Introduction to Philosophy
philosophy Our primary concern is to do what is right and to believe what is true. Philosophy provides us with some of the intellectual/conceptual skills we need to achieve this. But these skills are difficult to acquire.
reading philosophy Reading philosophy is not like reading other sorts of texts. It is not simply a matter of memorizing facts. It involves being able to understand and evaluate claims (views, positions, theories, analyses, etc.). That is, it is a matter of understanding the claims philosophers are arguing for and the reasons they give for them.
philosophical lingo Grasping philosophical concepts is of the utmost importance to understanding what philosophers are claiming (and why). So, you should make sure to identify all terms or phrases that you do not understand. Look them up in the dictionary (or better yet, in a philosophical dictionary). If this fails, ask us.
doing philosophy Philosophy is not merely a matter of developing and defending one’s own view. It requires understanding, considering, and giving fair weight to competing alternative views. You will often see both of these things going on in the papers you read. It is important to distinguish the philosopher’s own view from those he/she are arguing against.
doing philosophy Philosophy requires that we consider the rational implications/consequences of our beliefs. If you believe that x, then what does that commit you to? what follows from x? Often, upon examination, we find that our beliefs lead us to unacceptable conclusions: “Lying is (always) wrong” “Poor people are just lazy” “God is omnipotent”
doing philosophy Philosophy involves evaluating arguments. To give an argument for a claim is to give reasons (evidence) for that claim. As this suggests, claims are not the same things as arguments. What counts as good vs. poor reasons (evidence)? Good: Perception/Introspection/Rational intuition/Reasoning/Empirical data/Expert opinion Poor: Hearsay/Social conditioning/Popular opinion/Blind faith