PHILOSOPHY 1ST PRELIM NOTES

ORIGIN OF PHILOSOPHY

● PHILOSOPHY
- Comes from the greek words: philos (love) and sophia (wisdom)
- Greeks used this term to a “love for wisdom”
- Uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principals
which govern all things
- Pioneers in various fields of knowledge (history, biology, mathematics,
astronomy, and even physics)

● WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
- Primarily concerned with uncovering the truth through systematic argumentation
and theory

● THALES OF MILETUS (624-548 BCE)

- A greek mathematician who wanted to break from the mythological narratives of
his time and sought for a more reasonable explanation of the origin of all things
- His quest of the primordial substance of the universe ws “water”
- Honored as the first philosopher, not for his answer but because of his intention
of his question

● GREECE
- Home to one of the great civilizations during the Ancient Period.

● SOPHISTS
- They were teachers who traveled throughout Greece and taught people who
wished to learn in exchange for money.
- Excellent public speakers who trained their students to win every argument they
participate in.

● PHILOSOPHOS (“lovers of wisdom”)

- Disagreed with the methods if Sophists
- They believed that teaching is more than just training people to win arguments
- Believed that arguments and discussion must be based on sound reasoning
- Pioneers of today’s philosophers
- Their central belief was that man need not know all things in the world, but one
must continue to inquire and seek to understand and learn about human
condition
 NOTABLE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS

● PYTHAGORAS
- On of the leaders of the Philosophos
- Credited with the formulation of the Pythagorean theorem
- Known to teach that a correct description of reality must be expressed in terms of
mathematical formula

● HERACLITUS
- For him, change is a permanent aspect of the human condition
- Credited with the saying “no an ever steps on the same river”

a. LOGOS
- everything that exists is based on a higher order or plan

● DEMOCRITUS
- He devoted himself to studying the causes of natural phenomena.
- First to propose that matter is composed of tiny particles called atoms.

● DIOGENES OF SINOPE
- Known advocate of a simple and virtuous life
- Said to have lived like a beggar
- For him, one should not only talk of virtue and should show it in words and
actions
- Known to be a vocal critic of well-known philosophers (Plato and Aristotle)
- Influenced the development of several schools of philosophy such as Cynicism

● EPICURUS
- Believed that philosophy could enable man to live a life of happiness
- His view gave rise to Epicureanism–

a. EPICUREANISM
- a school of philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple living will result to
a life free from fear and pain

● SOCRATES
- Considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times
- Known critic of intellectuals (Sophists)
- He did not claim to be “wise”
- Credited with formulating the Socratic Method–

a. SOCRATIC METHOD
- A means of examining a topic by devising a series of questions
● PLATO
- Student of Socrates
- His teachings and writings were considered the foundation of western philosophy
- Most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms
- Known for his Dialectic
- Founding of the Academy

a. THEORY OF FORMS
- proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea that are eternal and
unchanging

b. DIALECTIC
- a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt to
arrive of new knowledge

c. ACADEMY
- institution of higher learning

● ARISTOTLE
- Attended the Academy
- Disagreed with Plato’s theory of forms and took a different stance in interpreting
reality
- For him, all ideas and views are based on perception and our reality is based on
what we can sense and perceive
- His studies in logic led to the rise of Deductive Reasoning

a. DEDUCTIVE REASONING
- The process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or
generalization

● ARCHIMEDES
- Renown for the practical aspects of his philosophical inquiries and was
considered a leading scientist in ancient times
- His inquires into mathematics gave rise to modern calculus
- Pioneered the use of mathematics to analyze natural phenomena
- Credited for inventions such as the Archimedes Screw

a. ARCHIMEDES SCREW
- a device for raising water and a method for determining volume using
displacement
 TWO MAIN PHILOSOPHICAL CULTURES

● WESTERN PHILOSOPHY
- Referred to as the school of thought from Greek Philosophy that influenced the
greater part of western civilization.
- Take its roots from Greek, Rome and Christianity, specifically Judeo-Christianity
- More individualistic and based on self-dedication to be of service to others.
- Logical, scientific, and rational

● EASTERN PHILOSOPHY
- Based mainly in Asia, more specifically the Chinese Philosophy
- Take it roots for Confucianism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Taoism
- Drawn more into groups or society (Collectivism)
- Main principal is Unity and ethics

a. COSMOLOGICAL UNITY
- The main point in the journey of life as it goes towards the eternal realities

4 MAIN BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

● LOGIC
- studies reasoning. It teaches us how to differentiate between good and bad
reasoning and how to construct valid arguments
- Seeks to answer questions such as, what is valid reasoning? How can you
distinguish between a good and bad argument?

