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Chapter 1

THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY

What is Philosophy?

Nominal Definition < explains what a name means> Philosophy comes from the Greek wordsphilos, meaning friend and Sophia, meaning wisdom. It

means the love of wisdom or a friend of wisdom.

Real Definition < explains what a thing is> Philosophy is the science of all that exist < of beings > in their ultimate cause through the aid of

the human intellect alone.

Elements in the Definition of Philosophy It is a science a systematic body of knowledge which is not only based on opinions, hypothesis,

and theories, but on ideal knowledge.

Of beings philosophy is the highest synthesis of all sciences dealing with man, nature and God.It is also considered as the mother of all sciences because of its very vast scope and subject

matter.

i.e.: of all, everything that exists, or may exist, of everything knowable. In their ultimate cause because it asks and answers not only facts and proximate causes but

also the deepest causes of things. Its task is to give answers not only to the question what but

most importantly to the question why.

Through the aid of the human intellect alone because philosophy uses natural reason and notdivine Revelation of the recourse to the Bible; it is the product of ones own thinking and not of

imagination or fantasy.

Relationship of Philosophy to Science and Arts Philosophy and Science are alike. They are both interested in KNOWLEDGE. Both of them are

fields on inquiry and investigation. Both seek to ask questions and determine answers to these

questions.

However, a difference lies between the two in the kind of knowledge they seek. Science seeks knowledge of facts. While, Philosophy seeks ultimate knowledge.

Therefore, philosophy takes full cognizance < the process by which you recognize andunderstand something> in the findings of Science because Science seeks to determine facts and

facts are its end products. Philosophy begins its work with these facts. it makes use of them. It is

the significance of the facts, which interest a person as a genuine philosopher. The method of

philosophy involves interpretation and explanation of the ultimate relation and meaning of

facts. It is more inclusive as it takes given facts and shows their relation to the totality of the

experiences of man.

Philosophy and the Arts have a common ground in seeking truth. Both have a common interestin interpreting, appreciating experiences and enjoying the meaning of life.

The artists treatment of beauty is actual while the philosophers is theoretical. An artists enjoyed and appreciates, express and create. Philosophers intellectualize artistic

experience. Their chief task is to parallel the experience of beauty with an intellectualunderstanding of its nature.

Types of Philosophy Philosophy is basically divided into two major types: 1.> pure philosophy or speculative

Philosophy and 2.> Applied Philosophy or Practical Philosophy.

Pure philosophy or speculative philosophy When being is considered in itself

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1. Metaphysics / Ontology < being in its most general form> - the study of being asbeing while taking into consideration that essence and existence are constitutes

of being.

2. Cosmology - the philosophical study of thematerial world with regards to its order in the universe.

3. Theodicy - < being in its highest form > - the philosophical study of God withconsideration to its nature and existence as absolute.4. Anthropology < being with its body and soul > - the philosophical study of man

with regard to the union between the body and soul.

5. Rational Psychology < being with its soul > - the philosophical study of theimmaterial soul and its facilities with consideration to it as the life principle of

every living being.

When being is considered in relation to Man1. Logic < considering the procedure of mans thought > - the science and art of

correct thinking.

2. Epistemology < the value of our thought > - the philosophical study of humanknowledge with regard to certainty and truth.

3. Ethics < considering mans will > - the philosophical study of the morality of thehuman act that distinguishes good from evil and right from wrong.

GENERAL OUTLINE OF PHILOSOPHY

< SCHEMA OF PHILOSOPHY>

BEING

GENERAL FORMS SPECIAL FORMS

THE WORLD GOD

NON LIVING WORLD LIVING WORLD

vegetative: plants

sentient: animals

rational: man

MAN

BODY AND SOUL MIND WILL

CORRECT THINKING VALID KNOWLEDGE

ONTOLOGY COSMOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY LOGIC EPISTEMOLOGY ETHICS THEODICY

Applied Philosophy or Practical Philosophy We have some branches of applied Philosophy or Practical Philosophy.

1. Philosophy of man the inquiry into man as a person.2. Social Philosophy the study of the relationships between man and society3. Philosophy of Religionthe study of mans relationship with God.4. Axiologythe study of mans values.5. Aesthetics the study of beauty and perfection.6. Oriental philosophy the study of oriental ways of life and mind.7. Philosophy of Education the philosophical approach to teaching and learning

processes.

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2. BASED ON THE PROCESS OF THINKING

DEDUCTIVE LOGICo Deductive /Logic is one in which the premises flow logically into the conclusion. This is why it is also

called Formal Deductive Logic. It is from universal to particular, or as McCall says, from more

to less universal by way of a middle term.

All Filipinos are industrious. Peter is a Filipino.

Therefore, Peter is industrious.

INDUCTIVE LOGICo Inductive Logic is one in which the argument flows from specific to general or particular to universal.

Inductive logic implies a sense of probability. As Copi says, it may provide some evidences

of truth. It is closely allied to the scientific method of inquiry which proves from the particular to

the universal.

This chalk falls, this book. This pen this eraser.Therefore, bodily objects fall.

ACTS OF THE MIND: THE MENTAL OPERATIONS

Our mind is always active it never rests; we know that it is one of the most complex realities in existence.But to help us understand its nature, it is better to deal with it through the three essential operations of the

intellect: simple apprehension, judgment and reasoning.

o Simple Apprehension Is the process through which the mind grasps the objective reality as it is outside the mind?

When something is grasped, an idea or concept is formed which is then expressed through

the use of terms.

Example of terms: man, mortal, petero Judgment

Is the process through which the mind can assert or deny something? This second processcan be achieved only after having ideas because it is the ideas that are put together in order

to come up with judgment. The expressions of judgment are called Propositions.

Example: every man is mortal. Peter is a man.

o Reasoning Is the process through which the mind arrives at a conclusion from previously possessed

judgments? It draws out new propositions from premises. We also call this INFERENCE .

Example of a syllogism: every man is mortal.But, peter is a man.

Therefore, peter is mortal..

Assignment:

1. Research the meaning of language.2. 3 basic functions of language and its meaning.3. 3 integral parts of man and its meaning.4. To be passed by November 11, 2012