Introduction to PhilosophyInstructor: Dr. Jason Sheley

Opening week

• Welcome to the class!

• My first goal this week is to show you what the class is all about so that you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to take it or not.

• My second goal is to help ease us into studying philosophy so that it seems not so intimidating.

Introduction to Philosophy

• This week:

• Syllabus/logistics

• How to do philosophy

• The Socratic invitation

The Syllabus...

How to do PhilosophySome guidelines...

• 1) What is the question?

• 2) What is the basic answer to the question?

• 3) What reasons are given for 2)?

• 4) critique/assessment

First puzzle

• Why are we taking the class?

Second puzzle

• The Ship of Theseus...

Let's apply the structure...

• The question: what does the identity of an object consist in?

• The answer(s): ???

• Reasons: ...

• Critique?

Another version...

Philosophical Questions

• "Childish questions"

Preview of things to come...

• Philosophy requires taking on a childish attitude. (to questions, and answers)

• But it also means finding the best reasons we can find for the answers we give to these questions

The Big Picture

• What is the point of a college education?

• What are the learning goals in this course?

• Surface vs Depth

What is philosophy good for?

• For other things: critical, logical, rigorous thinking; creative problem-solving; clear writing; being able to “think on your feet”; “conceptual mastery”; better thinking about ethical matters

• For itself: open-ended inquiry; new discoveries (via creative writing); persistent questioning and scrutiny; self-reflection; constantly changing point of view

PhilosophyPhilia = love, longing to be with

Sophia = wisdom

The Socratic Invitation

Apology

Apology

Apologia = "defense"

• Socrates wrote nothing himself during his lifetime. We know most of what we know about Socrates through the writings of his students (Plato, Xenophon), as well as his enemies (Aristophanes).

• Socrates often appears as a character in Plato’s dialogues.

• To what extent should we trust that the characters’ views were the views of the historical Socrates?

Plato’s Apology

The Story...• Socrates was accused and brought to trial.

The dialogue Euthyphro recounts a conversation before Socrates goes to trial (we will read this one later). The Apology tells us what happened at the trial. Crito takes place when Socrates is awaiting his execution. And Phaedo recounts a conversation that Socrates has on the day of his death, before he drinks the poison.

Apology

• The Greek term apologia means “defense,” which would probably be a better translation for the title.

• We won’t focus on it here, but what was Socrates accused of? (19b-c) What is Socrates’ reply to the charges?

The Mission:

• Let’s look at 20d-23c

• What does the Oracle of Delphi say?

• How does Socrates respond to this?

• What is he looking for?

The Method

• Socrates practices a type of dialectic (see Toolkit).

• How does he proceed? Does anyone pass the test?

• (By the way, consider just how out of the ordinary this is...)

The Purpose• But why does Socrates bother testing people

at all? What’s the point? (We get our answer to this after Socrates is found guilty and sentenced to death.)

• Let’s look at 30e-31c (how Socrates sees his role)

• The Gadfly analogy

• See 29d-30c on what people should care about

• Some further texts:

• 28b-d (on whether one should care about death)

• 29a-c (On Socrates’ views about his own wisdom)

• 29c-30b

According to Socrates,

Why should we practice philosophy?

Why dialogues?

• Let’s look at the Toolkit entry on “Dialectic”...