● EPISTEMOLOGY
- Referred to as the theory of knowledge
- it delves into the definition, scope, and parameters of knowledge and knowledge
formation
- Seeks to explain how we acquire knowledge, how knowledge relates to notions
like justification, truth, and belief.
- Ex. What is knowledge? How do we know what we know?

● METAPHYSICS
- Studies reality, existence, the nature of being, the physical world and the
universe
- Seeks to answer difficult questions like; what is the nature of reality? How did
mankind come to be? How was the universe made?
 ● ETHICS
- Known as moral philosophy
- Referred to as the study of morality, it seeks to address questions about how we
should live our lives.
- A study that teaches us what virtuous life is like and how we can put these virtues
into practice
- Ex. What is a good life? What does “right” even mean? How should we act?

MAJOR CONCERNS IN PHILOSOPHY

● QUESTIONS OF REALITY
- Refers to the state of existence of things independent of human consciousness
- Includes physical things that we see, feel, taste, and smell, as well as that we
cannot easily perceive and comprehend
- Include the concepts of time, space, he nature of the universe, and the nature of
the human being or what makes man what he is

--------> Reality divides into Concrete and Abstract Reality

a. OBJECTIVE AND ABSOLUTE

- Philosophers believe in the existence of “objective and absolute”
- Means that everything that exist in reality has a specific nature or character

b. ONTOLOGY
- Focuses on the classification of existing things

● QUESTIONS OF CERTAINTY
- Refers to perfect knowledge that is free from error or doubt
- Philosophers seeks to achieve certainty in its quest for knowledge
- Many philosophers believe that it is impossible to be perfectly certain about
existence and the human condition
- Central concept in the question of certainty is Truth— although we cannot be
perfectly certain about all things, philosophers use methods and approaches to
reach conclusions with certain degrees of certainty or truth in them

a. RATIONALISM
- Theory on knowledge which believes that knowledge is priori knowledge– or
based on pure reasoning without the benefit of any experience

b. EMPIRICISM
- A theory that considers knowledge to be a posteriori knowledge– or knowledge
gained from experience
c. SKEPTICISM
- Questions the certainty of established doctrines or truths
- Believes that the mind has limits in perceiving and understanding reality

● QUESTIONS OF CASUALITY
- The causes of events and phenomena
- Philosophers analyze casualty by examining events in the context of a
cause-and-effect relationship
- Concept of causality are questions regarding the origin of things
- Branch of philosophy that studies casualty is called Etiology

a. PURPOSE
- The explanation of a thing’s function or goal
- Also refers to the reason for a thing’s existence
- A things purpose is often considered its final or ultimate cause

b. AGENCY
- The capacity of man to govern or control his actions

c. DETERMINISM
- Shows that each event is determined or influenced by a specific set of events or
factors

● QUESTIONS OF ETHICS
- Deals with the standards of right and wrong which define human behavior
- Important concepts are; right and wrong, greater good, duty, obligation and
virtue.
- Moral philosophy

METHODS AND TOOLS IN PHILOSOPHY

● SYSTEMATIC DOUBT
- Each aspect of the topic in question is analyzed to determine its validity or
truthfulness

● ARGUMENT
- Various perspectives on a topic are taken into consideration and examined

● DIALECTIC
- Varied and differing ideas and perspectives are analyzed and from the
information gathered, new ideas and views are formulated
● AXIOMS
- Refers to assumptions which are taken for granted in philosophical discussion
- Provide a foundation and direction in philosophical studies
- Other philosophical topics have their own sets of axioms which are the basis of
discussion and debate

● OCCAM’S RAZOR
- A problem solving device
- Used in analyzing possible explanations regarding a phenomenon.
- States that among possible explanations, the one which has the least
assumptions is the most acceptable

● FORMAL LOGIC
- A systematic analysis of the validity of arguments and statements
- Uses syllogisms or logical arguments

● THOUGHT EXPERIMENT AND ALLEGORY

- These are imagined scenarios used to illustrate a certain problem or describe a
theory

PRACTICAL USES OF PHILOSOPHY

1. To engage in analysis and interpretation of concepts, definitions, arguments, and

problems. One can apply this critical and analytical mindset in approaching information
gained from media and addressing issues encountered in life.

2. Problem solving and decision making– ability to analyze a problem, identify its significant
aspects and come up with alternative solutions.

3. Can clearly and adequate present their ideas– help us be more open to new and
different ideas.

4. Wisdom– an intended product of philosophizing, this refers to a persons ability to apply

knowledge to daily life.

5. Can contribute to self development.