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Introduction to Philosophy

Introduction to Philosophy

Welcome to the first module of this course, Philosophy of Man with


Logic! In this lesson, you will be able to understand the etymological
and formal meaning of Philosophy. Also, you will learn the different
branches of Philosophy and their meanings.

What is Philosophy?
Etymologically speaking, the term Philosophy came from the Greek
word philos meaning “to love” and sophia meaning “wisdom.” So,
Philosophy litearally means “the love of wisdom”.

In a same sense, Philosophy is the study of nature of knowledge,


existence, and reality.

According to Jacques Maritain, “Philosophy is the science by which


the natural light of reason studies the first causes or highest principles
of all things – is, in other words, the science of things in their first
causes, in so far as these belong to the natural order.”

As you move further in this course, your understanding of philosophy


will grow as how philosophers want people to see the “natural light” of
comprehending it.

Bertrand Russel’s Value of Philosophy


And Why We Should Study It?
Bertrand Russel discussed the value of Philosophy and why we should
study it. He says: “If we are not to fail in our endeavor to determine
the value of philosophy, we must first free our minds from the
prejudices of what are wrongly called 'practical' men. The 'practical'
man, as this word is often used, is one who recognizes only material
needs, who realizes that men must have food for the body, but is
oblivious of the necessity of providing food for the mind. If all men
were well off, if poverty and disease had been reduced to their lowest
possible point, there would still remain much to be done to produce a
valuable society; and even in the existing world the goods of the mind
are at least as important as the goods of the body. It is exclusively
among the goods of the mind that the value of philosophy is to be
found; and only those who are not indifferent to these goods can be
persuaded that the study of philosophy is not a waste of time.

Philosophy of Man with Logic 1


Introduction to Philosophy

Philosophy, like all other studies, aims primarily at knowledge.


The knowledge it aims at is the kind of knowledge which gives
unity and system to the body of the sciences, and the kind
which results from a critical examination of the grounds of our
convictions, prejudices, and beliefs. But it cannot be
maintained that philosophy has had any very great measure of
success in its attempts to provide definite answers to its
questions.
If you ask a mathematician, a mineralogist, a historian, or any
other man of learning, what definite body of truths has been
ascertained by his science, his answer will last as long as you
are willing to listen. But if you put the same question to a
philosopher, he will, if he is candid, have to confess that his
study has not achieved positive results such as have been
achieved by other sciences. It is true that this is partly
accounted for by the fact that, as soon as definite knowledge
concerning any subject becomes possible, this subject ceases to
be called philosophy, and becomes a separate science. The
whole study of the heavens, which now belongs to astronomy,
was once included in philosophy; Newton's great work was
called 'the mathematical principles of natural philosophy'.
Similarly, the study of the human mind, which was a part of
philosophy, has now been separated from philosophy and has
become the science of psychology. Thus, to a great extent, the
uncertainty of philosophy is more apparent than real: those
questions which are already capable of definite answers are
placed in the sciences, while those only to which, at present, no
definite answer can be given, remain to form the residue which
is called philosophy.” (Russel, the Problems of Philosophy)
Also, according to Bertrand Russel, Philosophy:

 Has no definite answer that can be given

 Its role is to keep alive that speculative interest in the


universe which is apt to be killed by confining
ourselves to definitely ascertainable knowledge.

 The greatness of the objects which it contemplates, and


the freedom from narrow and personal aims resulting
from this contemplation.

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Introduction to Philosophy

Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics. Metaphysics is considered to be the study of the
fundamental nature of existence as such, and the fundamental
questions of reality, both of man and of the world. It examines the
composition of the universe, and asks “what is the world -- including
us -- made of?” “What is the ultimate substance?”

Ontology. Ontology is the study of being and existence; of being as


being.

Epistemology is the study of nature and scope of knowledge and


justified belief. It analyzes the nature of knowledge and how it is
related to truth, justification, and belief.

Ethics. It is the study of values and human actions. You never heard
animals criticize people. Most of the time, people are criticized by
other people. And when you criticize, you study the action. It answers
the question “What do I do?” It is the way by which we identify our
values and follow them. Do we follow our own happiness, or do we
sacrifice ourselves to a greater cause?

Morality. Ethics has a sub-field called Morality. It is the study of set


codes and systems of conduct.

Another branch of Philosophy is called Aesthetics. Aesthetics is


focused on the nature and appreciation of art. Questions like "What is
a work of art?", "What makes a work of art successful?" are commonly
present to studying aesthetics.

As a part of this course, Logic is a basic branch of Philosophy that


deals with science and art of correct inferential reasoning. Aristotle
defined logic as new and necessary reasoning, "new" because it allows
us to learn what we do not know, and "necessary" because its
conclusions are inescapable. It may ask questions like “what is the
difference between good and bad argument?” “What is the correct
reasoning?” Or in a good sense, Logic is a way of investigating the
structure and nature of the statements given.

Part of what you need to know while studying this course is Rational
Psychology or also called Philosophy of Man – one of the branches
of Philosophy that studies the principles of Man as a composite of
body and soul.

Philosophy of Man with Logic 3


Introduction to Philosophy

We cannot really deny that Philosophy is in everything even in


Science.

Cosmology is a branch of philosophy which deals with the


origin and structure of the universe: its parts, elements, laws,
characteristics such as space and time.

And finally, we have Theodicy. Theodicy does not question


the existence of God; rather it studies the nature and attributes
of God within the understating of human. Moreover, its main
concern is reconciling the goodness and justice of God with the
observable facts of evil and suffering in the world. (Sofia
Topia, 2009)

Activities:
1. Research assignment. Look for different meanings of philosophy
given by famous philosophers

2. In your own words, prepare a table that summarizes your


understanding of each branch of Philosophy

Glossary
Composite - made of different parts or elements

Fundamental - most important part of something

Justification - an acceptable reason for doing something

Medicine - the science that deals with treating disease.

Philos - To love.

Sophia - wisdom.

Ultimate - greatest or most extreme

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Introduction to Philosophy

References
(2006). Retrieved from http://www.philosophyetc.net/2006/04/ten-things-
everyone-should-know-about.html

Branches of Philosophy. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.philosophy-


index.com/philosophy/branches/

Dungen, W. V. D. (2009). Theodicy. Retrieved from


http://www.sofiatopia.org/equiaeon/theodicy.htm

Maritain, J. (2005). An Introduction to Philosophy (Sheed and Ward Classic).


London, England: Sheed & Ward.

Russel, B. (n.d.). The Problems of Philosophy. Retrieved


fromhttp://www.personal.kent.edu/~rmuhamma/Philosophy/RBwriti
ngs/ProbPhiloBook/chap-XV.htm

Philosophy of Man with Logic 5

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