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The Nature of
Philosophy
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OBJECTIVES: Intro

• Explain the meaning of

philosophy (etymologically and
its characteristics)
• Specify the range of the activity
of philosophizing
• Demonstrate the importance of
philosophy
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COMMON MEANINGS
OF PHILOSOPHY
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I. Philosophy is Ideas,
views, principles,
perspectives, and
beliefs
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II. PILOSOPO

• Is the one who engages in reasoning

just to cover up an obvious truth
• Engaging in reasoning simply to irritate
or annoy somebody else
• a waste of time
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III. ACADEMIC SUBJECT

Taught in colleges, universities and seminaries

Pursue of philosophy as a degree is perceived as
having the intention of becoming a lawyer, priest or
philosophy teacher.
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PHILOSOPHY

• Distinguishes between correct and incorrect forms of reasoning;

knowing or determining what is true
• Serves as a framework/bases for interpreting or making
judgement about the world
• Philosophy can’t be contained in the academe; We do it in
everyday aspect of our life and not just a set of theories that we
can study.
 LOVE OF WISDOM
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 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) PHILOSOPHY AS LOVE OF WISDOM
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Etymology: Greek word (Philo + Sophia) love of

wisdom
Philosopher- lover of wisdom or one who loves
wisdom.
Philosopher was first used by Pythagoras
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SOPHIST PHILOSOPHE
• Literally means “wise man” or “one R
Reason will show us that
who knows”
• Group of intellectuals who taught certain truths are
oratory (public speaking) for a fee universal (true for all
to individuals aspiring to have a
career in politics
humans) and objective
• Politics require skills in public (indep0endent from
speaking and persuasion
human interest)
• Believes that all truths are relative;
there is no truth that holds for all
humans
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WHO IS A WISE
PERSON?
1. Wise person is one who is aware of (or who knows)
what he/she knows and what he/she does not know. A
wise person is aware of his/her own ignorance
2. Wise person holds beliefs that are not only true but
which he/she can also justify
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3. Wise person knows a lot about things that are valuable
in life.
4. Wise person can put his/her knowledge to practical use
(apply his knowledge to practical matters)
5. Wise person doesn’t only know what is true, but also
knows what is good or what is ought to be done in a
given situation.
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What kind of
questions does
philosophy ask?
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 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Framework questions
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• Framework- our belief system or worldviews which serves as the

basis or foundation of our interpretation of the things and events in
the world and how we make sense of our lives in relation to our
natural and social environment.
• Internal and External framework
• What is 2+2?
• What are numbers? Are mathematical rules based on human
agreement?
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Framework questions
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

• Framework- our belief system or worldviews which serves as the

basis or foundation of our interpretation of the things and events in
the world and how we make sense of our lives in relation to our
natural and social environment.
• Internal and External framework
• What is 2+2?
• What are numbers? Are mathematical rules based on human
agreement?
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Philosophy as an
activity
 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Philosophy as an activity
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•  Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity 

• Two ways of understanding the nature of philosophy:
• One sees philosophy as collection of theories; to know various
philosophical theories 
• Other sees it as an activity; end product of philosophizing,
clarification of our thoughts and propositions 
• Philosophy as an activity emphasizes the features of Philosophy
as dynamic, critical and creative discipline.