What is Philosophy?

Greek Words

philo to love

sophia wisdom

the love of wisdom

 As the Highest Principle of all things, four things are to be considered:

Science

Natural Light of Reason

Study of All Things

First Cause or Highest

Principle
 As the Highest Principle of all things, four things are to be considered:

Science

It is called science because the

Natural Light of Reason
investigation is systematic. It follows
certain steps or it employs certain
Study of All Things
procedures. In other words, it is an

First Cause or Highest organized body of knowledge just

Principle
like any other sciences.
 As the Highest Principle of all things, four things are to be considered:

Science

Natural Light of Reason

Philosophy uses natural capacity to
think or simply, human reason alone
Study of All Things
or the so-called unaided reason.

First Cause or Highest

Principle
 As the Highest Principle of all things, four things are to be considered:

Science

Natural Light of Reason Philosophy is not one dimensional or

Study of All Things
First Cause or Highest
Principle
partial. In short, a philosopher does
not limit himself to a particular object
of inquiry. He questions almost
anything, if not everything.
 As the Highest Principle of all things, four things are to be considered:
Science
Natural Light of Reason
Study of All Things
First Cause or Highest
Principle
The idea is to break down
complicated problems into basic
elements and then reassemble them
from the ground up. It's one of the
best ways to learn to think for
yourself, and to unlock your creative
potential.
 First Cause or Highest Principle

Principle of Identity Whatever is is; whatever is not, is not.

Principle of Non- It is impossible for a thing to be and not to be

Contradiction
Why does ‘something’ exist, but time,
at the same not ‘nothing’?
at the same respect.
Principle of Excluded Middle Between being and not-being, there is no
middle ground possible.
Principle of Sufficient Reason Nothing exists without a sufficient reason for
its being and existence.
 Western Philosophy
SOCRATES PLATO ARISTOTLE

Most Influential Greek Philosophers

 SOCRATES
“I know that I know nothing”

He was never concerned about philosophy in the

academic sense. His philosophy emanated from his
way of life, a life that was not concerned about
wealth and worldly goods.
 PLATO
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

Plato's Theory of Forms asserts that the physical

world is not really the 'real' world; instead, ultimate
reality exists beyond our physical world. 
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
 ARISTOTLE
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”

He maintained that things can be known and proven

using the senses and the faculty of reason The
forms have two categories, namely, the substance
and accidents.
Eastern Philosophy
 CONFUCIANISM
Confucianism is considered a social philosophy that
is grounded on the assumption that proper social
and political behavior is cultivated in the family.
 Jen (ren)
Human heartedness, which denotes a
compassionate person

Yi
Means righteousness, which consist of
doing things in the right manner.
 BUDDHISM
Buddhism is anchored on the idea that human
person lives in suffering and that he should
overcome this. This suffering refers to the deep
dissatisfaction that pervades human experience, and
the thirst for endless desires.
 The Four Noble Truths
1. Life is pervaded by suffering.
2. Suffering is a result of craving.
3. There is a state of freedom from suffering -
called Nirvana
4. Anyone can attain Nirvana by following the
Eightfold Path
 The Eightfold Path
1. Right View
2. Right Resolve
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
 Karma
Good and bad actions are like seeds that,
if planted, will bear fruits in the future.

Rebirth

All life is a cycle of death and rebirth.

 INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
The physical world is not as important as the
knowledge of the inner self. Thus, the common
theme of all schools of Indian Philosophy is to “see
the self”.
 HOLISTIC THINKING
It refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in systems. This is often described at
the “big picture” when describing and analyzing a situation.

PARTIAL THINKING
It focuses on the specific aspects of a situation. It is essential component of analytical thinking,
as an individual focuses on certain areas of a problem in order to understand it.
 Question 1

Cite a situation where you adopted a

holistic view in looking at a situation.
How did adopting a holistic view help
you make sense of the situation?
 Question 2

How can having holistic view help

us become better individuals?
To attain wisdom, there is a need for emptying.
Do you have any questions?