Q3- Introduction to Philosophy

LESSON 1: WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

After going through this lesson, you are expected to:

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view
2. Realize the value of doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective on life;
3. Do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic
perspective.

What is Philosophy?
The word philosophy comes from two Greek words: philos (love) and sophia
(wisdom). The ancient Greeks used this term to refer to “love of wisdom” – and
they soon applied it to the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate
the ultimate causes, reasons and principles which govern all things. People who
engage in philosophy are called philosophers or “lovers of wisdom”. Among the
ancient Greeks, the philosophers became pioneers in various fields of knowledge
such as history, biology, medicine, mathematics, astronomy and even physics.

The following are the most notable ancient Greek philosophers.

 Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE)- A mathematician and scientist, he was
credited with formulating the Pythagorean theorem. His work earned him
many followers, and he established a community of learners who were
devoted to the study of religion and philosophy.
 Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)-He proposed that everything that exists is
based on a higher order or plan which he called logos. For him, change is a
permanent aspect of the human condition as he was credited with the saying,
"No man ever steps in the same river twice."
 Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE)-He devoted himself to the study of the
causes of natural phenomena. He was among the first to propose that matter
is composed of tiny particles called atoms.
 Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE) - He was a known advocate of
living a simple and virtuous life. For Diogenes, one should not only talk of
virtue but should show it in words and actions. His emphasis on austerity and
simplicity often went to the extreme, and he was said to have lived like a
beggar. He was also known to be a vocal critic of well-known philosophers
such as Plato and Aristotle. His teachings and views were later developed by
his followers and influenced the development of several schools of philosophy
such as Cynicism and Stoicism.
 Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE)- He believed that philosophy could enable
man to live a life of happiness. His views gave rise to Epicureanism-a school
of philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple living will result in a life
free of fear and pain.
 Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE)- He was considered the foremost philosopher
of ancient times. He made great contributions to the field of ethics. Socrates
was a known critic of intellectuals during his time, but he himself did not
claim to be "wise" and merely considered himself a "midwife" that helped
inquiring minds achieve wisdom. He also believed that philosophy could
enable a man to live a life of virtue. He was credited with formulating the
Q3- Introduction to Philosophy

Socratic Method-a means of examining atopic by devising a series of

questions that let the learner examine and analyze his knowledge and views
regarding the topic.
 Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE) - A student of Socrates, he wrote down his
mentor's teachings and incorporated some of his own ideas into them. His
teachings and writings were considered the foundation of Western
philosophy. Plato's most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms,
which proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea or template
that can only be perceived in the mind; these nonphysical ideas are eternal
and unchanging. He also focused his studies on the ideal society and
proposed an ideal model of government and society which is ruled by wisdom
and reason. Plato is also known for his dialectic-a method of inquiry where
two opposing ideas are discussed in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge.
Plato's lasting contribution to learning was his founding of the Academy, an
institution of higher learning which was the first of its kind in the Western
World.
 Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) - He attended the Academy, and was a
prominent student of Plato. Aristotle, however, disagreed with Plato's theory
of forms and took a different stance in interpreting reality. For him, all ideas
and views are based on perception and our reality is based on what we can
sense and perceive. This view greatly influenced the study of the physical
sciences. Aristotle was involved in a great variety of disciplines such as
zoology, psychology, ethics, and politics. He also proposed a system for the
classification of plants and animals. His studies in logic led to the formulation
of a formal process of analyzing reasoning which gave rise to deductive
reasoning-the process by which specific statements are analyzed to reach a
conclusion or generalization.

Why is there a need to philosophize?

Philosophers have often wondered and argued about the role of philosophy in
man’s life.
The Greek philosopher Plato traced man’s need to philosophize to his sense
of wonder. Whenever we are confronted with an experience, we always
wonder how it came about.
The 15th–century French philosopher Rene Descartes traced the need to
philosophize to doubt. In life, we will be faced with several ideas and
arguments which present themselves as “truths.” A critical and questioning
perspective is necessary to determine if indeed these ideas or views are
correct or true.
The 20t –century Swiss-German philosopher Karl Jaspers saw the need to
philosophize because of experience. Jaspers believed that man is often
confronted by experiences which challenge his ideas and frameworks. For
Jaspers, philosophy provides us a means to understand adverse or
challenging conditions, and to rise above them and gain new knowledge and
perspectives.

Branches of Philosophy
Q3- Introduction to Philosophy

One way of looking at philosophy is to consider it as a way of analyzing

frameworks.
Framework – defined as a way of thinking about the world and is composed of the
views and beliefs of a person.
Internal Questions- questions dealing with our own correctness which can be
addressed using our own personal frameworks.
External Questions – seek to question the very frameworks upon which people
base their own beliefs and views.
Philosophy itself is a distinct area of knowledge with its own goals,
concerns, and ways of doing things. It is often divided into several branches
each of which deals with a particular aspect of life or phenomena.

A. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy which deals with questions regarding

reality and existence. A very big part of the metaphysician’s talk is to explain
that part of our experience which we call unreal in terms of what we call real.
B. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that explores the nature of moral virtue
and evaluates human actions. Philosophical ethics attempts to provide an
account of our fundamental ethical ideas. Whereas religion has often
motivated individuals to obey the moral code of their society, philosophy is
not content with traditional or habitual ethics but adopt a critical perspective.
C. Epistemology discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing. It explains
how we know what we claim to know; how we can find out what we wish to
know; and lastly how we differentiate truth from falsehood.
D. Logic a branch of philosophy which deals with correct thinking and
reasoning. Logic is not interested in what we know regarding certain subjects.
Its concern rather, is the truth or the validity of our arguments regarding such
objects.
E. Aesthetics deals with beauty and what makes things “beautiful”. As a
branch of philosophy, students should consider the importance of aesthetics
because of the following:
a. It vitalizes our knowledge;
b. It helps us to live more deeply and richly; and lastly
c. It brings us in touch with our culture.

The difference between holistic thinking and partial thinking

Holistic thinking refers to a perspective that consider large-scale patterns
in system. This is often described as looking at the “big picture” when describing
and analyzing a situation or problem. A holistic perspective requires an individual to
have an open mindset and an ability to get the general sense or impression
regarding a situation. Partial thinking, on the other hand, focuses on specific
aspects of a situation. The partial views are an important component of analytic
thinking, as an individual focuses on certain areas or aspects of a problem in order
to understand it. Though partial thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes holistic
thinking in making sense of problems and issues related to the human experience.
A holistic view also gives rise to a more appreciative about life, as we are able
to look at life in its totality. This means that we try to understand a situation from
different vantage points so we can see it more fully.
Q3- Introduction to Philosophy

Reflection- requires a person to be willing to examine one’s thoughts, feelings,

and actions and to learn more about one’s life and experiences.

Prepared by:

Ms. Gaylyn T. Cortes

Subject Teacher