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Introduction to Philosophy

“Philos” = Love

“Sophia” = Wisdom

“Philosophy” = Love of Wisdom

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• What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

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A Formal Definition of Philosophy:

• The rational, critical investigation of the

fundamental questions of life that resist solutions by empirical science

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The Major Areas of Philosophy

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Metaphysics

• The Study of the Ultimate Nature of Reality

– One or many parts – Origin of the universe – Origin and meaning of life

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Epistemology

• The Study of Knowledge

– How do we know things? – Experience (Empiricists) – The Mind (Rationalists) – What can we know?

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Ethics • The Study of

Right or Correct Behavior

• “How should we live?” – Truth – Justice – The Good

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Logic • The Study of

Right or Correct Thinking – Study arguments – Reasoning – Deductive – Inductive – Fallacies

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The Philosophy of Religion

• The study of The Existence of God and its implications

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Cosmological Argument

Teleological Argument

Ontological Argument

Why is there evil?

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The Philosophy of Religion

• The Study of World Religions

• Christianity • Judaism • Islam • Hinduism

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Aesthetics

• The Study of Beauty and Art

• What is Beauty? • How do you recognize it? • What is Art? • What is pornography?

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Classical Art Raphael

“School of Athens”

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Modern Art Mark Rothko

“Orange and Yellow”

1956

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• Political Philosophy • Philosophy of Language

• Philosophy of Mind • Philosophy of Science

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The Philosophy of __________

• The study of the basic principles of that particular subject

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Occam’ Razor • Cut away everything that is not

necessary

• The simpler the better

Greek Philosophy

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4 Basic Periods • 1. Pre-Socratics: 585-468 B.C.

• 2. Socrates: 469-399 B.C.

• 3. Plato: 429-347 B.C.

• 4. Aristotle: 384-322 B.C.

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Why study dead philosophers?

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Pre-Socratics Main Ideas • The One and the Many

• Being and Becoming

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From Myth to Philosophy • Homer: 750 B.C.

• “Iliad “ • “Odyssey”

• Hesiod: 700 B.C. • “Theogony”

• Chaos = The Beginning = Void / Nothing

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Thales of Miletus: 624-547 BC

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Location Ionia coast (Asia Minor)

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Thales Philosophy • There must be an “arche”

• Unity • Principle • Source

• behind the plurality of things

• Some underlying substance that does not change as appearances change

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The Four Basic Elements • Thales was familiar with the four

elements

• Air • Fire

• Water • Earth

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• He assumed that all things must ultimately be reduced to one of these

• But which one?

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Thales Answer?

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•Water!

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Why Water? • Of all the elements

• We clear see water transformed the

most

• Liquid • Gas • Solid

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1st Reductionist • A method of explanation that seeks to

reduce things to their most basic level

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1st Empiricist • Based upon Thales’ experience and observation he came to this conclusion

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Pythagoras: 572-500 B.C.

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Location Island of Samos - Ionia Coast

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Pythagoras, depicted on a 3rd-century

coin

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Pythagoras • The correct description of reality must

be expressed in terms of mathematical formulas

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The Pythagorean Theorem

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Pythagoras • Rationalist

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Heraclitus: 540-475 B.C.

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Ephesus

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All things are constantly changing

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Parmenides: 515-440 B.C.

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Elea: Greek city on the South Western coast of Italy

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Being • There is no change

• Change is an illusion

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Democritus: 460-370 B.C.

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Abdera, north of Greece

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Atomic Theory • Thought that the world was composed

of atoms (atomon) which means “indivisible”

• These atoms exist in empty space and

follow natural laws

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Conclusion to Pre-Socratic Period

• By 370 B.C. Greek philosophy was heading toward

• Materialism and Determinism

• Having broken away from mythical and

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Confusion?

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The Sophists

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The Greeks

• Socrates

• Plato

• Aristotle

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Socrates (469-399 B.C.) • First Moral Philosopher

• Never wrote anything

• Plato was his student

• Socrates is the main character of all his

dialogues

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The Apology • The Trial of Socrates

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• Socrates (470-399 BC)

• Plato (427-347 BC)

• Aristotle (384-322 BC)

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The Apology • Meletus = Poets

• Anytus = Craftsmen / Politicians

• Lycon = Rhetoricians

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