PHILOSOPHY PRELIMS

PHILOSOPHY

• science by natural light of reason studies the causes/highest principles of all things

• A deeper way of understanding all things happening around us

• 2 greek words; philo (love) sofia (wisdom) = love of wisdom

Holistic POV

• VIEW ALL SIDES OF A STORY

• all aspects are given importance in making decisions

Partial POV

• considering only LIMITED number of aspects

• conclusions are done BY NOT CONSIDERING all parts and aspects

Origin of Philosophy

Miletus, Greece

Thales

Father of western philosophy

there is one in the many

Natural light of reason

• explores things WITHOUT using laboratory/investigative tools

• does not base on supernatural revelation (theology)

• “to think” “human reason” “UNAIDED REASON”

Science

• investigation is systematic

• follows certain steps, employs procedure

• organized body of language

Study of all things

• sets distinction between philosophy and other sciences

• philosophy is not one dimentional or partial

Principle of Identity

EVERYTHING IS ITS OWN BEING

Principle of non contradiction

it is impossible for a thing to be and not to be at the same time, and the same aspect

Principle of middle excluded

a thing is either is; or is not, everything must either be or not be between being or not being there is no. middle ground (YES OR NO ONLY)

principle of sufficient reason

nothing exists without sufficient

Metaphysics

• study of reality/existence

• foundation of philosophy

• fundamental part in human being to know what is real

• meta (beyond) physics (nature)

Ontology

study of being and existence

Universal science

study of first principle of logic and reason

Natural theology

study of god, religion

epistemology

• study of knowledge/how to tell when we really know something

• truth, belief, justification

Ethics

• moral philosophy

• explores NATURE OF HUMAN VIRTUE and evaluates ACTION

• system of moral principle; concerned with what is good for individuals and society

• study of action/ human activity

Cynicism

living a simple life is better

Hedonism

maximizing pleasure; minimize pain

Epictetus

contentment, serenity, peace of mind should be the way of life

Aesthetic

• study of beauty and art

• nature and appreciation of art, beauty, good taste

• '“critical reflection on art, culture, and nature”

• examines what make something beautiful, sublime, disgusting silly

Immanuel Kant

beauty is subjective and universal

Logic (logos)

study of reasoning, rules and study of principles and criteria of valid inference

Consistency

ideas and theories of system does not contradict

soundness

systems rules of proof will never allow a false inference from a true premise

completeness

no true sentences in the system that cannot be proven in the system

Methods of philosophizing

• approach that attempt to provide framework in a reason that explain all question

• to think/express oneself in a philosophical manner

• discuss mattter from a philosophical stand point

Phenomenology (Consicousness)

• Edmund Husserl

• truth is based on a persons consicousness (lived exp.)

Existentialism (freedom)

• Jean Paul Sarte

• Truth is based on excerising choices and personal freedom

Post modernism (culture)

• all truth is relative but not absolute

Analytic tradition (language)

• truth is a product of sound understanding of language