1 Chapter 1 THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY What is Philosophy?

Nominal Definition < explains what a name means> Philosophy comes from the Greek words philos, 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 not divine 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 and understand 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 interest in 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 intellectual understanding 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

1. Metaphysics / Ontology < being in its most general form> - the study of being as being while taking into consideration that essence and existence are constitutes of being. 2. Cosmology <being in the nonliving world> - the philosophical study of the material world with regards to its order in the universe. 3. Theodicy - < being in its highest form > - the philosophical study of God with consideration 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 the immaterial soul and its facilities with consideration to it as the life principle of every living being. When being is considered in relation to Man 1. 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 human knowledge with regard to certainty and truth. 3. Ethics < considering mans will > - the philosophical study of the morality of the human act that distinguishes good from evil and right from wrong.

GENERAL OUTLINE OF PHILOSOPHY < SCHEMA OF PHILOSOPHY>

BEING GENERAL FORMS THE WORLD NON LIVING WORLD LIVING WORLD vegetative: plants sentient: animals rational: man MAN BODY AND SOUL MIND VALID KNOWLEDGE WILL SPECIAL FORMS GOD

CORRECT THINKING

ONTOLOGY

COSMOLOGY

PSYCHOLOGY

LOGIC

EPISTEMOLOGY

ETHICS

THEODICY

Applied Philosophy or Practical Philosophy We have some branches of applied Philosophy or Practical Philosophy. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Philosophy of man the inquiry into man as a person. Social Philosophy the study of the relationships between man and society Philosophy of Religion the study of mans relationship with God. Axiology the study of mans values. Aesthetics the study of beauty and perfection. Oriental philosophy the study of oriental ways of life and mind. Philosophy of Education the philosophical approach to teaching and learning processes.

2. BASED ON THE PROCESS OF THINKING DEDUCTIVE LOGIC

o 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 <1973> says, from more to less universal by way of a middle term. All Filipinos are industrious. <general > Peter is a Filipino. <Particular> Therefore, Peter is industrious. <Particular>

INDUCTIVE LOGIC
o 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 <1978> 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, peter

o Judgment
Is the process through which the mind can assert or deny something? This second process can 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 < conclusion>. Example of a syllogism: every man is mortal. But, peter is a man. Therefore, peter is mortal..

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