---------DEFINITION AND TERMS—---------

➢ PHILOSOPHY

○ “PHILOS” - Love / Passion

○ “SOPHIA” - Knowledge / Wisdom

○ Trains the human mind to discover fundamental explanations / causes.=

○ Overcome ignorance + formulate own hypothesis / theories.

○ Cohesive & substantial knowledge about reality sets in consciousness.

➢ CLASSICAL DEFINITION

○ The science, through the light of natural reason alone;

○ Studies the ultimate principles of all things.

○ Science = systematic step by step discipline.

■ Speculative, theoretical, and systematic discipline;

● Uses the power of human reason / human mind in gaining

knowledge of the ultimate principles / causes of reality.

➢ SIMPLER DEFINITION

○ Intellectual quest for knowledge of the world & self knowledge.

➢ PHILOSOPHY: AN INTRINSIC PART OF HUMAN NATURE

○ We are natural philosophers by nature.

○ We always ask profound & in-depth questions.

○ Part of our nature of being human.

○ Philosophy / Philosophical Thinking = Makes us a human self or person.

---------DEFINITION AND TERMS—---------

 PHILOSOPHY SCIENCE

1. Uses the mind at arriving at 1. Uses technical protocol;

conclusions / assertions about life. experimentation, facts, and
empirical data arriving at the truth.

2. Even if philo is theoretical discipline,

can question & evaluate the claims &
assertions of the field of science

- David Hume: refutation of

the principle of causality

➢ BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

○ (1) METAPHYSICS - “REALITY”

■ Study of reality or what is real.

■ Plato & Descartes: reality is the abstract or spiritual reality because it

is devoid of changes.

■ Hume Marx & Nietzsche (materialism): physical world is true reality

because it is known through empirical observation, while spiritual

dimension is illusory since it cannot pass the test of experience or

materialistic conditions of the natural world.

○ (2) EPISTEMOLOGY - “KNOWLEDGE”

■ Theory of knowledge & how one can know reality.

■ Plato & Descartes: relies on pure reason in determining the truth.

■ Hume Marx & Materialists: argues that through experience is where

one can achieve knowledge about the world.= “to see is to believe”
○ (3) PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

■ “Argument for & against God’s Existence”

■ Centers on the arguments for and against God’s existence.

■ ST. Thomas Aquinas: Argues that God exists because the world is

rational, orderly, and good. Everything in life has purpose = if there is

meaning & goodness in the world = there must be a God.

■ Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Albert Camus and Sartre (atheists)

● God is illusory because He is a figment of the human

imagination.

■ Karl Marx: “Religion is the opium of the people.”

● Implies that religion is an ideology that people create for

achieving security reasons & consolation purposes for their

sufferings & turmoils.

■ Marx & Nietzsche: Progression = deviate from prayer + resort to

action for promotion of emancipation of society.

○ (4) LOGIC
■ Science of correct reasoning.

■ Trains the human mind to arrive at sound assertions / conclusions

about life in a structured fashion.

■ CENTRAL TOPICS: ARGUMENTS

➢ ARGUMENT

○ “Form of reasoning that can be articulated or expressed in words or

symbols.”

○ 2 Components:
■ Premise (claim)

■ Conclusion (final assertion about a phenomena/event)

○ Operations of logical reasoning assumes the form of 2 basic forms of

arguments.

■ Deductive Reasoning & Inductive Arguments

○ DEDUCTIVE REASONING
■ Argues from universals to specifics.

■ Begins with universal or general statement - ff by specific instance =

leading to a conclusion.

■ Ex. “All men are mortal” = “Socrates is a Man” (specific & conclusion)

■ Usually used in field of law

○ INDUCTIVE ARGUMENT
■ Series of particular observable instances leading to a general or

universal conclusion.

■ “Specific to General Conclusion”

➢ ARISTOTLE’S 3 LAWS OF LOGIC

○ 1. LAW OF IDENTITY
■ A=A

■ Possesses certain characteristics that “define” its true nature.

■ Ex. Table = Table: because it has a surface which is used to display

objects.

