CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY

P H I L O S O P H Y
A Text with Readings
ELEVENTH EDITION
M A N U E L V E L A S Q U E Z
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Philosophy, which literally means the love
of wisdom, begins with wonder about our
most basic beliefs. Its goal is to help us
achieve autonomy by making us more
aware of our own beliefs and encouraging
us to reason and think through issues for
ourselves.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
The Myth of the Cave is one of the best-
known passages in The Republic, a work
of the Greek philosopher Plato. The myth
describes the philosopher's climb from the
dark cave of philosophical ignorance up
into the light of philosophical wisdom.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Philosophy is the critical and rational
examination of the most fundamental
assumptions that underlie our lives, an
activity of concern to men and women of
all cultures and races.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
The three main fields of philosophy are
epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Epistemology deals with questions of
knowledge (including the structure,
reliability, extent, and kinds of knowledge);
truth, validity, and logic; and a variety of
linguistic concerns. An example is the
question of whether truth is relative.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Metaphysics addresses questions of
reality (including the meaning and nature
of being); the nature of mind, self, and
human freedom; and some topics that
overlap with religion, such as the
existence of God, the destiny of the
universe, and the immortality of the soul.
An example is the question of whether
human behavior is free or determined.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Ethics is the study of our values and moral
principles and how they relate to human
conduct and to our social and political
institutions. For example, do we have a
moral obligation to love and serve others,
or is our only obligation to ourselves?
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Philosophy also includes several fields
usually referred to as "the philosophy of . .
. ," including the philosophy of science, the
philosophy of art, and the philosophical
meaning of life. These fields of philosophy
examine the basic assumptions underlying
particular areas of human knowledge or
activity.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Socrates is usually considered the father
of Western philosophy, although he was
preceded by a group of earlier Greek
philosophers, the pre-Socratics. Socrates
was put to death for persistently examining
the unquestioned assumptions of his
fellow Athenians. The views of Socrates
were preserved by his disciple, Plato, in
his dialogues, including Euthyphro, The
Republic, The Apology, and Crito.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Euthyphro shows Socrates questioning
traditional religious beliefs; The Republic
shows Socrates inquiring into the meaning
of justice; The Apology shows Socrates at
his trial explaining his lifelong commitment
to philosophy; Crito shows Socrates
awaiting death and questioning his own
beliefs about the authority of the state.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
Philosophy can help satisfy actualizing
needs (the need for self-fulfillment, the
realization of one's potential) by helping us
develop our own opinions and beliefs,
increasing our self-awareness, equipping
us to deal with uncertainty, eliciting
creativity, and aiding us in clearly
conceptualizing our value systems.
CHAPTER ONE: THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
P H I L O S O P H Y
In studying philosophy we risk having the
weaknesses of our personal and cultural
beliefs and assumptions exposed, but this
risk is worth taking, considering the value
of philosophy. Because philosophy has
had many "male tendencies," it is
especially important for women to
philosophize now.