Logic Review

What is Philosophy?

• Definition 1
  • Philosophy is thinking about thinking
  • reflective thought about the world and the big questions
  • rationally critical thinking
• Definition 2
  • The love of wisdom
  • critical examination of the way we perceive the world to make ourselves better and wiser
• Definition 3
  • Critical and creative thinking about ::fundamental questions about life
  • Aim is to clarify issues and if, possible find answers to them

The Value of Philosophy (Russell Article)

• Philosophy must be learned :: so that our minds can be trained to think deeply
  • many don’t critically think and just follow other people’s ideas
  • diminish our ability to be dogmatic
  • Dogmatic: believing that your opinions are right and not looking at other perspectives or evidence

Criteria for Judging and Argument

• Relevance
  • are the arguments worth considering?
  • are the arguments on topic or related
  • relevant and irrelevant
• Empirical Value
  • Verified through senses and research
  • Non-empirical are things that are opinions, things we can’t see
• Bias
  • Favoring certain things
  • Coming from our childhood, experiences and life
  • Hard to know when we or others are using bias
  • Be aware
• Reliability
  • Reliability of the person giving info
  • Does that person have something to gain from me?
  • Examine credentials