AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INTRODUCTION OF PHILOSOPHY

Archaeology is the search for fact... not truth. If it's truth you're looking for, Dr. Tyree's philosophy class is right down the hall. - Dr. Indiana Jones

Philosophy (as a process) begins with the wonder of our existence, or even just an awe at the complexity of reality, and our seemingly mysterious place within it.

Therefore, it necessarily starts from our ignorance about either particular truths (true statements about reality) or truth in general (what truth is and how it is to be recognized as a part of such statements).

 PHILO SOPHIA

... the love of wisdom! But, what is wisdom, exactly?

Intelligence? (capacity to learn, reason, and solve puzzles)

Experience? (advantage which benefits our understanding and
ability to act in a way informed by our past)

Knowledge? (discovery, possesion, or grasping of truth)

Some might maintain that wisdom is either a combonation of - or a relationship between - all of these notions, if not more...


Two basic forms of what we might mean when we say... PHILOSOPHY

(INFORMAL) A way of life.

also see: barstool philosophy

(FORMAL) An area of inquery or discipline.

academic setting scholarly rigor research projects


Two basic forms of what we might mean when we say... PHILOSOPHY

(INFORMAL) A way of life.

also see: barstool philosophy

(FORMAL) An area of inquery or discipline.

academic setting scholarly rigor research projects


On the other hand, what is love? Four Greek terms for love:

Agpe ros Philia Storge

(spiritual, selfless) (bodily, erotic) (mental, rational) (familial, affectionate)

BABY DON'T HURT ME!


History of Western Philosophy an ongoing attempt to define real (or genuine) philosophical problems while attempting to seek their answers through rational argument. Ancient Eastern Philosophy a series of philosophical traditions (and religions) that advocate certain ways of life, and explain how these can discover stability, balance, and/or harmony within the individual and their society.

Contemporary Comparative Philosophy a seemingly endless effort to bridge the gap between these two series of goals - along with their methods - in order to jointly contribute to resolving universal questions about life (and beyond).

Semi-Chronological of West. Phil.

Pre-Socratic Philosophy Ancient Greek Philosophy Medieval Philosophy

Renaissance Philosophy
Modern Philosophy

Contemporary Philosophy

Epistemology
What can we know? How do we know what we think we know? A theory of knowledge attempts to provide the grounds for justifying our claims about the world. Epistemological positions tend to emphasize what kinds of human faculties should be most relied on in order to say that we know something. The notion of certainty is often a concern.

Several Approaches: - Skepticism

- Rationalism
- Empiricism ...Cognitive Science?

LOGIC

(known by some critics as LOLgic):

What valid rules of inference need to be followed (and further developed into certain formal languages) in order to judge the truth and falsity of assertions? How are we to define truth and falsity in a formal system? (also a concern in phil. of lang.)
Deductive: Validity + Soundness Inductive: Probability -natural sciences

Critical Thinking

Descriptions of fallacies Proper styles of argumentation

A serious concern for logicians: Is logic an internal formal system that merely operates, or can it genuinely contribute to other systemic sciences, such as mathematics?

Metaphysics
(original context:after Physics - Aristotle's Metaphysics)

What is ultimate reality (outside our senses)? What is it like?

Major Branch: ONTOLOGY ~ What exists?

(just a few)Classic Problems:

Zeno's Paradox of motion

Mind/Body Problem

Universals vs. Particulars

Recent:

Artificial Intelligence

Ethics
An ambiguity of terms: MORES (sociology): - custom/convention - societal normativity

or moral philosophy

ETHOS (Greek): - rule-based action - codes of conduct ~ Virtue ethics ~ Consequentialism

Name one thing in this world that is not negotiable. - Walter White

~ Deontological

moral relativism?

AESTHETICS
What is beauty?
- Is it only found in the eye of the beholder, or is there such a thing as an objective criteria for beauty?

What is art?
- What makes good art? Is there a goal to art? What is an artist?

Some other developed areas...

Philosophy of language: What is meaning? Is truth a mere linguistic construciton? How is communication possible, and what are its essential characteristics? Philosophy of law (or jurisprudence): What is a state of nature, and how should we construct an ideal society in respect to this understanding the state of nature? Philosophy of mind: Explores the nature of the mind and its relationship to the body and sensation. What is conciousness in regard to brain activity/brain states? Philosophy of religion: Critical evaluation of spiritual ideas as well as dogma. Philosophy of science: Fundamental questions about (modern) science through the concerns of many other areas in philosophy, notably epistemology and ethics.

....................................Philosophy of X? (infinite options, really)

Meta-philosophy (the philosophy of philosophy!)

The point of philosophy is to start with somethi

Russell's view...

- Bertrand Russell

PHILOSOPHY = the bridge between religious traditio

(evident by the increased precision of language, con

Edmond Husserl Phenomenology = philoso

What has philosophy turned into...?

Within philosophy proper:

CONTINENTAL vs. ANALYTIC philosophy
- style vs. content - difference in ultimate concerns - the rise of logical positivism (early 20th century)

Within [primarily Western] culture:

SCIENCE vs. RELIGION debates:
- philosophical argumentation can be used on either side - both run the risk of misunderstanding the role philosophy plays

What role does the philosopher play today?

Global Concern pursuer

Obligation of asking the most possibly fundamental questions

Gadfly

A necessary pest

Mother Discipline
- Caretaker of less developed fields

Thought janitor

Constantly clarifying language in other disciplines

Can you change the discourse of philosophy? YES, YES YOU CAN!
Communicating ideas is a constant and evolving process between sentient and articulate beings. If you can enter a room full of people chatting up big ideas and be able to shift the conversation from one topic to another based on your interest all the while discovering the values and concerns of both yourself and others you can do the same on a much larger level. The whole of reality isn't that much different from that room. It's just a lot bigger, but not different in kind... you're as much a part of it as any room of any size. You're also locked up inside of it with me and everyone else, so we might as well make what we can of it while we're still breathing...
If not, we'll be forced to admit,Well, this party really died.