowledge is independent and even
comes before experience.

Axiology

 It is teleology which deals with purposes and values. It deals with the problems of values.
 It seeks to rationalize the questions like what is value? What are values to be desired in living
and the likes.

Axiology has two subdivisions:

1. Ethics
 It is derived from the Greek word “ethos” which means characteristic way of acting.
It is defined as the art and science that deals with morality of human acts.
  The idea of what is right and what is wrong, good and evil.

 Morality – is derived from the Greek word “mores” meaning the distinction between
right and wrong.

2. Aesthetics
 It is derived from the Greek word “aesthetic” which means “the who perceives”.
 It is fundamentally concerned with the beauty and standards or tests of values.
 It deals with beauty and ugliness.

 Logic – deals with the systematic treatment of the relation of ideas. In education, it is
expected to develop the mind and to think and reason out systematically based on
concrete facts. Logic is derived from the Greek words “Logia” meaning argument and
“logike” meaning the Art of rasoning. It is basically the science and art of correct
thinking and correct reasoning.

Logic also has its specific fields for its different areas of concern:

1. Induction
 Reasoning that is done through the process of inferring a general law or principle from
the observation of particular instances to a general conclusions.
2. Deduction
 Reasoning through a process which is the reverse of induction, that is from a general
principle to particulars include within the scope of the principle.
3. Syllogism
 Argumentation which a conclusion is derived fron two propositions called premises.
4. Dialect
 A means of discovering the truth by proceeding from an assertion/thesis to a denial or
antithesis and finally reconciling the two into synthesis.

Thesis Anti-thesis Synthesis