PART I: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Etymological Definition of Philosophy

        The word philosophy is derived from the Greek “philla” meaning “love”,
and “sophia", meaning “wisdom” or “knowledge”. The literal definition of
philosophy is therefore, “love of wisdom”. [Zulueta, 2010]

        Wisdom outweighs any wealth. [Sophocles]

Philosophy as a Concept

        Philosophy is a system of beliefs about reality. It is one's integrated view

of the world. It includes an understanding of the nature of existence, man, and
his role in the world. It is a necessary product of man’s rational mind.

Philosophy as a Process

        Philosophy is employed as a method of inquiry. It is an engagement in

the search for the meaning of life, its value and relevance. It is a process for
finding significance in existence.

        To live, man must gain knowledge of the world. To understand the world,
man must form conclusions about its very nature. For instance, to gain
knowledge of particular objects, man must recognize that objects have
identity. He must recognize that conclusions are possible because the world
does exist, and exists in a particular way.

        Philosophy provides the framework for which man can understand the
world. It provides the premises by which man can discover truth and use his
mind to support his life. Every man has an understanding of the world. Every
man must have a philosophy, even if it is never made explicit.

Philosophy as the Foundation of Knowledge

       Philosophy is the standard by which ideas are integrated and understood.

It has been regarded as the sum and summit of human knowledge, as the
“scientia scientiarium”—the science of the sciences and the compendium of
all learning.
All the branches of learning in fact, sprang from philosophy’s womb, so that
she is rightly called the “mater” and the “matrix” of all knowledge.
[Montemayor, 1995]