MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY Philosophy is a rational attempt to look at the

world as a whole.
The word philosophy is derived from the Greek
words philia (love) and sophia (wisdom) and Philosophy seeks to combine the conclusions of
means “the love of wisdom.” the various sciences and human experience into
some kind of consistent world view.
Pythagoras was said to have been the first man
Philosophers wish to see life, not with the
to call himself a philosopher; in fact, the world
specialized slant of the scientist or the
is indebted to him for the word philosopher. It
businessperson or the artist, but with the
is said that when Leon, the tyrant of Philius,
overall view of someone cognizant of life as a
asked him of who he was, he said, “a
totality.
Philosopher” and he likened the Philosopher to
spectators at ancient games. Philosophy is the logical analysis of language
and the clarification of the meaning of words
Before that time the wise men had called
and concepts.
themselves a sage, which was interpreted to
mean those who know. Pythagoras was more Certainly this is one function of philosophy. In
modest. He coined the word philosopher, which fact, nearly all philosophers have used methods
he defined as one who is attempting to find out. of analysis and have sought to clarify the
According to him, men and women of the world meaning of terms and the use of language.
could be classified into 3 groups: Some philosophers see this as the main task of
philosophy, and a few claim this is the only
1. those that love pleasure
legitimate function of philosophy.
2. those that love activity and
Philosophy is a group of perennial problems
3. those that love wisdom. that interest people and for which
philosophers always have sought answers.
MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy presses its inquiry into the deepest
Philosophy is the study of general and problems of human existence. Some of the
fundamental problems, such as those philosophical questions raised in the past have
connected with existence, knowledge, values, been answered in a manner satisfactory to the
reason, mind, and language. majority of philosophers. Many questions,
Philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, however, have been answered only tentatively,
understand, and answer fundamental and many problems remain unsolved.
questions.  “What is truth?”
NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY  “What is the distinction between right
and wrong?”
Philosophy is a process of reflecting on and  What is life and why am I here?
criticizing our most deeply held conceptions  Why is there anything at all?
and beliefs.

These two senses of philosophy— “having” and

“doing”—cannot be treated entirely IMPORTANCE OF PHILOSOPHY
independent of each other, for if we did not 1. The study of Philosophy enables us to
have a philosophy in the formal, personal sense, think carefully and clearly about
then we could not do a philosophy in the important issues.
critical, reflective sense. 2. In studying Philosophy, we learn to take
Having a philosophy, however, is not sufficient a step back from our everyday thinking
for doing philosophy. A genuine philosophical and to explore the deeper, bigger
attitude is searching and critical; it is open- question which underpins our thought.
minded and tolerant—willing to look at all sides 3. The focus in the study of Philosophy is
of an issue without prejudice. To philosophize is to learn not what to believe, but how to
not merely to read and know philosophy; there think.
are skills of argumentation to be mastered, 4. Studying philosophy sharpens your
techniques of analysis to be employed, and a analytical abilities, enabling you to
body of material to be appropriated such that identify and evaluate the strengths and
we become able to think philosophically. weaknesses in any position.
Philosophers are reflective and critic. 5. It hones your ability to construct and
articulate cogent arguments of your
own.
 6. It prompts you to work across Metaphysics undoubtedly is the branch of
disciplinary boundaries and to think philosophy that the modern student finds most
flexibly and creatively about problems difficult to grasp. Metaphysics attempts to offer
which do not present immediate a comprehensive view of all that exists. It is
solutions. concerned with such problems as the relation of
7. Because philosophy is an activity as mind to matter, the nature of change, the
much a body of knowledge, it also meaning of “freedom,” the existence of God,
develops your ability to think and work and the belief in personal immortality.
independently.
C. EPISTEMOLOGY
BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
The technical term for the theory of knowledge
Historically, philosophical concerns have been is epistemology, which comes from the Greek
treated under these broad categories: word episteme, meaning “knowledge.”

