Branches of

Philosophy
LESSON 2
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the lesson students should:

1. Identify the major branches of philosophy
2. Determine the process of doing philosophy
3. Show an understanding of the activity of doing
philosophy of the human person
five branches of philosophy
EPISTEMOLOG
Y
AESTHETI
CS
LOGI
C
ETHIC
S METAPHYSI
CS
1. ethics
• Came from the Greek word
ethos meaning “moral
philosophy”
• concerned with what is good
for individuals and society
• human conduct
• norms or standards of right
and wrong
• helps people prioritize their
values
 Example:

1. Business/Work Ethics –
ability to maintain proper
moral values within the
workplace
• Obeying company’s rules
and regulations
• Loyalty
• Trustworthiness
 Example:

2. Returning lost wallet to

the owner.
 Example:

3. Keeping quiet inside the

library to avoid
distraction to others.
 Example:

4. Accomplishing
assignments/activities
without copying the
answers of other
classmates.
 2. AESTHETICS
• Greek term aisthetikos which
means “of sense perception”
• the philosophy of art
• standards of beauty
• idea of what is beautiful
• being interested in how
something looks, feels, tastes,
smells, and pleasant to the
ears
example

• Aesthetically
pleasing to the
eyes
 Food
preference
 • Interested on
example how it feels
Music preference
Smells pleasant
3. epistemology

• came form the Greek word

episteme which means
“knowledge”
• the study of knowledge
• origin of knowledge
• verification or confirmation of
knowledge
 • thesis paper / feasibility study
Examples: • lessons / quizzes / activities / major exams /
board exams
example

• Inventions
and product
innovations
Types of epistemology

1. Empiricism (given by experience)

• theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-
experience
2. Rationalism (given by the mind prior to/before
experience)
• the practice of only believing what is based on reason,
belief in innate ideas
 4. logic
• from the Greek word logos
which means “reason, idea,
or word”
• study the principles of correct
reasoning
• increases one’s ability to
reason correctly
• distinguish rational from
irrational reasoning
Example:

A1 B2 C3 D4 _ _
Example:

A1 B2 C3 D4 E5
Example:
Example:
Example:
If
2 + 3 = 65
3 + 4 = 127
4 + 1 = 45
2 + 5 = 107
Then
7+3=
Example:
If
2 + 3 = 65
3 + 4 = 127
4 + 1 = 45
2 + 5 = 107
Then
7 + 3 = 2,110
• Logic is an analysis of the methods of deduction
and induction
• Two Types of Reasoning
1. Deductive Reasoning
2. Inductive Reasoning
1. Deductive reasoning

• moves from general premises to a more

specific conclusion
• moves from idea to confirmation
• the flow will start from a theory, to hypothesis,
down to observation, and finally the
confirmation
• Deductive reasoning is the process of reasoning from
one or more statements to reach a specific conclusion.
Example:
All male students in the class can play guitar.
Allan is a student of this class.
---Therefore, Allan can play guitar.
Example:
At the conference, all the people are thirty years old or
older.
Maria is in the conference room.
---Therefore, Maria is thirty or older.
• When you are using deductive reasoning, your
conclusion will be correct if all the statements
you say is correct.
2. Inductive reasoning

• moves from specific premises to a general

conclusion
• moves from observation to idea
• the flow will start from observation, then make a
pattern, test the hypothesis to reach a general
conclusion
Example:
Every quiz in Philosophy has been easy.
---Therefore, the monthly exam will be easy as well.
Example:
The teacher used PowerPoint presentation in the last
few classes.
---Therefore, the teacher will use PPT tomorrow.
• When you are using inductive reasoning,
correct observations won’t necessary lead you
to a correct general conclusions.
5. metaphysics
• came from the Greek word meta which means “after” and
physika which means physics - the branch of science that deals
with the structure of matter and how the fundamental
constituents of the universe interact
• Metaphysics means after physics (reality versus appearance)
• Idea or reality outside of human sense perception (abstract
theory with no basis in reality)
• refers to the studies of what cannot be reached through
objective studies of material reality
• A philosophy that concerns the nature and description
of an ultimate reality that stands behind the physical
world or the world of appearances.
• Deals with the first principles of things, including
abstract concepts such as being, knowing, substance,
cause, identity, time, and space.
Examples:
• existence of God
• origin of the universe
• God’s creation of heaven and earth
• existence of heaven, hell, angels, demons, ghosts,
spirits
• extraterrestrial life
• people who foresee the future, predictions, fortune
teller
• superstitious belief