LECTURE 1: General

Introduction philosophy:
Occidental and oriental

AK30103 : PHILOSOPHY IN COMMUNICATION

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387168899218285088/
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20181112-good-grief-the-beguiling-
philosophy-of-peanuts
WHY DO WE NEED TO STUDY
PHILOSOPHY?

1. Philosophy provides the basis for CRITICAL

THINKING;

It teaches us to question and reason the general

assumption about life and its occurrences, norms
and social practices as well as views about reality;
2. It also pushes us to understand why we should
do this and not that and its consequences;

3. Philosophy helps us to solve problems, improve

our communications skills e.g human
communication (interpersonal), persuasive skills
and writing skills;
(www.jmu.edu/philrel/why-study-philosophy/why-
study-philosophy.shtml)
 Definition of ‘Philosophy’
Comes from a Greek word – phílosophía – the love of
wisdom or Study of knowledge (
https://www.philosophybasics.com/general_whatis.htm
l
);
A. “the use of reason in understanding such things as
the nature of the real world and existence, the use and
limits of knowledge, and the principles of moral
judgment,”
B. “the study of the nature of reality and existence, of
what it is possible to know, and of right and wrong
behavior, or a particular set of beliefs of this type”
“Our greatest glory is not in never
falling, but in rising every time we fall,”
Confucius (551-479 BC)

•“Richness is not having many belongings, but

richness is contentment of the soul,” – Prophet
Muhammad PBUH (571 – 632 AD)

•“He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.”

― Aristotle (385 – 322 BC)
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 Philosophy

Beliefs, values, morality

Actions
 Philosophy vs Ideology?
Ideology
Philosophy

Looking at life in a Is a set of beliefs

pragmatic manner, and doctrine that
Trying to an institutions
understand life; supports
Principles i.e democracy
governing behind
life
Philosophy – its purpose is to seek
knowledge for truth and wisdom,

Ideology – its purpose is to enact

control and domination over the
masses;
Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics : deals with the fundamental issue of
reality;
Epistemology : deals with our concept of knowledge,
how we learn and what we can know;
Aesthetics : deals with the idea of beauty and art;
Logic : concerns with the rules of valid reasoning and
argumentation
Ethics (moral philosophy) : concerned with human
values and how individuals should act.
Politics : a study of government, citizen rights &
political obligations
(www.whatisphilosophy.net/)
 Occidental vs Oriental
This is study of Western vs Oriental
philosophy
Occident : refers to the Western world
(Barat), especially America and Europe.
Oriental : refers to the East or more
specifically, Asiatic (Timur)
 Occidental Oriental
1. Begins from the Ancient 1. Consists of Indian, Chinese,
Greek and Rome - philosophy Persian, Japanese philosophies

- Draws from Islam, Hinduism &

Buddhism religion

2. Western societies – driven to 2. Eastern societies – accepts

find the truth truth as given and more keen in
keeping the balance
3. Western philosophies are 3. Eastern philosophies are
more ‘hands-on’ more spiritual – guides your
moral behaviour and ethics
4. Western philosophies talked 4. Eastern philosophies – is
about ‘I’ and ‘Me’ more collective – ‘We’ and ‘Us’
Oriental philosophy about friendship
“Never do to others what you would not like them to do to
you,”

Occidental philosophy about friendship

“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”
Western philosophies (Occident) is more fragmentary
while Eastern philosophies (Oriental) is more holistic
(
https://www.ancient.eu/article/855/similarities-betwe
en-eastern--western-philosophy/
)

It is also said that Oriental/Eastern philosophy is more

concerned about general knowledge while Western
philosophy is concerned about specific knowledge of a
field.
 Similarities
Chinese philosopher – Confucius (551-479 BCE) vs Greek
philosopher – Aristotle (384- 322 BCE) share similar views that
virtue (moral) is the one goal that one seek to attain in life and by
doing so, they will be given lasting rewards for putting virtue
above worldly possesions;

Islamic philosophy – person whose sole purpose in life is to do

good then he or she will be handsomely rewarded for doing so –
rewards will either be given in this world or in the Hereafter
20
Areas to be philosophized on in the
fields of communication?
The ‘communication’ fields
http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/Resdoc
/PGA_044522

Suhaimi Salleh ©, 2017, 2018,

2019
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 Student Activities
 Watch these videos and discuss what you think about
philosophy

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N98Am5AprY

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYdx6lDDhg&t=21
s

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQ7655MqWM

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsTuRFR5IyQ