The Meaning and Method of Doing Philosophy – Lecture Overview

Vocabulary flashcards covering key philosophers, branches, reasoning methods, and core concepts from the lecture on the meaning and method of doing philosophy.

Philosophy

The study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language; literally "love of wisdom."

Philosopher

A person who engages in philosophical inquiry and reflection.

Synoptic Vision

A holistic grasp of life that philosophy seeks by integrating diverse insights into a unified outlook.

Holistic Thinking

A big-picture perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of elements in a system.

Partial Thinking

Focus on specific aspects of a situation; a detail-oriented, analytical approach.

Socratic Method

A technique of probing inquiry that uses a series of questions to examine beliefs and arrive at knowledge.

Dialectic (Plato)

A method of dialogue involving opposing ideas to generate new understanding.

Theory of Forms

Plato’s view that material things are reflections of perfect, immutable ideas perceived only by the mind.

Deductive Reasoning

Top-down logic that derives specific conclusions from general premises that are accepted as true.

Inductive Reasoning

Bottom-up logic that forms generalizations based on specific observations.

Framework

A person’s organized set of views and beliefs for understanding the world.

Internal Question

A query addressed within one’s own framework about correctness or values.

External Question

A challenge to the very framework upon which beliefs are based.

Metaphysics

Branch of philosophy that studies reality and existence.

Epistemology

Branch that examines the nature, sources, and limits of knowledge.

Logic

Branch concerned with correct reasoning and valid inference.

Aesthetics

Branch that studies beauty and art.

Ethics

Field that investigates moral values and principles governing right action.

Political Philosophy

Study of government, justice, power, and citizens’ rights and duties.

Philosophy of the Human Person

Philosophical study of the nature and condition of the human being.

Pythagoras

Ancient Greek thinker (570–495 BCE) credited with the Pythagorean Theorem; blended mathematics and mysticism.

Heraclitus

Greek philosopher (535–475 BCE) who emphasized change and introduced the concept of logos as an ordering principle.

Democritus

Greek atomist (460–370 BCE) who studied natural phenomena and proposed that everything is composed of indivisible atoms.

Diogenes of Sinope

Cynic philosopher (412–323 BCE) who advocated a life of virtue expressed through extreme simplicity.

Epicurus

Greek thinker (341–270 BCE) who taught that philosophy helps attain happiness through pleasure understood as absence of pain.

Socrates

Foremost ancient philosopher (470–399 BCE) famous for his ethical focus and the method of questioning bearing his name.

Plato

Student of Socrates (427–347 BCE); author of dialogues, proponent of Forms, and founder of the Academy.

Aristotle

Plato’s student (384–322 BCE) who grounded knowledge in sensory perception and pioneered formal logic.

Wonder (Plato)

The sense of awe that sparks philosophical inquiry, according to Plato.

Doubt (Descartes)

A critical attitude that motivates philosophical investigation to establish certainty.

Limit Situation (Jaspers)

Challenging experiences that propel individuals to philosophize for deeper understanding.

Love of Wisdom

Underlying motivation to pursue truth and knowledge; literal meaning of the term philosophy.

Holistic Medicine

Healthcare approach that treats mind, body, and spirit, exemplifying holistic thinking.

Wisdom

The capacity to apply knowledge judiciously in everyday life, regarded as the aim of philosophizing.

Reflection

Intentional examination of one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions to gain insight and improve decisions.

Analytical Perspective

Problem-solving approach emphasizing detailed examination of parts rather than viewing the whole.