SUBJECT: Ethics

Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation

College of Nursing

What is Philosophy? → Is a search for meaning. Philosophy is engaged in

Two Greeks words
‘philo’ - love
‘sophia’ – wisdom
Philosophia – love of wisdom, coined by Pythagoras (one
of the sages of ancient Greece, born about the year 584
B.C.)
Philosopher - lover of wisdom
Philosophy
→ Is the search for wisdom
→ Is the search for meaning
Wisdom
→ means learning the principle of things, the first
cause of all things, and the meaning and purpose
of understanding such things.
→ deals with an understanding of the meaning of
one’s existence and the importance of the things
around the human person.
Who is the wise person?
→ a wise person is one who is aware of what he
knows and what he does not know
→ a wise person holds beliefs that are not only
true, but which can also justify.
→ a wise person knows a lot about things that are
valuable in life.
→ a wise person can put his knowledge to practical
use.
→ a wise person does not only know what is true,
but also knows what is good or what ought to be
done in a given situation and acts accordingly.
the search of the meaning of life.
→ Is an important part of the human person’s life
whether he knows it or not because a human
person is, by nature, a rational being, as such his
nature is to search for the source of his own
fulfillment and happiness.
Importance of Philosophy
→ Why should we philosophize or study
philosophy?
→ What good will philosophizing do considering
that we are in a world where life is hard and
largely dictated by scientific and technological
advances?
What is the point of doing philosophy?
→ Philosophy supplements scientific explanations
to come up with holistic explanations.
→ Contributes to the development of some
disciplines
→ Provides ethical guidelines for the use of modern
technology
→ Contributes to social transformation
→ Expands the boundaries of knowledge

Thus, wisdom consists in:

a. knowing what he knows and does not know
b. having justified true beliefs
c. knowing things that are valuable in life
d. having the ability to put knowledge into practice
e. knowing should be done and acting accordingly.

Question:
What is the advantage of one who knows that he/she
does not know over another who does not know that
he/she does not know?

Philosophy
→ is the science of beings (things) in their ultimate
reason, causes, and principles acquired by the
aid of human reason alone.
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