Introduction to philosophy

AN INTRODUCTION

RODOLFO V. BAGAY,JR.DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY DASMARINAS

SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT

INTRODUCTION TO

PHILOSOPHY

Make a personal insight on the following statements:

1.”Freedom of speech is useless without freedom of thought.”Spiro Agnew

2. “Knowledge is knowing that we cannot know.”Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. “The only stable state is one which all men are equal before the law.”Aristotle

4. “You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit”Aristotle

5.Thinking changes.

Course Outline

Philosophy:Definitions,nature, historical outline

Why PhilosophyPhilosophizing on insights or philosophical

insightsNature of Philosophical inquiryPhilosophy and Crisis situation

Philosophy as a field of studyA Science3 major fields-epistemology, metaphysics, axiologyPerceptions and importanceBranchesMethods

Issues and problemsProblem of beingProblem of knowledgeProblem of ethicsProblem of the human personProblem of religionProblem of society

Philosophical writing:introduction to Philosophy Thesis Writing

PHILOSOPHY:DEFINITIONS

Greek Philein “love” and sophia “wisdom”.Coined based on Thales of Miletus’s response when asked on whether he was a wise man to which he said modestly that he was just a ‘lover of wisdom’

A Search for meaning. What then does ”searching” mean? What does “searching” do to a person? Does “searching” ever end?

How is it to search?To search is to find, to seek something more

seriously, more intensively, more of a quest.1. The object of search is of real value to the

subject. “Object” refers to a thing known or treated in discussion while ”subject” pertains to the person dealing with the object.

2. Searching consumes the subject. One observes, reads, reflects, and writes on what to him is the most important thing in his life

3. Searching is a continuous undertaking until the answer is found though such is coupled with the conviction that whatever is reached is for the moment at least the best possible though imperfect answer.

The searcher, the philosopher, therefore

seeks for the meaning of life– its importance, significance, value, and

relevance.

It is then the very nature of philosophy that

man searches for the meaning of himself and his world.

It can truly be said then that philosophy was born the very first time man started

wondering at what he saw around him.

PHILOSOPHY is

the science and art of the ultimate reasons, causes and principles

of being.

PHILOSOPHY IS

The clarification of meanings of words, phrases and sentences

The rational, critical study using logic of abstract and ultimate questions, notably the nature of existence, knowledge and value

An activity or a way of thinking about certain questions or the attempt to think rationally and critically about the most important questions

Thinking about thinking-realizingKnowledge sought for its own sake and not

for anything elseWorldview-weltanschauung

Common Perceptions about Philosophy

An extremely complex intellectual activity, an undertaking for the wise ,intelligent, and well-off

A boring and tedious task. It is a useless wrangling about things that cannot be decided. It is an endless disagreement among thinkers who wasted their lifetime speculating on things only to be talked about after they die.

It is an obsolete course due to technological advancements. Classical discussions on God, religion, society, law, and freedom are untangibles and abstract that pale in value with the so called tangible and concrete aspects of today’s world. Today, competence and skillfullness are superior to speculations and abstractions.

It is merely ideological, at times, revolutionary and courting extraordinary actions.

Major concerns of Philosophy

The mystery of beingThe problem of truth and meaningThe meaning of life and deathThe meaning of good and evilThe dignity and rights of the human personThe scandals of apathy, injustice,

oppression and valueThe nature and law of loveThe issues of freedom and responsibility

Consequent questions

Why is there something rather than nothing? Who am I? Why am I?

What is truth? What are the sources of knowledge? Does meaning really have meaning? How do we really know?

Why should one exist and later on perish? What happens after death?Is death evil or good?

If nature is intrinsically good why are there evils in the world? What constitutes right conduct?Should there be a universal basis for goodness? When is good really good?

What is the scope of the power of the state over man? Why do we obey? Is an authority infallible? Are all legal matters moral?what is an ideal state?

Why should man relate to another human being? Is it not enough that man exists alone?

Why do we experience love?Is man really free? Does man really know

how it is to be free? What does freedom give to a person?Is freedom absolute?

Is membership in a religion purely of faith? Does reason have any room in religion?

Does God really exist? How does the reality of evil suite with the assertions of God’s existence and power?

IMMANUEL KANT, a German philosopher summarized the foregoing questions into three central questions in philosophy namely:

1.What can I know?2.What should I do?3.What may i hope for?

What can I know?

Leads to the following activities:1.Analysis(analytico)- understanding the

issues at hand without judgement(objectify)2.Criticism(critico)- putting one’s perspective

or situating oneself to a given task.(subjectify)

3.Synthesis(Synthetico)- to give final judgement or conclusion to a given activity by putting together results of analysis and criticism.(ideogenesis)

What should I do?

Talks of rightfulness or wrongfulness of an activity.

Analyses the rectitude of human acts and investigates the parallel accountability and consequences.

Assesses the relation of an act to given standards or the absence of it.

What may I hope for?

Considers the directions opened by the two previous questions.

What then is the ultimate purpose of life as a whole?Posits the problems of afterlife, spirit, including god.

Friendly reminders to budding philosophy enthusiasts

One must have proper disposition or focus. Proper disposition means liking what one gets and not getting what one likes.

Unlike reading other written materials, one must read to understand ideas or thoughts within a text or article. One must avoid understanding sentences or paragraphs that focus only on events, places or events. A philosophical reader focuses on issues at hand.

Reading text is not done in one seating. One should read and re-read until the littlelest implications are understood. One should give ample time to analyze, be able to criticize, and then synthesize to measure genuine understanding.

Since primary sources may be difficult or heavy for one to digest, a neophyte may consult secondary sources with appropriate caution and discernment.(library vs internet)

One needs to familiarize himself with philosophical jargons and the historicities involved.

One must enjoy philosophy. Philosophy is doing philosophyphilosophizing. Immediate material rewards should not be expected as gaining wisdom is just the beginning. Philosophizing is more of systematizing information to reach the highest level of human consciousness: certainty

Philosophy for priestly formation

Why should a seminarian study philosophy despite its speculative, reason-oriented, and logic seasoned discussions on things including god, religion, and morality? Wouldn’t philosophy be dangerous to direct the mind towards irreligious, immoral, and irreverent inferences detrimental to the subsequent theological studies?

Philosophy : the handmaid of Theology

The study of philosophy, with its varied scope, and organized and exhaustive manner of discussions would enable one to develop a habit of careful,

indepth, and scholarly approach to matters of faith and doctrine. Being a handmaid does not

necessarily imply inferiority of philosophy as it plays an enabling role for would-be theologians. Without the skills(analysis, criticism, synthesis,

reading,writing)) learned and polished in years in philosophy, the following theological studies would

be taxing and doubly demanding.

Studies of the philosophical writings of the Fathers of the Church as well as many other Christian scholars provide logical and reasoned foundations to matters of faith, the existence of God, church doctrines, and all other theological matters.

Reason solidifies faith as faith moves reason

Philosophy is not a dead activity.

References to classical-eastern or western thoughts- are proofs of the established logic, sensibility, and influence of the traditions in philosophy. Reference to

philosophy both in the academics and in everyday life shows that the living spirit of wisdom sought for its own sake is always present then, now, and til Thy kingdom

come