Philosophy

Module 1

Understanding Philosophy

and Its Branches

Unit I: Essence of Philosophy

What is Philosophy?

- Philosophy comes from the Greek words “philein”, which means to love; and “sophia”, which means wisdom. Etymologically speaking, philosophy therefore necessarily means “love of wisdom”. Consequently, philosophers are lovers of wisdom.

Four Main Points of Philosophy• Philosophy is a science• Science of things• Ultimate principles and causes• Known only by natural reason

Philosophy is a science

- It is a science of sciences, because it is a systematic body of knowledge which is not only based on ideas, theories, and hypothesis but on knowledge that conforms to reality.

Science of things

- Philosophy is concerned with everything in the world as far as the human mind can reach, from the microscopic particles to the giant mountains. Nothing is exempted, all things are the concern of philosophy.

Ultimate principles and causes

- In their ultimate cause, it tells us all about asking and answering not only the facts and causes but which conforms to reality.

Known only by natural reason

- Philosophy does not use a piece of equipment, a laboratory device, etc. The philosopher uses his natural reason, particularly, human reasoning.

Types of Philosophy• Speculative Philosophy• Practical Philosophy

Speculative Philosophy

- It is a philosophy professing to be founded upon intuitive or a prior insight into the nature of the Absolute and Divine.

Practical Philosophy

- It is the use of philosophy and philosophical techniques in everyday life. This can take a number of forms including reflective practice, personal philosophical thinking and philosophical counselling.

Branches of Philosophy• Logic• Ethics• Epistemology• Cosmology

• Metaphysics• Aesthetics• Theodicy

Logic

- This is the theory of correct reasoning, which seeks to investigate and establish the criteria of valid interference and demonstration.

Ethics

- Ethics is the study of the morality of human act. Ethics and morality are often used interchangeably as ethics is sometimes called moral philosophy.

Epistemology

- Epistemology is also known as the theory of knowledge. It is a branch of philosophy that concerns itself with the nature of knowledge, its possibility, scope, and general basis.

Cosmology

- Cosmology is a philosophical search for the deeper understanding of the material universe and the ultimate constituent principles of material beings or it is the science of the universe.

Metaphysics

- Metaphysics studies the nature of beings. It tries to answer the questions: “What is a being?” and “What are the fundamental properties of being?”

Aesthetics

- This is also known as the philosophy of art. This is the philosophical study of art and of value judgments about art, and of beauty in general.

Theodicy

- This is a discipline that deals with the existence, nature, and attributes of God in the light of the truth arrived at by our human reason alone.

Unit II: Understanding Some Philosophers

Christian Philosophers• St. Thomas Aquinas• St. Augustine

Greek Philosophers• Socrates• Plato• Aristotle

Other Philosophers• Confucius• Karl Marx