CHAPTER I. Philosophy: An CHAPTER I. Philosophy: An Attempt at its Definition, Attempt at its Definition,

Nature, and Historical OutlineNature, and Historical OutlineDefinition of PhilosophyDefinition of Philosophy•The word philosophy can be looked at from two aspects: its The word philosophy can be looked at from two aspects: its etymological and its real definition.etymological and its real definition.•Etymologically, philosophy comes from the two greek Etymologically, philosophy comes from the two greek words, words, philo and sophia, philo and sophia, which means lover of wisdom.which means lover of wisdom.•Its real real definition can be stated briefly: philosophy is a Its real real definition can be stated briefly: philosophy is a search for meaning.search for meaning.•The word “search” means to look, to find, to seek.The word “search” means to look, to find, to seek.•The difference lies in the three elements found in The difference lies in the three elements found in philosophical search. These are: philosophical search. These are:

1. The object of the search is of real value to subject1. The object of the search is of real value to subject

Object- refers to a thing/Object- refers to a thing/

Subject- to the person philosophizingSubject- to the person philosophizing

2. It “consumes” the whole person – his 2. It “consumes” the whole person – his attention, concentration, interest, effort.attention, concentration, interest, effort.

3. The philosophers searches for the 3. The philosophers searches for the meaning of life-its importance, significance, meaning of life-its importance, significance, value, relevance.value, relevance.

The Nature of PhilosophyThe Nature of Philosophy It is in the very nature of philosophy that man It is in the very nature of philosophy that man

searches for the meaning of himself and his world.searches for the meaning of himself and his world. It can truly be said that philosophy was born the It can truly be said that philosophy was born the

very first time man started wondering at what he very first time man started wondering at what he saw around him.saw around him.

To early Greeks, philosophy was a superstar of a To early Greeks, philosophy was a superstar of a subject. subject.

Philosophy is considered to have four main Philosophy is considered to have four main branches: logic, ethics, epistemology, and branches: logic, ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics.metaphysics.

What is Philosophy?What is Philosophy? Philosophy has been Philosophy has been

called many things called many things and it can have many and it can have many meaningsmeanings

Those single words Those single words or statements on the or statements on the right side are only right side are only some of themsome of them

What words would What words would you add?you add?

WisdomWisdom RealityReality TheoriesTheories Meaning of LifeMeaning of Life Nature of being Nature of being

humanhuman Life perspectivesLife perspectives

Universities with a major in philosophy usually offer Universities with a major in philosophy usually offer the following core subjects:the following core subjects:

1.1.Logic – the science and art of correct thinking.Logic – the science and art of correct thinking.

2.2.Ethics- the science of the morality of human acts.Ethics- the science of the morality of human acts.

3.3.Epistemology- the theory of knowledge, the goal of Epistemology- the theory of knowledge, the goal of which is truth.which is truth.

4.4.Metaphysics- the foundation subject of all Metaphysics- the foundation subject of all philosophy, it deals with human reality and system philosophy, it deals with human reality and system of human thought that seeks to explain the of human thought that seeks to explain the fundamental concepts of man.fundamental concepts of man.

5.5.Cosmology- the study of inanimate things such as Cosmology- the study of inanimate things such as the universe, from the philosophical viewpoint.the universe, from the philosophical viewpoint.

6.6.Aesthetics- the study of the beautifulAesthetics- the study of the beautiful

7.7.Rational or Philosophical Psychology- the study of Rational or Philosophical Psychology- the study of the life principle of living things, specifically of the life principle of living things, specifically of man.man.

8.8.Theodicy- the philosophical study of GodTheodicy- the philosophical study of God

9. Social Philosophy- the study of man in relation to 9. Social Philosophy- the study of man in relation to the family, the State, and the Church.the family, the State, and the Church.

10. Philosophy of Man- 10. Philosophy of Man- is an inquiry into man as person is an inquiry into man as person and as existent being in the world: his dignity, truth, and as existent being in the world: his dignity, truth, freedom, justice, love, death, his relations with others and freedom, justice, love, death, his relations with others and with God.with God.

Approaches to Ethics is a study according to Approaches to Ethics is a study according to historical periods. The outline that follows is based historical periods. The outline that follows is based on these three sources.on these three sources.

A.A. Pre-Socratic PeriodPre-Socratic Period

B.B. The GreeksThe Greeks

1. Socrates1. Socrates

2. Plato2. Plato

3. Aristotle3. Aristotle

C. The RomansC. The Romans1. Seneca1. Seneca2. Marcus Aurelius2. Marcus Aurelius3. Epictetus3. Epictetus

D. The Middle AgesD. The Middle Ages1. Augustine1. Augustine2. Bonaventure2. Bonaventure3. Boethius3. Boethius4. Albert the Great4. Albert the Great5. Thomas Aquinas5. Thomas Aquinas6. Duns Scotus6. Duns Scotus7. Pico Della Miranda7. Pico Della Miranda

E. Early Modern PeriodE. Early Modern Period1. Rene Decartes1. Rene Decartes2. Nicolo Machiavellie2. Nicolo Machiavellie3. Thomas Hobbes3. Thomas Hobbes

4. Benedict Spinoza4. Benedict Spinoza5. John Locke5. John Locke6. David Hume6. David Hume7. Immanuel Kant7. Immanuel Kant

F. The Nineteenth CenturyF. The Nineteenth Century1. Jeremy Bentham1. Jeremy Bentham2. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel2. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel3. Arthur Schopenhauer3. Arthur Schopenhauer4. John Stuart Mill4. John Stuart Mill5. Soren Kierkegard5. Soren Kierkegard6. Frederich Nietzche6. Frederich Nietzche7. Karl Marx7. Karl Marx

G. The Contemporary PeriodG. The Contemporary Period1. Jean Paul Sarte1. Jean Paul Sarte2. Gabriel Marcel2. Gabriel Marcel3. Edmund Husserl3. Edmund Husserl4. Martin Heidegger4. Martin Heidegger5. Teilhard de Chardin5. Teilhard de Chardin

6. Karl Jaspers6. Karl Jaspers7. Martin Buber7. Martin Buber8. Robert Johann8. Robert Johann9. Henri Bergson9. Henri Bergson

10. Ludwig Wittgenstein10. Ludwig Wittgenstein 11. William Luijpen11. William Luijpen 12. Alfred North Whitehead12. Alfred North Whitehead

13. John Dewey13. John Dewey 14. William James14. William James

15. Charles S. Peirce15. Charles S. Peirce 16. Paul Ricoeur 16. Paul Ricoeur

REFLECTION 1REFLECTION 1

1.1. Before you started this course, Before you started this course, what have you heard about what what have you heard about what philosophy was all about? What did philosophy was all about? What did you think it was? What did you you think it was? What did you expect to get from it?expect to get from it?

2.2. What subjects do you think would What subjects do you think would be philosophy’s concern? Why?be philosophy’s concern? Why?

Thank You!Thank You!

Prepared by: Prof. Arnold T. MalayaoPrepared by: Prof. Arnold T. Malayao