Philosophy
Some important terminology Metaphysics: The study of the nature of ultimate reality. Idealism vs. Materialism What is the universe? What is life? What is mind? Does God exist? Appearance vs. Reality Mind vs. Matter Ontology: The study of being. Cosmology: The study of the origin, nature, and laws of the universe.
Metaphysical Spectrum of Philosophy Idealism All things are constituted by mind and ideas There is more to the world than material objects Materialism All things are constituted by matter There is no higher existence beyond the material world
The Problem of “The One and the Many” The metaphysical problem of identifying the ultimate reality (the One) that underlies all things (the Many) and of explaining the relation between them or how the Many derives from the One.
Epistemology Epistemology: The study of the origins, nature, and validity of knowledge. Empiricists vs. Rationalists Faith, Intuition, Authority, Common Sense, Reason, & Experience What can man know? What are the sources of knowledge? Does truth exist?
Epistemological Spectrum of Philosophy Empiricism Empirical evidence Base all knowledge on what our senses tell us Inductive reasoning Rationalism Our senses can deceive us Deductive reasoning Logic Mathematical
The Intelligible World The World of Ideas Idealism Metaphysics Empiricism Rationalism Epistemology Materialism
Axiology Axiology: The study of the origin, nature, criteria, and validity of values. Absolutism vs. Relativism Religion, Morality, and Ethics fit here. What is a value? What are the criteria by which we select values? Are there universal truths?
Logic Logic: the study of argumentation. What are the principles of reasoning? What is a sound argument? What is a valid argument?
The Evolution of Philosophy Classical Philosophy Pursuit of knowledge Search for order The study of essences Medieval Philosophy Support theology Discover ultimate truths Focus on metaphysical being Modern Philosophy Speculate Use empirical evidence Focus on knowledge, meaning, and epistemology
Various Schools of Philosophy Idealism Belief in ideas Truth exists Perfection exists “Essence precedes existence” “it is” “imagine self” Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Pragmatism Practical Situational ethics If it works, it is good Trial and error “it depends” Uniquely American “Prove self” Dewey, James, Peirce Existentialism “Existence precedes essence” “Man is the measure of all things” “God is dead” You determine your own reality Life is absurd “choose self” Sartre, Kierkegaard Nihilism Belief in nothing All concepts are pointless “no self”
“Philosophy is to be studied, not for the sake of any definite answers to the questions since no definite answers can, as a rule, be known to be true, but rather for the sake of the questions themselves.” -Bertrand Russell