Let's Get Started 3
I do not want to start this introduction to Philosophy by giving you a clear definition of what Philosophy is. Instead, I shall tell you a great deal about it, some of which you will forget. Then, I’ll show you some examples of Philosophy in the writings of Philosophers on the major issues Philosophers have been thinking about for over two thousand years, some of which you will remember. Finally, I’ll attempt to engage you in doing philosophy through the discussions and presentations of various positions on many of the issues and then I think you will understand both what philosophy is and some of the most challenging and recurring issues with which philosophy has dealt and continues to pursue.
For a good overview of different ideas about what Philosophy is and forms or fields in Philosophy
For a nice introduction to the answer to "What is philosophy", Read: Dallas Roark, What is Philosophy
Key questions in the history of Philosophy
- What is the world about?
- What is the world made up of?
- What are human beings to do?
- How are Humans to live?
- How are humans to live the GOOD life?
- What is the GOOD?
- What is it to know?
- What is it to exist?
- Is there a meaning to existence?
- Is there a meaning to human life, history, suffering???
- Is the world all there is?
- What is REAL?
- Is the world REAL? or illusion???
- Is suffering what it is all about?
- Is suffering real?
- Is life without meaning?
- Is life absurd?
- Are humans free?
- Are humans free to shape their own existence and destiny?
- How are humans to live in an honorable way?
- How can we be certain of anything? (Descartes)
- How are humans to live in a world with science?
- How are humans to live in a society with constant change and problems?
A Text book Definition of Philosophy:
Philosophy is an activity whose guiding principle is reason and whose goal is a critical self understanding.
the systematic, critical examination of the way in which we judge, evaluate, and act, with the aim of making ourselves wiser, more self reflective, and therefore better men and women.
Wisdom: rational insight into the principles of thought and action.
Philosophy:
a.) conceptual analysis and armchair speculation on whatever other sciences haven't yet claimed as their own domain.
b.) systematic reflection of the mind on the criteria of right thought and right action.
- -Robert Paul Wolff
Ok? That’s quite a few definitions for anyone to ponder. My favorite is still to come. Consider now some things associated with Philosophy.
PHILOSOPHY: It is a mental discipline that involves: problems, attitudes, methods, activities, conclusions, and effects
PROBLEMS: Philosophical vs non-philosophical
all problems, if or when pursued far enough, enter or involve philosophy
Basic Problems: Knowledge, Truth, Good, Beauty, GOD, Justice, Freedom, Mind, Reality
Philosophy as a science (A.) Specific or (B.) General or comprehensive science
A. Specific science-special science- with well defined subject matter
- ETHICS
- EPISTEMOLOGY
- LOGIC
- METAPHYSICS
- ONTOLOGY
- COSMOLOGY
- EPISTEMOLOGY
- AXIOLOGY
- AESTHETICS
- PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
- PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
- PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE
- PHILOSOPHY OF ART
- PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
- PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
- PHILOSOPHY OF NATURAL SCIENCE PHYSICAL SCIENCE
- PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMAN SCIENCE
- SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY
- POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
B. General or comprehensive
- Criticism
- Analysis
- synthesis
METHODS:
- Logical
- Deductive
- Inductive
- Abductive
- Dialectical
- Empirical
ACTIVITIES:
- Wondering
- Questioning
- Criticizing
- Synthesizing
For college students it wouldn't hurt to think of Philosophy as a discipline that originates in the West in an attempt to answer the question: How am I to live a GOOD Life?
PROBLEMS: How to live a GOOD life in this modern, industrial, technological society?
And : How do I answer such a question with less than absolute certainty?
FUNCTION of PHILOSOPHY for the college student, the undergraduate:
to assist one in answering these questions for oneself.
All right, that will be enough of the telling about the nature of Philosophy without defining it. In the next section I shall attempt to show you a bit about what philosophers do and it will involve you becoming engaged in doing a good bit of thinking.
VIDEOS: Here are interesting videos on What is Philosophy
What is Philosophy?
Dr. Richard Brown What is Philosophy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySS0bNeWZOg
Dr. Massimo Pigliucci: What is Philosophy? http://www.youtube.com/user/MassimoPigliucci#p/u/2/OfYw9OqD8YA
AUDIO: Before going on you might want to listen to some mildly amusing comments on and about Philosophy by the actor and comedian, John Cleese. They are available http://puffin.creighton.edu/phil/John_Cleese_on_philosophy.htm
topics include:
01 Survey
02 Scientific Life
03 In The Present
04 Information
05 The Meaning Of Life
06 Future Obligation
07 Somewhere Else
08 Tabloid
09 Starting Point
10 Worldly Good
11 Things That Matter
12 Fun
13 Quality Of Life
14 What To Fear
15 Dream
16 Kids Today
17 Decision
18 Silenced
19 Century
20 Neighbor Policy
21 To Die For
22 Reachable Stars