What is Philosophy

1
What is Philosophy?

• This module will give a very general definition
  of philosophy and provide some examples.

2
Philosophy (ordinary language)

• My philosophy about this is
• Im interested in the philosophy of or behind
• I dont agree with their philosophy.
• You have your philosophy, and I have mine.
• Hes a philosophical person.

3
Philosophy (general ideas)

• Philosophy is like theory
• Having a theory on something is like taking a
  step back and looking at the bigger picture
• Theory is different from practice theory is what
  you learn in school practice is what you do in
  the world.

4
Philosophy (etymology)

• The original Greek word, philosophia, means that
  which loves or pursues (philo) wisdom (sophia).

5
Philosophy (definition)

• Philosophy is a discipline that seeks to
  understand the most fundamental things and the
  most general things.
• It investigates elements, causes, principles,
  and norms.
• It seeks to make connections and study the
  relationships between different subjects.

6
Areas of philosophy

• Epistemology a theory of knowledge.
• Metaphysics a theory about what exists
  ontology.
• Philosophy of science
• Philosophy of law
• Philosophy of mind
• Social and political philosophy
• Ethics
• Aesthetics
• History of philosophy

7
Epistemology

• Theory of knowledge
• Studies perception and cognition how do we know
  what we know?
• Provides an answer to skepticism justification
  of knowledge.

8
Metaphysics

• Ontology
• Studies what kinds of things exist in the world
• Tries to determine what basic concepts are
  necessary for other disciplines, like science,
  art, history, politics, etc.

9
Normativity

• How we define what is good.
• The basis for placing value in things.
• Determines the goal(s) of human activities?

10
Logic

• The science of reason
• The study of arguments containing premises
  (evidence) and conclusion.
• Validity if the premises are true, the
  conclusion must be true.
• Soundness the premises are true.
• Induction contains a degree of truth.
• Deduction is absolutely certain.