INTRODUCTION TO THE

PHILOSOPHY
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

PRESENTED BY: Joseph Addie Amper

Some Philosophical Questions;
• What is real?
• Are we able to perceive and understand reality and everything in it?
• How do we know what we know?
• Are the things that we know true?
• What is the ultimate cause of all things?
• What is our purpose in this world ?
• To what extent are our choices and actions considered “ free”?
 WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

• The word philosophy is derived from the greek words philia ( love)
and sophia (wisdom) and means the “ love of wisdom”.

• Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental nature of

reality, existence, knowledge, values , reason, mind , and language.
• Philosophy is the study that uses human person reason to
investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles which
govern all things.
 MOST NOTABLE ANCIENT GREEK
PHILOSOPHERS;

Pythagoras ( 570 BCE to • A mathematician and

495 BCE)
scientist, he was credited
with formulating the
Pythagorian theorem.
• He eatablished 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 exist is based on the
higher order or plan which he
called (logos).
• Change is permanent aspect
of the human condition as he
was credited with the saying
,” No man ever steps 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 to proposed that
matter is composed of tiny
particles called atoms.
 • He was a known advocate of living a simple and virtuous life.One should
Diogenes of Sinope not only talk of virtue but should show it in words and actions.
• He was also known to be a vocal critic of well- known philosophers such
412 BCE to 323 BCE )
as plato and aristotle.
• His teaching and views were later developed by his followers and
unfluenced the development of several schools of philosophy such as
Cynicism and Stoicism.

• Cynism - an inclination to believe that people are motivated purely by

self- interest. (Skepticism ) public cynicism about change is
understandable.
• A school of ancient greek philosopher the cynics.
• Stoicism- an endurance of pain or hardship without the display of
feelings and without complaint.
• An ancient greek school of philosophy founded at Athens by Zeno
Citium. The school taught that virtue, the higher good, is based on
knowledge.
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.
• 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)

• An ancient greek philosopher who is consider the most

famous and important philosopher of all the time.
• He also believed that philosophy could enable a man to live
a life of virtue.
• He was credited wirh formulating the Socratic Method – a
means of examining a topic by devising a series of question
that let a learner examine and analyze his knowledge and
views regarding the topic.
• A general technique for looking at philosophical problems
based on definition, analysis, and synthensis.
Plato
( 427 BCE to 437 BCE )
• A students of socrates , he wrote down his mentor’ s teaching and
incorporated some of his own ideas into them.
• His teachings and writings were considered the foundation of western
philosophy.
• Plato most significant ideas included his Theory of Forms – which
proposed that everything that exist is based on the idea or template
that can only be percieved in the mind ; this nonphysical ideas are
eternal and unchanging.
• Dialectics – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are
discussed to attempt to arrive at new knowledge.
• Academy – an institution of higher learning which was the first of its
kind in the western world.
Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE)
• A prominent student of Plato
• For him , all ideas and views are based in perception and our
reality is based on what we can sense and percieve.
• Aristotle was involved in a great variety of disciplines such
as zoology, psychology, ethics and politics.
• His studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal process
which gave rise to deductive reasoning
• Deductive Reasoning – the process by which specific
statement 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 a mans life.One
view is that each one of us is a philosopher, wheather or not we have studied philosophy. We all
have the potential to philosophize since we have the tendency to wonder and doubt.

• The greek philosopher Plato traced mans need to philosophize to his sense of
wonder. Whenever we are confronted with an experience, we always wonder how
it came about.Mans overbounding curiosity drives him to ask question, some of
which have no definite answers.
• The 20th – century Swiss- German Karl Jasper saw the need to philosophize
because of experience .
• Jasper believed that man is often confronted by experiences which challenge
his ideas and frameworks.
• Limit situations – these often accompanied by feeling of helplessness, anxiety
or dread .
• For Jasper , philosophy provides us a means to understand adverse or
challenging conditions, and to rise above them mand gain new knowledge and
perspective.
• Philosophy itself is a distinct area of knowledge with its own goal,
concerns , and ways of doing things. It is often diveded into several branches
each of which deals with a particular aspects of life or phenomena.

Four (4) branches of philosophy;

• LOGIC
• EPISTEMOLOGY
• ETHICS
• POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
• METAPHYSICS
• Logic – deals with correct reasoning.
• Epistemology – discusses the nature of knowledge and
knowing.
• Ethics – is the branch with deals with moral questions
and dilemmas.
• Metaphysics – is a branch of philosophy which deals
with with questions regarding reality and existence.
 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HOLISTICS THINKING AND PARTIAL THINKING?

• Holistic thinking – refers to a perspective that consider large- scale

patterns in systems.This is often described as looking at the “ big picture”
when describing and analyzing a situation or problem.
• Partial thinking – focuses on specific aspects of a situation.The partial
view is an important component of analytical thinking, as an individual
focuses on certain areas aspects of a problem in order to understand
it.Though partial thinking is useful, philosophy utilizes holistic thinking in
making sense if problems and issues related to the human existence.
 WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL USES OF
PHILOSOPHY IN OUR LIVES?
Philosophy has an important place in our daily lives . Engaging in
philosophical reflection leads to the development of beneficial skills that
individuals can apply in everyday situations.
Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and
interpretation of concepts, definitions , arguments, and problems.
Philosophy also improves problem- solving and decision making.
A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and adequately
present his or her ideas.
THANKS FOR
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