Lesson 1: Doing Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy

• The Origin of Curiosity: Michael Mayne states that "Wonder is what makes us human."

• Philosophical Beginnings:

  • Plato: Argued that "Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder."

  • Aristotle: Echoed this by stating that it is owing to their wonder that men both now and in the beginning began to philosophize.

The Meaning and Nature of Philosophy

• Etymology: The word comes from two Greek words:

  • Philo: Meaning "to love."

  • Sophia: Meaning "wisdom."

  • Original Definition: Philosophy originally meant "love of wisdom."

• Functional Definition: It is the attitude of the mind that, by the natural light of reason, studies the first causes or the highest principles of all things.

• Four Core Characteristics:

  1. Scientific Approach: Investigation is systematic, following specific steps and procedures.

  2. Natural Light of Reason: Investigates through the natural capacity to think and observe the world/people. It does not use laboratory instruments or supernatural revelation (which would distinguish it from theology).

  3. Study of All Things: Unlike specific sciences, philosophy studies everything including humans, society, religion, language, God, and plants.

  4. First Cause or Highest Principle: Focuses on the starting point or main reason why a situation or event occurs.

The First Principles

• Principle of Identity: Whatever is, is; and whatever is not, is not. Everything is what it is.

• Principle of Non-contradiction: It is impossible for a thing to be and not to be at the same time and in the same respect.

• Principle of Excluded Middle: A thing either is or is not; there is no middle ground between being and not being.

• Principle of Sufficient Reason: Nothing exists without a sufficient reason for its being and existence.

Attaining Wisdom through "Emptying"

• Process of Emptying: Defined as suspending one's judgment and conclusions about a matter to mentally explore the pros and cons, characteristics, and purpose of an idea or situation.

• Early Science Development: Philosophy originally encompassed aspects that became separate sciences including Astronomy, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology. It sought to understand the nature of the universe, justice, knowledge validity, reason application, and criteria for beauty and truth.

Branches of Philosophy: Metaphysics

• Definition: Derived from Greek $meta\,ta\,physika$. It explores basic principles governing the nature of reality and abstract concepts to uncover truths not seen in everyday life.

• Core Assumption: Reality seen by the eyes is a temporary cover of a true reality beyond sensory perception.

• Key Figures:

  • Thales of Miletus: A Greek mathematician, astronomer, and statesman. He believed "everything is water," using water as an analogy for the fundamental shape and movement of all things in the universe.

  • Plato: Argued that physical sensory experience is not real. True reality is invisible, unchanging, eternal, immaterial, and only detectable by the intellect. This is known as the Theory of Forms/Ideas.

• Plato’s Theory of Forms: Every object (e.g., a horse) is a lesser version of an "ideal" perfect Form existing in the realm of Ideas ($kosmos\,noetos$), accessible only through reason.

• The Soul: Plato conceived the soul as an idea existing prior to incarnation in the world of ideas. It has no empirical qualities and is immortal.

Branches of Philosophy: Ethics

• Definition: The branch exploring the nature of moral virtue and evaluating the morality of human actions through logical arguments.

• Socratic View of the Person: To be happy, one must live a virtuous life ($arete$). Virtue is the awakening of "seeds of good deeds" dormant in the mind and heart. True knowledge (wisdom) is virtue, and courage is a prime component of virtue/knowledge.

• Main Frameworks of Ethics:

  1. Divine Command: Actions based on what God ordains; emphasizes the collective over the individual.

  2. Consequentialism / Utilitarianism: Focuses on what has the most desirable consequences; "the greatest good for the greatest number."

  3. Deontological Ethics (Kantianism): Focuses on moral duty. Immanuel Kant argued one must do what is right regardless of feelings.

  4. Virtue Ethics: Focuses on the character development of the individual and what kind of person one ought to be rather than consequences or duties.

  5. Relativism: Morality is defined by what a culture, society, law, or custom approves.

• International Standards:

  • International Rights: Universal standards for cross-cultural judgments (e.g., freedom from torture, right to a fair trial, property ownership).

  • Human Rights: Moral entitlements requiring others to treat an individual with dignity and respect.

Branches of Philosophy: Epistemology

• Definition: From Greek $episteme$ (knowledge) and $logy$ (study). Deals with the nature, sources, limitations, and validity of knowledge.

• Primary Methods:

  1. Induction Method: Forming general ideas from particular facts. Practiced by Empiricists, who believe knowledge comes only through sense experience (sight, hearing, smell).

  2. Deduction Method: Understanding particular facts through general laws. Practiced by Rationalists.

  3. Pragmatism: The truth of an idea is tested by its practical consequences.

Branches of Philosophy: Logic

• Definition: Coined by Zeno the Stoic (from $logike$). It concerns the truth or validity of arguments rather than the subject matter.

• Aristotle’s Contribution: The first to devise a logical method, drawing from Socrates (the universal), Parmenides and Plato (negation), and Zeno of Elea (reduction to the absurd). He defined truth as the agreement of knowledge with reality.

• Zeno of Citium: Successor of Aristotle and founder of Stoicism. Derived from $Stoa\,Poikile$ (Painted Porch) in Athens where adherents met.

Branches of Philosophy: Aesthetics

• Definition: The science of the beautiful (sublime, comic, tragic, ugly). It involves both creation and appreciation of art.

• Key Functions: Vitalizes knowledge, deepens life experiences, and connects individuals to culture.

• Hans-Georg Gadamer: Argued that tastes in beauty are connected to personal experience and culture. He emphasized that "dialogue" or conversation is required to interpret art, where partners seek agreement on the "matter at issue."

• Example Work: Pila sa Bigas by Vicente Manansala.

Philosophical Reflection

• Definition: The act of giving time to think about the meaning and purpose of life (Gabriel Marcel). It separates the essential from the accidental and the necessary from the contingent.

• Types of Reflection (Gabriel Marcel):

  1. Primary Reflection: Analytical and detached. It breaks objects down into constituent parts, focusing on definitions and technical solutions. It "dissolves the unity of experience."

  2. Secondary Reflection: Integrative and personal. It looks at the bigger picture and views systems as wholes. It "puts together what has been broken apart."

• Comparison Breakdown:

  • Primary: Deals with Problems (solvable issues); Subject-object separation; Goal is to explain.

  • Secondary: Deals with Mysteries (lived realities); Subject-object unity; Goal is to understand meaning.

Decision-Making and Integrative Frameworks

• STOP Guidepost (Moral Theology):

  • S: Search out the facts.

  • T: Think, reflect, and analyze (pros/cons).

  • O: Consider how it affects Others.

  • P: Pray (theology/faith realm).

• Philosophy and Theology: St. Thomas Aquinas noted $philosophia\,ancilla\,theologiae$ (Philosophy is the handmaid of theology), emphasizing that reason serves faith.

• AQAL Framework (Ken Wilber): Stands for "All Quadrants All Levels."

  • Interior-Individual (Upper Left): Subjective (Mind, values, emotions).

  • Exterior-Individual (Upper Right): Objective (Body, things measurable/touchable).

  • Interior-Collective (Lower Left): Intersubjective (Culture, shared beliefs).

  • Exterior-Collective (Lower Right): Interobjective (Society, systems).

  • Example Application (Poverty): Includes Self-pity (UL), Malnutrition (UR), Collective aspiration (LL), and Inflation (LR).