Introduction to Philosophy

Philosophy 

- Etymologically speaking came from greek word philos which mean "to love" and sophia which means wisdom. Literally, Philosophy means "the love of wisdom".

-It is the study of nature of knowledge, existence and reality.

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."

Bertrand Russel

Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

- He discussed the value of Philosophy why we should study it.

- defines practical men as men who only realize the material things.

- 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.

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. 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.