Part I: IntroductionPart I: Introduction

Chapter 1: What is Philosophy?

Origin and History of Origin and History of PhilosophyPhilosophy

• ““Philean”= love + “Sophia”= wisdomPhilean”= love + “Sophia”= wisdom

• Literally “love of wisdom”Literally “love of wisdom”

• What is wisdom?What is wisdom?– Knowledge about universe (Pythagoras)Knowledge about universe (Pythagoras)– The possession of virtue and power The possession of virtue and power

(Sophists)(Sophists)– Awareness of ignorance (Socrates)Awareness of ignorance (Socrates)

Definition of PhilosophyDefinition of Philosophy

• PhilosophyPhilosophy – Rational attempt to – Rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questionsfundamental questions

Study of PhilosophyStudy of Philosophy

• Philosophy searches for knowledge Philosophy searches for knowledge through:through:– QuestionsQuestions– Search for fundamental and abstract Search for fundamental and abstract

truthtruth

Branches of Western Branches of Western PhilosophyPhilosophy

• MetaphysicsMetaphysics – What is truly real? – What is truly real?

• Epistemology Epistemology – What is knowledge – What is knowledge and truth?and truth?

• AxiologyAxiology – What is the distinction – What is the distinction between value and fact?between value and fact?– Aesthetics Aesthetics – What is objective or – What is objective or

subjective?subjective?– Ethics Ethics – How is human action judged – How is human action judged

morally right or wrong?morally right or wrong?

• If philosophy is the rational attempt to If philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions, then:fundamental questions, then:

– What is rational?What is rational?

– What is fundamental?What is fundamental?

What is Rationality?What is Rationality?

• Rationality Rationality – the way we think and – the way we think and investigate questionsinvestigate questions

• ZhuangziZhuangzi – 350 BCE. What are the – 350 BCE. What are the standards by which to settle an standards by which to settle an argument? Can they be universal?argument? Can they be universal?

What is fundamental?What is fundamental?

• Two Perspectives:Two Perspectives:– FoundationalismFoundationalism– ConstructivismConstructivism

FoundationalismFoundationalism

• Foundationalism Foundationalism –– maintains that maintains that there must be objective and there must be objective and universal standards of rationalityuniversal standards of rationality

• Law of noncontradiction Law of noncontradiction – a – a statement cannot be both true and statement cannot be both true and falsefalse

ConstructivismConstructivism

• Constructivism Constructivism – the critique of – the critique of foundationalismfoundationalism

• Key AttributesKey Attributes– Rationality is a social construction, therefore, it Rationality is a social construction, therefore, it

cannot be achieved without prejudice or biascannot be achieved without prejudice or bias– Cognitive relativismCognitive relativism – denial of universal – denial of universal

truthtruth– Ethical relativismEthical relativism – denial of universal moral – denial of universal moral

principlesprinciples

Finding Common Ground Finding Common Ground between foundationalists and between foundationalists and constructivistsconstructivists• Acknowledge Acknowledge ethnocentrism ethnocentrism – –

cultural and ethnic biasescultural and ethnic biases

• Deny Deny ethnocentric imperialism ethnocentric imperialism – – the idea that cultures will impose the idea that cultures will impose their views on otherstheir views on others

Finding Common Ground Finding Common Ground between foundationalists and between foundationalists and constructivistsconstructivists• Recognize difference between strong Recognize difference between strong

and weak relativismand weak relativism– Strong sense Strong sense – claims there are no – claims there are no

universally valid standardsuniversally valid standards– Weak sense Weak sense – claims that standards of – claims that standards of

rationality and morality are culturally rationality and morality are culturally diversediverse

Finding Common Ground Finding Common Ground between foundationalists and between foundationalists and constructivistsconstructivists• Hans-Georg Gadamer: “fusion of Hans-Georg Gadamer: “fusion of

horizons”horizons”– Truth is found throughTruth is found through

• recognizing that one’s own understanding is recognizing that one’s own understanding is a horizon resulting from perspective and a horizon resulting from perspective and biases biases

• being willing to risk that horizon in order to being willing to risk that horizon in order to see the other person’s see the other person’s

The Value of PhilosophyThe Value of Philosophy

• Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell– Enlargement of the SelfEnlargement of the Self– Contemplation increases awarenessContemplation increases awareness– Mind that studies the universe is great Mind that studies the universe is great

because of the greatness of the universebecause of the greatness of the universe

Who are the Philosophers?Who are the Philosophers?

• Those honored as wiseThose honored as wise

• Those who make philosophy a Those who make philosophy a professionprofession

““Socrates Café” Socrates Café” by Christopher Phillipsby Christopher Phillips

• Philosophical discussion can take Philosophical discussion can take place in the general publicplace in the general public

• Value questions more than answersValue questions more than answers

• Socratic method Socratic method – the art of – the art of learning through asking questionslearning through asking questions

• Challenge to engage in philosophyChallenge to engage in philosophy

Reading PhilosophyReading Philosophy

• Read analyticallyRead analytically

• Read criticallyRead critically