The Tradition of Searching. Philosophy

Today You will Learn about: What is Philosophy Where did Philosophy begin Who were the first Philosophers Different sides of Philosophy.

What is Philosophy? Philosophy comes from the Greek Philosophia which means ‘Love of Wisdom’. ‘The only thing we require to be good philosophers is the faculty to wonder’ (Jostein Gaarder - Author of Sophie’s World) It is the job of the philosopher to think about the world, why we act the way we do, why we think the way we do, to think about God, the existence of good and evil, in short it is the job of the Philosopher to think about the BIG QUESTIONS in life.

Is Philosophy relevant today? Yes. Philosophy today deals with very abstract things like goodness, evil, freedom, justice, love, death etc. and these are issues that we explore everyday in our ordinary lives. Should I smack my child? Is theft ever justified? What are the pros and cons of the death penalty? Are sex and Viloence in the entertainment industry ever justified? None of these questions have concrete right or wrong answers - but are issues that are explored and argued - explored and argued by Philosophy.

Where did it all begin? Really, Philosophy began in the 5th and 6th century in Greece. Philosophers in Greece at this time were very concerned with the natural world that we live in. where did it come form, how did the universe start - that is why these philosophers are called The Natural Philosophers. Sometimes they are called pre-socratic philosophers because they all lived before the time of the great greek philosopher Socrates.

How many types of Philosophy exist? Metaphysics: The study of being and the universe. Logic: The study of reasoning. Ethics: The Study of moral behaviour. Anthropology: The Study of human nature. Epistemology: The study of Knowledge.

To Summarize: Philosophy tries to make sense of the world around us and answer the BIG QUESTIONS through rational thought. Philosophers believe that the origins and reason for the universe and the meaning of existence can be found through clear, rational thought. Socrates, one of the worlds greatest Philosophers, claimed that ‘The unexamined life is not worth living’ What did he mean by this statement?

To Summarize... Philosophy means love of wisdom. All philosophy begins in wonder Philosophy began in Greece in the fifth and sixt century BCE The natural philosophers were concerned with the natural world.