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A N I N T R O D U C T I O N T O P H I L O S O P H Y
Schools of Philosophy & The
Big Questions
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Metaphysics
The study of the natureof reality; the term isderived from
AristotlesFirst Philosophy.
All men by nature desireto know
Aristotle
Questions addressed bymetaphysics:
What is reality?
What is permanence andchange?
Of what are things made?
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Epistemology
The study of knowledge. Questions addressed byepistemology:
How do we gain
knowledge?
What can we know?
What is knowledge?
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Ethics
The study of moraljudgments:
Questions addressed byethics:
What is morally good?
How do we define a rightor wrong action?
What is virtue?
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Think & Share
Next are eight questions that require some thinktime. After
think time I will ask you to share yourresponses with the
class.
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Question 1
Is there anything you would be willing to die for?
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Question 2
If you had only a few minutes to live, what would youdo with
them?
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Question 3
Which is more real- the chair you are sitting on,the molecules
that make up the chair, or thesensations and images that you have
of the chair as
you are sitting on it?
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Question 5
Will a good person- one who does no evil and doeseverything he
or she is supposed to do- necessarily
be happy, too? In other words, do you believe thatlife is
ultimately fair? Will a wicked person surelysuffer, at least in the
long run?If not why should anyone bother to be good?
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Question 6
Have you ever made a decision that was entirely yourown, which
was no ones responsibility but yours?(not because of the way your
parents raised you orthe influence of friends, television, books,
moviesor
because you were forced.
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Question 7
Is freedom always a good thing? Explain.
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Question 8
Life is but a dream, says an old popular song.Suppose the
thought were to occur to youthat it ispossible, or at least
conceivable, that you are justdreaming about being in philosophy
class andanswering questions. How would you prove to
yourself that this is not true, that you are indeedawake?
