An Introduction to Philosophy

What are your thoughts or ideas? What is Philosophy ? What are your thoughts or ideas? The Thinker by Auguste Rodin

What is Philosophy ? So, then, What is wisdom? In Greek, philo = love or devotion sophia = wisdom So, then, What is wisdom?

Basic Human Questions What is Is there a god? Is war good or evil? How should we treat the environment? Basic Human Questions Is there a god? Is war good or evil? Do humans have rights? What is the purpose of life? What is happiness? Is science more important than faith? Is social harmony better than freedom? What is justice? Can we communicate with spirits?

Early Global Philosophies HCOM 301 Early Global Philosophies

Ancient Evidence of Ideas Cave Drawings Architecture Pottery & Sculpture Turtle Shell Writing 3,500 BCE – 2,500 BCE

More Conventional Early Writing Indus Script @ 2000 BCE Phoenician Alphabet 1000 BCE Tao te ching 300 BCE Plato’s Writing 370 BCE

Closer to Home In Mesoamerica Mixtec in Oaxaca @ 1000 CE Mayan Codex @ 500 CE Mexica Migration Story @ 1400 CE

Mesoamerican Codex Early Writing Mixtec, Mayan, and Aztec Codices from @ 600 CE – 1600 CE

By the Middle Ages 500-1500 Philosophy (Ph. D.) In western civilization, human inquiry into higher learning had been divided into just four fields: Theology (Th. D.) Medicine (M. D.) Law (J. D.) Philosophy (Ph. D.)

Doctor of Philosophy Degree In fact, For the past thousand years, people who study almost any field at the highest level are awarded a “Ph. D.” Doctor of Philosophy Degree

In the Modern Era… Studies and learning have been broken down into many, many small pieces, each with aspecial focus. Natural Sciences Physics Chemistry Biology Human Sciences Sociology Anthropology Psychology Humanities Art Literature History Professions Education Social Work Nursing

So, over time … Philosophy has shrunk and refocused its purview on the larger and more basic questions in human experience.

Branches within Philosophy Ontology Epistemology Aesthetics Ethics Logic Applied

Branches within Philosophy Ontology: what exists, and what is the nature of reality? Epistemology: what is knowledge, and how do we know things? Ethics: how should we live and behave? What are right and wrong, moral and immoral? Logic: what is correct reasoning? Aesthetics: how are standards for beauty, taste, humor, comfort arrived at?

Fields of Applied Philosophy Philosophy of Education Philosophy of Politics or Government Philosophy of Art Philosophy of Medicine or Health Care Philosophy of Science Philosophy of Business Philosophy of History Etc.

Focus of HCOM 301 Basic Philosophy Applied Philosophy Ontology ☚ Epistemology ☚ Ethics ☚ Logic Aesthetics Philosophy of Education Philosophy of Politics or Government ☚ Philosophy of Art Philosophy of Medicine or Health Care Philosophy of Science Philosophy of Business Philosophy of Life ☚ (Worldviews)

Let’s do some philosophy! Do you Exist? Roman Catholic Catechism Who made you? God made me. Why did God make you? To know, love, and serve him in this world. Yes, I exist, (you, idiot!) see me feel me smell me hear me I think, therefore I am. René Descates

Let’s do some philosophy!

Assignment on 8-30