Introduction to Philosophy

raphaelmary.weebly.com

Filosofia

filo - Love sofia - Wisdom

Philosophy literally means “love of wisdom”.

But what is wisdom?

What is Philosophy?

Well, according to dictionary.com:

“…knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action…”

So then, wisdom is a kind of knowledge,

But what kind of knowledge are we talking about?

But what is wisdom?

knowledge that leads to right action.

What kind of knowledge is wisdom?

• Last year there were over a trillion searches on google. • The Texans were 11-5 last season. • God exists. • There will be more hurricanes this season than usual. • Fr. Raphael Mary is an easy grader. • There is no such thing as love at first sight. • It was morally wrong for the U.S. to use atomic weapons in WWII. • My friends are going to a movie tonight at 9:00pm. • Every human being has a soul. • The unexamined life is not worth living.

Not ALL knowledge is wisdom! Here are some bits of knowledge that a person might think he or she has. Some of these may be true, some may not be. But which of them, if it were true, might qualify as a piece of wisdom?

Wisdom is knowledge about truths that really matter.

So what is wisdom?

Well, in a nutshell…

Wisdom is knowledge about truths that really matter.

And a philosopher is someone who loves and searches for

this kind of truth.

Wisdom is knowledge about truths that really matter.

• Last year there were over a trillion searches on google. • The Texans were 11-5 last season. • God exists. • There will be more hurricanes this season than usual. • Fr. Raphael Mary is an easy grader. • There is no such thing as love at first sight. • It was morally wrong for the U.S. to use atomic weapons in WWII. • My friends are going to a movie tonight at 9:00pm. • Every human being has a soul. • The unexamined life is not worth living.

?

?

Socrates, 470-399 BC

• We have nothing actually written by Socrates.

• “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

• Greek philosopher, born in Athens

• Most of what we know about him comes from Plato, his most famous student.

• Famous for the “socratic method” of doing philosophy through questioning and dialogue.

• Came from a poor or middle class background

• Known for being rather ugly (pug nose?)

• In 399 BC, sentenced to death for “corrupting the youth and for “not believing in the gods.”

Plato, 427-347 BC

• Most of his philosophy is written in “dialogue” form with Socrates as the main character.

• Famous for his “doctrine of forms” that says that not only

good and beautiful things exist, but “the good” and “the beautiful exist as well.

• His most famous student was Aristotle, whose philosophy came to rival his in influence.

• Student and follower of Socrates, born in Athens

• How much of what Socrates says is merely what Plato says

through him?

• From one of the wealthiest families in Athens.