DOING

PHILOSOPHY

UNIT I: LESSON 2
 PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
STATEMENTS:
I BELIEVE THAT THIS WORLD
BELLWORK IS________BECAUSE____
THE_______KIND OF LIFE IS THE BEST
KIND OF LIFE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING MAN MUST
HAVE IS __________.
What are some of the Major Questions
Philosophers ponder upon?

• QUESTIONS OF REALITY
• QUESTIONSOFCERTAINTY
• QUESTIONS OF CAUSALITY
• QUESTIONS OF ETHICS
What is real? Are we able to perceive and understand reality and everything
in it?
QUESTIONS OF
REALITY
WHAT IS REALITY?
Refers to the state of existence of things
independent of human consciousness.
Includes physical things as well as things we
cannot perceive and comprehend
Existence of “objective and absolute”
reality(everything that exists in reality has a
specific nature or character)
 CATEGORIES OF REALITY

ABSTRACT
CONCRETE
What branch of philosophy deals with the questions regarding
reality and existence?

METAPHYSICS
ONTOLOGY
A branch of Metaphysics that focuses on
the classification of existing things.
How do we know what we know? Are things that we know true?
QUESTIONS OF
CERTAINTY
WHAT IS CERTAINTY?

Refers to perfect knowledge that is free from

error or doubt.
Philosophy seeks to achieve certainty
Central concept of certainty is TRUTH
Knowledge – related to the concept of
certainty.
 EMPIRICISM

a posteriori knowledge-
Knowledge based on
experience

RATIONALISM
SKEPTICISM
a priori knowledge-Based on
pure reasoning without the Questions the certainty of
established doctrines or truths.
benefit of experience.
Believes that the minds has limits
in perceiving and understanding
reality.
What branch of philosophy deals with the nature and extent of knowledge?

EPISTEMOLOGY
What is the ultimate cause of things? What is our purpose in this world?
To what extent are our choices and actions are considered free?
QUESTIONS OF
CAUSALITY
WHAT IS CAUSALITY?
Cause of events and phenomena.
Cause-and- effect relationship
ORIGIN- related concept of causality
PURPOSE–explanation of thing’s
function. The reason for a thing's
existence.
Ultimate Cause-PURPOSE
 AGENCY
CONCEPTS is the capacity of man to govern or
control his actions.
RELATED TO
FREE WILL
CAUSALITY
is the capacity of man to choose
among possible actions.
 CHOICE
CONCEPTS It is considered to be the
important aspect in agency and
RELATED TO free will .
DETERMINIS
CAUSALITY Each event is determined or influenced
M
by a specific set of events or factors that
are causally related.
 CONCEPTS DESTINY
RELATED TO predetermined course of events leading
CAUSALITY to a specific outcome in the future
ETIOLOG
YBranch of Philosophy that studies causality

TELEOLOGY
Branch of Philosophy which
deals with the question of
purpose
 How should one live his or her life?
What is the right course of action in the face of problems and
dilemmas?
QUESTIONS OF
ETHICS
WHAT IS ETHICS?
Deals with the standards of right and
wrong
Discusses and defines concepts and
principles which are meant to govern
reasoning and actions.
Seeks to formulate a set of standards or
norm of acceptable, correct and good
behavior.
 Ethics (or Moral Philosophy)

Seeks to apply and analyze concepts in various situations,

context and cultures and recommends guidelines that will
govern the decisions and actions of people.
METHODS AND TOOLS OF PHILOSOPHERS
 METHODS AND TOOLS OF PHILOSOPHERS
Systematic Doubt
Skeptical attitude in looking
at ideas, events or things
Each aspect of the topic in
question is analyzed to
determine its validity or
truthfulness
ARGUMENT
DIALECTIC
Philosophers engage in Varied and differing ideas
discussion, discourse, and and perspectives are
debate on their ideas analyzed and from the
information gathered, new
ideas and views are
formulated.
 METHODS AND TOOLS OF PHILOSOPHERS
SOCRATIC OCCAM’S
AXIOMS
METHOD RAZOR

These refer to statements It is used in analyzing possible

It’s a method of analyzing a topic that convey certain explanations regarding a
by formulating a series of assumptions in a phenomenon which states that
questions. It is designed to among possible explanations, the
philosophical discussion simplest one which has the least
analyze its various aspects, and
unnecessary assumptions is the
examine and clarify a person’s most acceptable
views on it.
 METHODS AND TOOLS OF PHILOSOPHERS
THOUGHT EXPERIMENT &
FORMAL LOGIC ALLEGORY

These are imagined scenarios use

d to
illustrate a certain problem or
It is a systematic analysis of the describe a theory.
validity or arguments and eg Allegory of the Cave used by
Plato
stat e m e nts . F orm a l lo g ic u se s to describe his theory of forms an
d
sy llo gis m s or lo gic a l a rg um en ts. his ideas on how our perception
affects knowledge.
 What are the practical uses of Philosophy in our lives?

Problem-solving and decision

A philosopher is also a
making are important aspects
Philosophy requires a person to good communicator
in life which can benefit from
engage in analysis and interpretation who can clearly and
of concepts, definitions, arguments, a knowledge of philosophy.
adequately present his
and problems.
or her ideas.
What are the practical uses of Philosophy in our lives?

Knowledge of Philosophy
can contribute to self-
development
 Wisdom
one intended product of philosophizing
 Wisdom
one intended product of philosophizing