Chapter I – Nature of PhilosophyLesson 1 –

What Philosophy Means

Some Common meanings of Philo:-Philosophy as a set of beliefs-Philosophy as an activity of
reasoning-Philosophy as an academic subject/coursePhilosophy came from the Greek word:
Philosophia,
which means ove of !isdomPhilo " ove and Sophia - !isdom #herefore$ Philosophers are
lovers of wisdom%& key Philosophers to remember: Socrates$ Pythagoras$ and
Plato%Philosopher$ 'rst used by Pythagoras%Pythagoras was popularly known for his
mathematical formula$ Pythagorean #heorem%Sophists " were a group of intellectuals
that taught
oratory
for a fee to indiv% #hat desireda good career in Politics%Sophists believe that all truths are (elative
inthat all truths are determined by or based onhuman interests%Philosophers oppose of the
sophists) belief$ and stated that truth is *niversal and are objective%+ #raits of a !ise Person:
•
, wise person is aware of his own ignorance
•
, wise person has justi'ed true beliefs
•
, wise person knows what things are valuable in life%
•
, wise person knows what to do and does it%
•
, wiser person has the ability to put knowledge into practice%(odolf Carnap " distinction
between internal and e ternal .uestions%
Philosophy as an A ti!ity
udwig !ittgenstein " Philosophy is not a body of doctrine but an activity0Philosophy as
an ,ctivity is
•
1ynamic
•
Critical
•
Creative
Lesson " – #in$s of Philosophy% &eneral 'ypes of Philosophy

#hematic " topic of the issues being addressed%

Positional - Solution that is being proposed%

2ethodological " 2ethod use to resolve issues%

(egional " according to geographical location%

3istorical " !hen or the 3istorical period%4ranches of Philosophy under #hematic type:

Lo(i
- 5 r o m t h e G r e e k
)lo(os*
which has a variety of meanings including word$ thought$ idea$ argument$ account$
reason or principle is the study of reasoning$ or the study of the principles and criteria of
valid inference and demonstration%- ( i g h t w a y o f t h i n k i n g - 3 a s
5 o r m a l $ 6 n f o r m a l $ S y m b o l i c $ a n d 2athematical logic%- , r i s t o t l e " is
new and necessary0
Epistemolo(y
- G r e e k w o r d
episteme
meaning knowledge%- # h e n a t u r e o f S c o p e a n d 7 n o w l e d g e - 6 s t h e
s t u d y o f t h e n a t u r e a n d s c o p e o f knowledge and justi'ed belief%-
,naly8es nature of knowledge

Metaphysi s
- # r a d i t i o n a l b r a n c h o f p h i l o s o p h y concerned with e plaining
the fundamental nature of being and the world that encompasses it.
-1erived from the word 2 e t a 0 " beyond$ upon$ after- 5 i r s t u s e d
as title in ,ristotle)s work-
Ultimately, what is there? And what is it like?