Lesson 1: Nature of Philosophy

What is philosophy
-comes from two greek words ‘Philos’ meaning to love, and ‘Sophia’ meaning wisdom
-“The LOVE of WISDOM”
-defined as the attitude of the mind that by natural light of reason studies the first cause or the
highest principles of all things

Philosophical activities is characterized to three things according to Thales:

1. Philosophy involves the widest generalizations

- while scientist concern themselves with scientific knowledge, historians with knowledge of the
past, economist with knowledge of supply and demand, philosophers concern themselves with the nature
of knowledge as such.

2. Philosophy is all about fundamentals

- a fundamental is the root cause that explains almost everything in a given context. If somehow
philosophical ideas like consciousness and existence disappear then knowledge of any kind will not make
any sense because there will be nothing to know (existence) and no one to know (consciousness)

3. Philosophy is driven by the desire to integrate things into one coherent whole
- philosophy is constant search for truth and knowledge

The Principles in Philosophy

1. Principle of identity
- whatever is, is, and whatever is not, is not; everything is what it is. Everything is its own being,
and not being is not being
- it means that a thing, idea or person always has a name, a concept and a characteristics for that
thing to exist.

2. Principle of Non-contradiction
-it is impossible for a thing to be and not to be at the same time, and at the same respect.

3. Principle of Excluded Middle

- a thing os either is or is not; everything must be either be or not be; between being, there is no
middle ground

4. Principle of Sufficient reason

- nothing exist without a sufficient reason for its being and existence

Branches of Philosophy

1. Cognitive branches
-provide a description of being (existence) and knowing.
-the foundations of understanding any philosophical system.
-answers the question “WHAT IS”.
a. epistemology
- studies the nature and means of human knowledge
- it explains: how we know what we claim to know; how we can find out what we wish
to know; how we can differentiate truth from falsehood
- empiricism, rationalism, pragmatism, critical philosophy.

b. metapshysics
-assumes that the reality we see with our eyes is just a temporary cover of the true
reality that exist beyond what our senses could perceive.
-idealism, materialism, dualism, pluralism.

2. Normative branches
-they are concerned with the standard of the good. Answers the question “ WHAT OUGHT TO
BE”.

a. ethics
- explores the nature of moral virtue and evaluates the morality and virtue of human
actions.
- the choices and actions that determine the courses of life.
-deontology, consequentialism, virtue ethics.

b. politics
- a branch of philosophy “which defines the principles of a proper social system”.

c. aesthetic
- studies the nature of art. Concerned with the nature and the objective judgement of
beauty.
- it is the science of beautiful in its various manifestations including the sublime, comic,
tragic, pathetic and ugly.

THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE

By: Plato
- there are two worlds: the world of matter, world of ideas
-plato argued that there must be an ideal world above and beyond this world of appearances.
- those who are destitute of philosophy may be compare to a prisoner in a cave who are only able
to look in a one direction (not open minded) because they are bound and who have the fire behind them
and wall in front ( accepts the truth as what is presented to them. No critical analysis.

Atomic world - the world of ideas

Philosophical reflection
Reflection - the process that would aid in understanding the holistic point of view of what is going on
around us. Its is also and activity that requires a person to examine his or her thoughts, feelings and ac-
tions and learn from experience.

Philosophical reflection - it is the act of giving time to think about the meaning and purpose of life.
-thinking outside the box

2 types of philosophical reflection

By: Gabriel marcel

1. Primary reflection
- the ability to think logically
- ability of mind to construct and evaluate arguments.
- examines its object by abstraction, by analytically breaking it down into its constituent parts.

-your first impression of the problem or the situation you are involved to.

2. Secondary reflection
- enables us to look deeper into our experiences and see the bigger picture of reality.
- integrates the fragmented and compartmentalize experience into whole. It is the idea that vari-
ous system (e.g. philosophical, biological, social) should be viewed as wholes, not merely as a collection
of parts.

- Problem in family
-Affecting your mental
-Emotions
-relationships

- idea of what is happening to you

Holistic thinking and Partial thinking

Partial point of view

- focuses on specific aspect of situation. Looks at only limited number of aspect of the given situ-
ation or problem.

- conclusion are made based on considering some, but not all, sides of the problem or situation.

Holistic perspective
- refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in system.
- it is often described as looking at the “big picture” when describing or analyzing a situation or a
problem.
- all aspect are tied in together to form a general overview of the problem or situation.

Reflection - Primary Reflection = Partial

 Philosophical Reflection - Secondary Reflection = Holistic

EXAMPLE:

- Married life is difficult because it restricts an individual’s freedom and constant financial prob-
lem will arise.

- Married life is bittersweet because it is a journey filled with happiness and sadness; its is a part-
nership where a man shares joy, burden and responsibility with a women (holistic).