1. Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 1-a What is philosophy? By David Kelsey

2. What is philosophy? The word Philosophy: –Philo-: –sophy: Philosophy is the systematic investigation into the foundational concepts and principles of any subject matter.

3. Explaining a subject matter So philosophy consists of the investigation of any subject matter. Understanding and Explaining a subject matter Examples…

4. The disciplines of philosophy The disciplines of philosophy include: –Philosophy of religion: –Philosophy of mind: –Ethics: –Metaphysics: –Others…

5. The tasks of philosophy A philosopher investigates the concepts and principles of any subject matter by use of: –Conceptual analysis & Argumentation Conceptual analysis is the analysis of concepts. –Concepts: 2 definitions: words vs. ideas about a bit of the universe Examples:

6. The extensions of concepts Concepts have extensions: –For something to be in the extension of a concept: the thing must be an instance of the concept. The thing must fall under the concept –Examples: –The extension of any concept: defined as…

7. A view on Concepts –A view on concepts: You might also think that concepts are abstract objects which are instantiated in our world. –The picture: – LOVE KNOWLEDGE STUDENT – PHILOSOPHY SCHOOL – WORD TRUTH GRADE –-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- –L W P K T Sc G St – W L P K T Sc St G –L P W K T Sc G St –Above the line: abstract objects –Below the line: our world. –Where do concepts lie? –Where is a concept instantiated, above or below the line? –The extension of a concept lies where?

8. Conceptual analysis If you will remember, one of the main tasks of philosophy is the analysis of concepts. To analyze a concept is –An explanation –A definition To define a concept: –Examples in the dictionary The philosopher’s task: –To provide more detailed, full and clear explanations of concepts you can find in your what?

9. Analytical Definitions: their form An Analytical definition is composed of a definiendum and a definiens. –The definiendum: –The definiens: Form: the form of a definition is this: –X =df _____ Which is the definiendum and which is the definiens? –For example, Bachelor =df unmarried adult male

10. Necessary and sufficient conditions We can think of a definition as a set of necessary and sufficient conditions. X is a necessary condition of Y if and only if (or iff) we cannot have Y without also having X. –Oxygen and Combustion X is a sufficient condition of Y iff X is all that is needed to get Y. –Being born in the US and citizenship

11. Necessary and Sufficient Conditions #2 X is both a necessary and sufficient condition of Y iff both –1) we cannot have Y without also having X & –2) X is all that is needed to get Y. Bachelorhood and being an unmarried adult male

12. The Goal of Philosophy: Finding Correct Definitions For a definition to be adequate the definiendum and definiens must be co-extensive. For the defiendum and definiens of any definition to be co-extensive it must be the case that: –Everything in the extension of the definiendum is in the extension of the definiens and vice versa…

13. Co-extensiveness: An example So if your definition of BACHELOR as UNMARRIED ADULT MALE is correct then: –Everything in the extension of BACHELOR is in the extension of UNMARRIED ADULT MALE and vice versa.

14. Testing definitions To determine if a definition is adequate: –determine if its definiendum and definiens are co-extensive. –Is there any item in the extension of one that isn’t in the extension of the other? Example: Car =df 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive –All Cars are 4 wheeled vehicles one can drive. –All 4 wheeled vehicles one can drive are Cars. Universal generalizations and counterexamples –A counterexample: a case that violates a universal generalization.

15. Counterexamples 2 examples: Defining Car as 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive: –We need to find either a Car that isn’t a 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive –Or a 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive that isn’t a Car –Thoughts? Defining Knowledge as true belief: –We need to find either –a case of knowledge that isn’t what? –Or a case of true belief that isn’t what? –A counterexample: The Belief Game:

16. Counterexamples #2 Love: Say I define Love as a deep seated feeling composed of compassion & care which one can have for another human being. –Can anyone find a counterexample to this definition? We are looking for either: –a case of love that isn’t ____________ –a case of having this feeling for another human which isn’t ______________ –Any thoughts?