Lesson 7: Methods of Philosophizing

The Dialectic Method

The Dialectic Method

• This method of philosophizing was formulated by the Greek philosopher Socrates

The Dialectic Method

• The method starts with eliciting the definition of a certain word from a person who appears to be familiar (or “pretends” to be familiar) with its meaning.

The Dialectic Method

• Socrates then points out the imperfections of the person’s understanding through a series of questions. What Socrates desires is for the person to realize his ignorance and contradictions, thereby correcting his mistakes and arriving at a complete knowledge of the word's true meaning.

George Wilhelm Hegel

• The Socratic Method was modernized and treated in a different way by a German philosopher.

“Spirit”

• the collective consciousness of a society which is responsible for honing one’s consciousness and ideas.

• Hegel also believed that it is constantly changing and evolving.

The Pragmatic Method

• popularized by William James and institutionalized in American culture by John Dewey.

Pragmatism

• aims to test the view of science, religion, and philosophy by determining their practical results.

pragmatic test

• if I practice this belief, will it bring success or failure? Will I solve problems or create problems? A successful experience is the verification process of truth for pragmatists

Pragmatists

• seek to make philosophy relevant by solving real-life problems.

The Phenomenological Method

• conceived by Edmund Husserl, one of the greatest intellects of the 19th century.

The Phenomenological Method

• main purpose was to build a philosophy free from any biases or preconceived ideas. One can only do this if one returns to immediate experience.

phenomenology

• This experience is the world as it appears to us or the phenomenal world

Gabriel Marcel

• Reflection arises when there is a disruption from your normal routine and when something valuable is at stake.

“Who am I?”

• the most fundamental question

Example of Primary Reflection

• When we try to fill up a form given by our school for example. The form asked us to write our name, age, gender, address, name of parents, etc. To answer this, of course, we have to think to distinguish who we are (the self) against other things (the non-self or objects). This is the primary reflection.

Example of Secondary Reflection

• We view ourselves as bigger and more expansive than what is there on the form. Thus, we are not merely thinking but we are thinking about thinking and about the process we perform in answering the form.

The Analytic Method

• initiated by philosophers at Cambridge University (England): George Edward Moore (1873-1958), Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) and Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889- 1951).

The Analytic Method

• to clarify how philosophers used words through an analysis of language.

Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889- 1951)

• ‘the object of philosophy is the logical clarification of thought’

Dialectic

two opposing sides (thesis and antithesis which will lead to synthesis)

Pragmatic

practical application

Analytic

context of language

Phenomenological

experiences

Primary Reflection

distinguish who we are (the self) against other things (the non-self or objects).

Secondary Reflection

a more expansive view of the self