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Module 1: Philosophy
Tags First Trimester

Philosophy has four main branches: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Logic, and

Ethics.

Metaphysics (meta- beyond or after + physika- physical) means the study of things

beyond the physical, that is, concepts or things that cannot be experienced, such as
the concepts of God, freedom, and soul.

Subdivisions: General Metaphysics (Ontology) and Special

Metaphysics (Cosmology, Psychology, Theodicy)

General Metaphysics

Ontology
(onto- being + logos- study/knowledge) studies the first principles or the essence
of all things

Basic questions: What is being? Why do things exist, rather than not exist at
all? What is the meaning and nature of reality? What is the underlying
principle of all that exist? Is there nothing?

Special Metaphysics

Cosmology

Module 1: Philosophy 1
 (cosmos-world + logos) studies the world (or universe), including its origin,
dynamics, and characteristics, as well as the laws that govern its order.

Basic questions: What is the origin of the world?, What is the basic
material of which the world is formed? How do things arise? In what
consists its (the world) fundamental form or principle of order? Is the
world or universe infinite?

This is different from Earth Science in as much as we only discuss

principles and causes in Cosmology. Unlike in Earth Science that you
already discuss the specific matter such as the formation of rocks, etc.

Psychology

(psyche-mind/soul +logos) is the study of the nature and dynamics of the

human person as a whole.

Basic questions: What is the nature of the human person? Is there such
a thing as human nature? What is the meaning and purpose, if any, of
life? Is there life after death? How do we account for the existence of
suffering in the world?

Again this is different from the Psychology that you know because it is
about the behavior of the human person. Psychology in Metaphysics is a
broad philosophy tackling the nature and principles that govern the
existence of a human person.

Theodicy or Rational/ Natural Theology

(theos- God) is the study of God which concerns with the rational proof of
the existence of God and the justification of His goodness and the existence
of evil.

Basic questions: Is there a God? What and who is God, if He exists at

all? How do we prove the existence of God? If God exists, how do we
justify the existence of evil and suffering in the world? Does a belief in
God really necessary?

This is different from Theology or Religion because in Theodicy, no faith

is involved yet. But later on, you will see that in the Medieval Period,
they used philosophy to understand their faith better.

Epistemology

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 (episteme- knowledge + logos) is the study of the nature and scope of
knowledge and justified belief. Specifically, it analyzes the nature of
knowledge and how it relates to similar notions such as truth, belief, and
justification. In simple words, it attempts to answer the question: how do
we know what we know?

• Basic questions: What is knowledge? What do we know? How is

knowledge acquired? What are the structures and limits of
knowledge? What makes justified beliefs justified?

Logic

(Logos) is the science of correct thinking or the study of the principles

and criteria of a valid argument. More specifically, logic attempts to
distinguish sound or good reasoning from unsound or bad reasoning.

Basic questions: What is correct reasoning? What distinguishes a

good argument from a bad one? How can we detect a fallacy in an
argument? What are the criteria for determining the validity of an
argument? What are the types of logic?

Ethics

(ethos- custom or habit) is concerned with questions of how human

persons ought to act, and the search for a definition of a right conduct
and the good life. Ethics is not the same as morality: ethics is the theory;
morality is the practice.

Basic questions: What is a right conduct as that which causes the

realization of the greatest good? How do we determine a right conduct?
In other words, what makes a right conduct right? What is a good life
and can we attain it? What is the difference between human act and
actions that are based on instinct? What do people think is right?

Module 1: Philosophy 3