○ 2. LAW OF NONCONTRADICTION
■ X cannot be X & non X at the same time.

■ Ex. Either you played last friday or not

■ Ex. 1 + 1 = 2 not 1+1 = 2 and 3.

○ 3. LAW OF EXCLUDED MIDDLE

■ Statements can either be true or false - no middle ground.

■ Ex. “The ground is wet cause it rained” = if it rained then it is wet but if

someone spilled water then it is false.

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➢ (5) COSMOLOGY

○ Deals with the origin or the world (cosmos).

ATHEIST VIEW

1. Universe was not created by God

2. “Law of Thermodynamics” or “Conservation of Energy”

a. Matter cannot be created nor destroyed = world evolved from

development of matter.

3. Big Bang Theory

4. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution - human beings evolve from lower life forms
= negates the idea that humanity is creation of God.

○ Descartes & Plato, Chiristianity: human beings are different animals

because they have the gift of reason which is a dowry from a higher order.

○ Nietszche & Schopenhauer: humans don’t have innate reasoning, to their

view rationality is a product of our social conditioning which is drilled in our

minds.

■ Power of reasoning = is trained by society to reason

■ Man is a product of evolution = creature of instinct in the likeness of

animal life.
➢ (6) AESTHETICS

○ Art & Creativity

○ Art or Literature: depictions or mirror images of reality.

■ Books, paintings, sculptures, literary novels & essays have insights &

connections about the human world.

○ EXAMPLES:
■ Robert Frost - Classic Literature

● The road less traveled conveys individual decision making one’s

life own life.

● Argument: art/literature distorts and falsifies reality.

■ Camus & Sartre (existentialists)

● Distorts view of life: absurd, filed with negativity, hypocrisy,

power of relations law, domination, competition & survival of the

fittest.

● Aesthetics is not to be construed (interpreted) in the

traditional sense of paintings, sculptors, books = but it should

be seen as a way of life (unique lifestyle).

● More daring/revolutionary in your way of life = the more artistic

you are.

● INDIVIDUALISM = form of aesthetics

■ Plato & Socrates

● Beauty is not only physical but it’s also the beauty of the mind

● Intelligence in gaining wisdom about the world & enhancement

of a refined character in one’s own life.

➢ (7) ETHICS

○ Morality - distinctions between good & bad.

○ Plato & Hegel

■ Individual self should conform to social norms & follow the doctrines

of the higher ups in society because they decide the right and wrong

for the general populace.

■ True morality is subjugation to the collective consciousness.

■ AGAINST THIS:

○ Nietzsche Camus & Sartre

■ Submission to social norms undermiones & curtails individual freedom

& uniqueness.

■ Be the creator & determiner of your own standards in life.

➢ MORALITY AS UNIVERSAL OR RELATIVE

○ Notion of morality is “absolute” or a “universal” phenomenon: what is

good for one is good for all.

■ AGAINST THIS:

○ Nietzsche & Existentialists

■ Morality is relative.

■ Due to individual diversities & difference cultural upbringings, the idea

of good & bad varies among people.

➢ (8) PERSONHOOD OR PHILOSOPHY OF THE PERSON

○ Philosophical theories of human nature, self hood & individualism.

➢ RELEVANCE OF PHILOSOPHY

○ 1. Critical Thinking & a Profound view of the world

■ Helps us challenge & become critically aware about the social dogmas

of human tradition.

■ Helps us surpass the superficialities of life to arrive at the truth &

realization of the human realities at a profound view or deeper level.

■ Distinguish knowledge & opinion

■ Truth is not reality but a product of power relations in human society.

○ 2. Objective Thinking

■ Helps us become fair & impartial to the various issues of human life.

■ Helps us investigate the pros & cons of an issue = formulate your stand

on the issue.

○ 3.Open Mindness to Diversities

■ Open mind to different perspectives about life.

■ Gaining holistic understanding of the world.

○ 4. Character Development & Self Empowerment

■ Provides guiding principles & theories that will help us reflect &

exhaust our potentials for self actualization.

■ Achieving self progress * stronger integrated sense in our lives.

■ PRACTICAL instead of theoretical & abstract.