Philosophy in a Nutshell

Research by Chester Cabalza

I. What is Philosophy?

a) Philosophy – is derived from the Greek word ‘philla’ meaning ‘love’ and ‘sophia’ that means ‘wisdom’. If we merged the two words together, generally, it means ‘love of wisdom’.

b)It is a complex intellectual undertaking and is as old as the human civilization.

c)‘Parent science’ – it has given birth to natural, physical and social sciences.

d) It is perhaps the most abstruse and abstract of all disciplines that may seem apart from the affairs of ordinary life.

Philosophy as a science

- It deals with the study of the processes governing thought and conduct.

- It investigates the principles and laws that regulate the universe and underlie all knowledge, which satisfies the requisites of a scientific state of knowing.

- It carefully examines and criticizes the premises and conclusions of all sciences.

II. Branches of Philosophy

a)Epistemology – it deals with the study of the origins, structures, methods, nature, limit and veracity (truth, reliability, validity) of human knowledge.

- Derived from Greek word ‘episteme’ meaning ‘knowledge’ and ‘logos’ meaning to study’.

- Epistemology as a theory of thought asks fundamental questions about knowledge in all its forms and application of how it is formulated and expressed and communicated.
- It includes logic and a variety of linguistic concerns and the philosophy of science.

Logic – it deals with the nature of thinking and reasoning using empirical support that are objective, valid, reliable, quantifiable, and defensible to establish the truth.

Two types:

 Deductive logic – process whereby the reasoning proceeds from a more universal truth to a less universal truth.

 Inductive logic – proceeds from particular to general truth.

Syllogism – an argument whose conclusion is supported by two premises. Or it has two premises and a conclusion.

Example: Affirmative

1. All cats are vertebrates
(Syllogistic arguments)
2. All vertebrates are animals
3. All cats are animals (Conclusion)

b)Metaphysics – it deals with questions of reality, its nature, meaning and existence.

- Greek word ‘meta’ meaning ‘beyond’ and physikon’ meaning ‘nature’ from which physics was derived from.

- Concerned about the nature of the mind, self and consciousness, nature of religion, existence of God, the destiny of the universe. It examines time, space, cause and chance.

c)Axiology – it deals with the study of values of ethics

- It analyzes the origin, types and characteristics, criteria and knowledge of values.

- It includes values of human conduct, the nature and justification of social structures and political system and the nature of art and its meaning in human experience.

Ethics – Derived from Greek word ‘ethos’ meaning ‘customs’

- Study of what is right or wrong in man’s behavior in the pursuit of goodness in life.

III. Philosophical Methods

1.Induction – drawing general conclusions

2. Deduction – from general data to specific terms

3. Dialectic – process of arriving at knowledge (thesis + antithesis = synthesis)

4. Analytic – using theoretical frameworks

5. Romantic – tendency to use feelings and instincts

6. Synoptic – grasping a comprehensive view

IV. Philosophy in relation to Education

Field Area of Inquiry

Epistemology Inquiries about the nature, presupposition and scope of
Knowledge

Metaphysics Studies the nature of reality and being

Logic Studies correct thinking of rules of inference to arguments

Ethics Inquiries into morally right conduct and the morally good l
Life

Aesthetics Analyzes standards and values in art and aesthetic
Experience

Axiology Studies the nature, status and types of values


V. Who are Philosophers?

- Perhaps they contemplated about issues and problems in a most abstract manner and had arrived at views and theories that may sound splendid. In other words, they try to prescribe solutions on the nature of natural, physical and social sciences.

- Concepts of philosopher-king and priest-kings

A. Oriental Teachers

Confucius - he was the founder of one of the most successful philosophical, moral and ethical system in human history. Confucianism is a western term but it’s Chinese and oriental term is Ru Chow or Ru philosophy that means a great intellectual tradition.

- Analects of Confucius, these are records of words and acts of the central Chinese philosopher and thinker. This is a short collection of his discussions with disciples, compiled posthumously. These contain an overview of his teachings.

- He stressed the vital importance of education as the only true assurance of morality or ‘virtuous behavior’

Mencius – a student of Confucius and a famous Confucian after Confucius himself.
- Mencius asserted more teachings on human nature that there is innate goodness in every individual, believing that it was society’s influence.

Lao Tzu – literally means ‘Old Master’

- He founded Taoism spreading the message of ‘The Way’ through his book ‘Tao te Ching’ or ‘classic of the Way’.

B. Ancient Greek Philosophers

Socrates – Socratic method – teaching will effective if the teacher doesn’t confine himself inside the classroom but use the community as an extension of the teaching-learning process.

- A true knowledge is applied through meaningful experiences

- Knowledge is a virtue and ignorance is a vice.

Plato – Platonic Doctrine – physical objects aren’t permanent representations of unchanging ideas and that ideas alone give true knowledge as they are known by the world.

- The use of intellect and reason

- Who should rule? Group of aristocrats or ‘aristocrats’

Aristotle – He built a Lyceum – teaching math, logic and political philosophy.

- One of the great metaphysicians.

- Doctrine of the Mean – “Golden Mean” – In order to achieve happiness people must act moderately. Supremacy of rational capacities to achieve happiness.

Q: What is the good life for man?
A: The good life of a man is a life of happiness.
Q: how should men behave?
A: Men ought to behave so as to achieve happiness.

C. Medieval Christian Theologians

St. Thomas Aquinas – the greatest theologian of the Roman Catholic Church

- He followed basically the teachings of Aristotle who relied on human reason and experience in search for goodness and truth.

St. Augustine – Happiness as the finest virtues that can be found in God.

- His teachings considered virtue, moral excellence, goodness and conformity in life, conduct to moral and ethical principles – “The Order of Love”

D. Social Contracts and Revolutionary Thinkers

Rousseau – General Will – illustrates the common will of the whole community for the interest of the common good of every individual. Hence believed that the ‘Voice of the people is the voice of God’ (Vox Populi, Vox Dei)

- Social Contract – Every individual in the community entered into an agreement and submitted themselves collectively to the general will of society. The state itself was a natural society but the result of the social contract, a purely conventional agreement whereby men give up part of their natural rights in order to preserve the rest.

Hobbes – His theory hinges on the psychological constitution of man, which is dominated by three major drives: 1. Competition (work hard for excellence), 2. diffidence (distrust to seek security), 3. glory (desire for fame, honor and superiority).

Locke – Second Treaties on Second Government – theoretical architect of democracy.

- Law of Nature – ‘no one ought to harm another life, health, liberty and his possessions’.