PHILOSOPHY

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PHILOSOPHY

• Politics
• Economics
• Religion

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PHILOSOPHY

• WHY
• HOW
• XXWHATXX

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Definitions of philosophy

• A set of views or beliefs about life and the
  universe, which are often held uncritically

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Definitions of philosophy

• A process of reflecting on and criticizing our
  most deeply held conceptions and beliefs

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Definitions of philosophy

• A rational attempt to look at the world as a whole

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Definitions of philosophy

• The logical analysis of language and the
  clarification of the meaning of words and concepts

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Definitions of philosophy

• A group of perennial problems that interest
  people and for which philosophers always have
  sought answers

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Why do we need philosophy?

• - understanding society
• - evaluating statements and beliefs
• - making practical decisions

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• More a guiding approach
• than a branch itself

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• Premises (reasons) lead
• to a conclusion
• (position the reasons lead to).

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• Example
• All vans are green.
• I own a van.
• My van is green.

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• An inference is drawn
• ( a conclusion is made)
• through DEDUCTION
• or INDUCTION.

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• Inductive argument -
• PROBABLE conclusion.
• I was very sick today. I ate the Big Tasty at
  McDonalds for the first time in months. The
  fatty food could have caused me to be sick.

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• In a DEDUCTIVE argument, IF the premises are
  true, THEN the conclusion MUST be true. This
  means the argument is valid, NOT necessarily
  factual!

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• All cats are female.
• Worf is a cat.
• THUS, Worf is a female.

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Branches of philosophy

• LOGIC
• DIALECTIC is used to examine inferences to
  understand
• - what they mean
• - what they are based on
• - what derives from them

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Branches of philosophy

• METAPHYSICS
• Studies being or reality
• what can be known.

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Branches of philosophy

• EPISTEMOLOGY
• Knowledge can we know? How can we know? Is
  certainty possible? How do we perceive the world
  around us? How we justify what we believe?

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Branches of philosophy

• EPISTEMOLOGY
• 1. What are the sources of knowledge?
• 2. What is the nature of knowledge?
• 3. Is our knowledge valid?

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Branches of philosophy

• EPISTEMOLOGY
• Rationalism reason as the basis
• for what we believe.
• Empiricism experience as the basis
• for what we believe.

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Branches of philosophy

• VALUE THEORY
• ETHICS -
• descriptive how we act
• normative how we should act
• critical defines the terms we use

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Branches of philosophy

• AESTHETICS
• Analyzes the ideals of
• art and beauty

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Branches of philosophy

• SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
• PHILOSOPHY
• How do groups and societies function ethically?
  What can be done to improve society?

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Method in philosophy

• DIALECTICAL METHOD
• Originated by Socrates -
• a problem is raised
• possible answers are examined for flaws
• we agree to disagree and keep
• on searching for answers