1. Logic In general, epistemology is the branch of

2. Metaphysics philosophy that studies the sources, nature, and
3. Epistemology validity of knowledge.
4. Value theory
There are three central questions in this field:
A. LOGIC
(1) What are the sources of knowledge? Where
Logic is the systematic study of the rules for the does genuine knowledge come from or how do
correct use of these supporting reasons, rules we know? This is the question of origins.
we can use to distinguish good arguments from
(2) What is the nature of knowledge? Is there a
bad ones. Most of the great philosophers from
real world outside the mind, and if so can we
Aristotle to the present have been convinced
know it? This is the question of appearance
that logic permeates all other branches of
versus reality.
philosophy. The ability to test arguments for
logical consistency, understand the logical (3) Is our knowledge valid? How do we
consequences of certain assumptions, and distinguish truth from error? This is the
distinguish the kind of evidence a philosopher is question of the tests of truth, of verification.
using are essential for “doing” philosophy.
D. VALUE THEORY
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Value theory is the branch of philosophy that
From a GENERAL truth to a studies values. It can be subdivided into ethics,
aesthetics, and social and political philosophy.
SPECIFIC truth.
In broad terms ethics concerns itself with the
From a universal truth to particular.
question of morality. What is right and what is
INDUCTIVE REASONING wrong in human relations? Within morality and
ethics there are three major areas: descriptive
From a SPECIFIC truth to a GENERAL truth.
ethics, normative ethics, and metaethics.
From particular to universal. Descriptive ethics seeks to identify moral
experience in a descriptive way. We seek to
B. METAPHYSICS identify, within the range of human conduct,
Metaphysics. For Aristotle, the term the motives, desires, and intentions as well as
metaphysics meant “first philosophy,” overt acts themselves.
discussion of the most universal principles; later ETHICS
the term came to mean “comprehensive
thinking about the nature of things.” Descriptive ethics consider the conduct of
individuals, or personal morality; the conduct of
It means, usually, the study or theory of reality. groups, or social morality; and the culture
The question of metaphysics is: what is reality? patterns of national and racial groups.
What is real? Is reality some kind of “thing”. Is it
one or is it many? If it is one, then how is it
related to many things around us? Can ultimate
reality be grasped by five senses, or is it
supernatural or transcendent?
A second level of inquiry is normative ethics  What criteria are to be used in
(what ought to be). Here philosophers try to determining the scope of political
work out acceptable judgments regarding what power, and what rights or freedoms
ought to be in choice and value. “We ought to should be immune from political or
keep our promises” and “you ought to be legal control?
honorable” are examples of normative  To what positive goals should political
judgments— of the moral ought, the subject power be directed, and what are the
matter of ethics. criteria for determining this?

Third, there is the area of critical or metaethics.

Here interest is centered on the analysis and
COGNITIVE
meaning of the terms and language used in
ethical discourse and the kind of reasoning used Logic
to justify ethical statements. Metaethics does
not propound any moral principle or goal Metaphysics
(except by implication), but rather consists Epistemology
entirely of philosophical analysis. What is the
meaning of “good?” and Can ethical judgments NORMATIVE
be justified? are typical problems for Ethics
metaethics.
Politics
AESTHETICS
Aesthetics
Concerns the theory of art and beauty.
Questions of art and beauty are considered to
be part of the realm of values because many
philosophical problems in aesthetics involve
critical judgments.

There are wide differences of opinion as to

what objects call forth the aesthetic response,
and what beauty really is. Our concepts of
beauty may differ not because of the nature of
beauty itself, but because of varying degrees of
preparation in discerning beauty. Therefore, if
we cannot perceive beauty in objects that
others find beautiful, it may be wise to withhold
judgment until we are capable ourselves of
making a competent analysis of the aesthetic
experience.

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Social and political philosophy investigates

value judgments concerning society, the state,
and the individual’s relation to these
institutions.

The following questions reflect the concerns of

social and political philosophy:

 Why should individuals live in society?

 What social ideals of liberty, rights,
justice, equality and responsibility are
desirable?
 Why should anyone obey any
government?
 Why should some individuals or groups
have political power over others?
 What criteria are to be used in
determining who should have political
power?