Philosophy of Man – Lecture 1–8 Summary

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing foundational terms, thinkers, methods, periods, and branches from the lecture notes on the Philosophy of Man.

Philosophy (general)

The mother of all sciences that searches for the ultimate whys and wherefores of all things.

Philo-Sophia (etymology)

From Greek: philo (love) + sophia (wisdom) → “love of wisdom.”

Philosophical Search

A serious, transcending quest for life’s ultimate meaning, happiness and success.

Ordinary Search

A common, everyday looking or seeking that ends once the object is found.

Homo Viator

Latin for ‘man always traveling’; symbolizes humanity’s continual search for meaning.

Success (in philosophy)

Fulfilment and happiness attained through truth, relationship, and continuous striving.

Relationship to God, Man, World

Triad identified as essential to genuine success and meaning in life.

Attention, Concentration, Interest

Three attitudes required to sustain the philosophical quest for truth.

Celestine Bittle’s Definition of Philosophy

Science of beings in their ultimate reasons, causes, and principles acquired by human reason alone.

Science of Beings

Philosophical element covering everything the human mind can reach: God–World–Man.

Ultimate Reasons, Causes, Principles

Deepest explanatory grounds philosophy seeks beyond mere facts.

Aid of Human Reason Alone

Philosophy relies on rational capacity, not on authority or revelation.

Nature of Philosophy

Man’s critical examination of himself and his world, born from wonder and curiosity.

Scientia Scientiarum

Latin: ‘science of the sciences’; traditional honorific for philosophy.

Mater et Matrix

Latin: ‘mother and womb’ of all knowledge, referring to philosophy.

Moral Philosophy (Ethics)

Supreme philosophy concerned with attaining the highest good, happiness.

Plato (on Ethics)

Called moral philosophy the science par excellence for achieving happiness.

Aristotle (contribution)

Used intellectual and moral powers to uncover causes of human maladies for societal benefit.

Confucius – Jen

Philosophy of love emphasizing moral and social harmony; man as cosmic citizen.

Thomas Hobbes – Absolute Monarchy

Saw humans as selfish ‘wolves’; proposed absolute power to prevent universal war.

Immanuel Kant – Dignity

Envisioned a kingdom where all are free, equal, and happy; ‘dignity without dignification is useless.’

Mikhail Gorbachev – Glasnost & Perestroika

Openness and restructuring aimed at moral regeneration and world peace.

Vaklav Havel – Human Responsibility

Asserted salvation lies in the human heart, reflection, meekness, and responsibility.

Philosopher Ruler

Leader guided by vision, virtue, wisdom; welfare of people is supreme law (Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex).

Salus Populi Est Suprema Lex

Latin: ‘The welfare of the people is the supreme law.’

Rational Method of Inquiry

Reasoning plus contemplation, experience, observation, reflection, and tradition.

Reason + Experience

Twin tools that must combine to reach true and valid philosophical conclusions.

Etymological Meaning of Philosophy

Indicates humans are ‘lovers of wisdom’ and ‘wisdom of love.’

Cogito Ergo Sum

Descartes’ dictum: ‘I think therefore I exist,’ foundation of modern philosophy.

Methodical Doubt

Descartes’ process of systematic skepticism to reach certainty.

Rationalism

Doctrine emphasizing reason as primary source of knowledge.

Empiricism

Doctrine claiming experience is the only source of knowledge.

Ancient / Pre-Socratic Period

7th c. B.C.; Greek thinkers who first called themselves lovers of wisdom.

Middle Ages

11th–15th c.; Christian and Arab philosophers linking reason with faith.

Modern Period

17th–18th c.; inaugurated by Descartes; rise of rationalism and empiricism.

Contemporary Period

20th c.; diverse movements such as Marxism, Kantianism, Existentialism.

Marxism

Karl Marx’s philosophy advocating socialism and a classless society.

Kantianism (20th-c. sense)

Revival of Kant’s view of man as dignified, moral, and social being.

Human Existentialism

Jean-Paul Sartre’s stance: existence precedes essence; focus on freedom and responsibility.

Epistemology

Branch studying knowledge and its goal, truth.

Ontology

Philosophy of being; examines ultimate reality.

Cosmology (philosophical)

Study of the universe and inanimate beings from a philosophical viewpoint.

Aesthetics

Philosophical study of art and beauty.

Rational / Philosophical Psychology

Study of the life-principle of living things, especially humans.

Theodicy

Philosophical study of God and the problem of evil.

Social Philosophy

Examines relationships among individual, family, Church, and State.

Philosophy of Man

Inquiry into man as person and existent being in the world.

Metaphysics

Science of beings, their nature, and reality beyond the physical.

Logic

Science and art of correct thinking.

Ethics

Practical philosophical science of the morality of human acts.