Why Study Philosophy? Finishing the Introduction

Bertrand Russell: The Problems of Philosophy Why Study Philosophy? Pages 7 & 8 According to Russell: –What is the value of philosophy? –How does he make his argument? –Does he convince you? Why? Or Why not?

Russell’s key hints/points: “… it will be well to consider…” “…the value…why it ought to be studied” “… the more necessary…” “…many… inclined to doubt… philosophy is anything better than innocent but useless trifling, hairsplitting distinctions,… controversies on matters concerning which knowledge is impossible.”

According to Russell: “It is exclusively among the goods of the mind that the value of philosophy is to be found…” “philosophy benefits those who pursue it by enriching their thoughts with “big” ideas People see science > philosophy Science is “useful”, has “wide-reaching influence on humanity” But, philosophy … aims primarily at knowledge Yet, philosophy’s success “more difficult to quantify”, Science: definite answers; Philosophy: no definite answers

Philosophers ask many questions, each answered differently The nature of philosophy: continue asking these questions Philosophy able to suggest many possibilities, … can enlarge our thoughts… free us from the restrictions of habit and custom … makes us citizens of the universe, not only of one walled city at war with all the rest” Philosophy “increases our knowledge of what is possible” Closed, inward thinking  conflict between desires & feeling powerless Philosophic life: “calm & free”

Aristotle “Philosophy is the science which considers truth.”

The Philosophic Discipline: Making Distinctions Philosophy within the realm of the Humanities In Philosophy, the search for meaning and truth trumps all … a never-ending quest, but imminently satisfying Every discipline rubs shoulders with philosophy “meta level” of Philosophy  peering deeply into a mirror, … contemplate, reflect freely

A curious reality about Philosophy: Various “schools” of philosophers What follows not always an “advancement”, often need to return to ancient thinkers Aristotle noted: philosophy has constructive & destructive approaches

Constructive vs. Destructive Building upon & combining methods Aristotle (author of Metaphysics) Gottfried Leibniz (A Philosopher’s Creed) G.W.F. Hegel (The Science of Logic) Alfred North Whitehead (The Concept of Nature) Deconstructing or stripping down earlier work Friedrich Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil) Martin Heidegger (Being and Time) Simone de Beauvoir (The Second Sex)

Just how N.B. is Plato? “The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato.” – Alfred North Whitehead

The Main Fields of Philosophy Philosophical Reasoning & Logic  truth –Tools of an argument? Agreed upon rules? Valid vs. Sound Metaphysics: –Nature of being; What exists? What is real? Can we speak of what is not? What is the meaning of life? Ethics: –How should we live? What is good behaviour? Epistemology: –About knowledge. What does it mean to “know?” How do we?

A couple more.. Philosophy of Science –“science-focused” questions: What counts as science? Features of the Scientific Method? Social and Political Philosophy –way society organizes itself; How should we govern ourselves? Justice? Aesthetics –What is beauty? What is the role of art in society?

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Pages 11 & 12 gendler gendler

Enduring Understandings From Russell: the questions persist, lingering longer than the answers There are many ways to establish: – SOUND (compare to invalid) argument forms, and; –Ways to avoid bias, prejudice, faulty reasoning Seeing the strength in others’ arguments is a virtue –Being philosophically inclined is not being hyper-rational, but learning to balance rational justice-seeking dispositions with emotional dispositions

Enduring Understandings: History & Culture affect one’s thinking –Ideas vary over time & across cultures –Avoid bringing own standards onto other times/cultures –Yet, avoid RELATIVISM (i.e., we don’t need to see all views as equally valid) It’s wise to consider many answers to big questions –Avoiding dogmatism is a virtue for philosophers Philosophers may change their ideas –They reflect on their work, respond to others’ critiques –Translations of primary sources may modify ideas –Read widely, with skepticism

A couple more… Convey ideas clearly, concisely, consistently –Philosophy a form of moving literature –Philosophers use: analogy, demonstration, dialogue… Philosophy is found in other genres: –Narratives –Poems –Songs –Paintings –Films –Plays –Dances IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THE WORLD AROUND US!