CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
 
 
I – Brief background on the Genesis of Philosophy
 
 
It is unanimously agreed by the philosophers that the dawn of philosophy
was not solely dominated by the Greeks, as what others believed, especially those
who are not well acquainted in this field. In fact, as the Greeks started to
philosophize the Chinese and the Hindus were also busy establishing their
philosophical thinking/belief or ideas. 
However, it was the Greeks (represented by Socrates) who was able to
articulate as an answer to the problem with regards to the birth of philosophy or in
a question form “how philosophy started”. According to Socrates philosophy
started through thauma (wonder/wondering). And through this simple process of
wondering, philosophy becomes an important source and vehicle of knowledge. 
Thus, the three great ancient civilizations were held as the fathers of the so-
called birthing of ideas. But take note, it does not mean, that it was a
simultaneous event, I want to make it clear that I didn’t ignite a question of “who
did it first?” my point here is that they were responsible to the advent of
philosophy.  (I hope it’s clear enough)
In addition, however, the three ancient civilizations who fathered the
birthing of ideas were greatly diverged as to the object of their wondering and
philosophizing. The Hindus (Indians) on the first hand were concerned about the
depth-ego of man, the true self, and the individuality of human beings. That’s why
the early Hindu thinkers were busy searching for the deepest self of man which
solidly has an inseparable bearing with the divine. So, to satisfy their doubting and
perplexed mind they centered their quests on the question “Who Am I”, which was
 highly anchored or colored in their belief of Atman (individual soul)
and Brahman (universal soul), in other words the divine.

The Chinese on the other hand centered their quests on the anthropocentric
or the socio-political-moral dimension of the human phenomenon. For the ancient
Chinese thinkers, their stepping stone in wondering was the question, “what am
I”, this interest illustrates their passion to be always a person who is called to
relate to others who are as human as he is.

Lastly, the Greek thinkers would like to situate themselves in nature and in
the world. Thus the leading question on their wondering was “where am I” which
manifests that the first object in their wondering was the outside reality, in other
words, outside the self of man. Thus, in general, the ancient Greek philosophers
were cosmologists.   

To sum it up, based on the three ancient civilizations who fathered the
birthing of ideas, we can conclude that there are three objects in philosophical
inquiries by the classical philosophers, to put it into modern terminology the
following terms namely: God, man, and the world, capsulate their magnificent
ideas.
 
But, how come that many scholars and even ordinary people would prefer
to trace the birth and the primordial impetus of philosophy in Greece by the
Greeks? The direct answer to the question above is the Greek philosopher named
Thales whom in fact regarded as the first philosopher, however it’s quite a lengthy
discussion to write it in here, so I prefer to discuss it in the class.  

I want you to bear in mind for you not to be confused with Pythagoras who
was once also acclaimed as the first philosopher during the 6th century B.C
 because he was the one who coined the term philosophy. But by the birth or
genesis of philosophy, which through thauma (wonder/wondering), it was Thales.
However, it does not mean that Pythagoras did not wonder, the point here is that
Thales wondered earlier than Pythagoras and postulated the principle of life.
 
II - Brief explanation of the philosophy
 
Philosophy is both science and art. It study’s things within the grasped of
man’s power to know the cause and reason of his (man) search for the ultimate
explanation of his existence. Philosophy calls or invites man for a deeper
reflection and speculation about himself and entire human beings in the world.  

Philosophy is a kind of knowledge that can be attained only through

investigation of the origin and cause of things. More so, it is a systematic and
logical explanation of the nature, existence, purpose, and relationship of things
including human beings in the universe. 

That’s why the philosopher as lovers of true wisdom he continually

searches the real meaning of human life. This search is endless, because of the
never-ending questions about man’s existence in this world. However, when a
certain degree of truth is attained, the realization is always present that there is
more to know. In a word, the more you know, the more there is to know. 

                                                          
III – Etymological Definition of Philosophy
 
Originally the term philosophy was Philosophia, which derived from the
two Greek words, Philos and Sophia as introduced by Pythagoras. The former
term means love or friend and the latter term means wisdom. Etymologically
philosophy is defined as love of wisdom. 
 Generally, this definition is already sufficient for an ordinary discussion.
However, it is inadequate if one desires a deeper understanding of the meaning of
Philosophy. Going back to its etymological definition, one may ask or you may
ask; what is love? And in the same manner, what is wisdom? 

We can start answering these questions by laying down a secular

understanding of love, which would mean an impulse, drive, longing, or urge of
the human will towards a specific object. Love by nature always seeks unity with
its object and long or wish to possess it (the object), while wisdom is a live-out
knowledge or an application of knowledge.  
Thus, one may be knowledgeable, but not wise. But if one is wise, he is
knowledgeable. Therefore, wisdom and knowledge are inseparable from one
another. The ultimate object of knowledge is the Truth. But, the question is, what
is this truth all about? Well, philosophically speaking, it is the truth that is shown
and practiced by the man of wisdom.

So in this case, we can infer that to philosophize is to be in quest towards

loving and living the truth. Since Sophia is not just an understanding of truth and
rightness, but an application of such understanding in the daily affairs of man.
Because, a person may know well and understand the truth, but he may choose not
to be truthful, he may assert that he is a lover of wisdom, but he may choose not to
do what is wise. That’s why for the deepest quest of philosophy the definition love
of wisdom is inadequate. In this manner, we need to look for a better definition of
philosophy.  

 
IV – Definition of Philosophy 
 
Technically, there is no universal definition of philosophy, the existing
definitions of the term philosophy are only collections of different and sometimes
contradictory claims, because, the original breadth of philosophy remains
reflective of its concerns over every aspect of human existence. It is a process of
personal reflection on the meaning of human life. This process of searching the
meaning of one’s existence is endless. This makes philosophy indefinable.  

Thus, the remnants of such pursuit there emerge its various definitions.
However, none of the existing definitions capsulate the real essence of philosophy,
because philosophy is a way of life, as a life activity it needs not to be defined but
experienced. 

However, for us to have a common ground in studying philosophy, we will

take the most common definition. Which is the science of all that exists in their
ultimate cause through the aid of human intellect alone (nb: the elements of
this definition will be discussed during the class). 

 
V- Nature of Philosophy 
 
It is the very essence of Philosophy to be always in Quests for an
explanation. The key interrogative words in philosophical search are WHAT,
WHY, and HOW. Man as migrant in this world he continually asks for the
significance of an event, the interpretation of symbols, or merely for the meaning
of his existence as a human being together with other creatures.  
 Philosophy is a science that aims to gather views to come up with
reasonable idea on the totality of the reality. In other words, philosophy is not just
a subject, but an activity.

 Bear in mind that you do not simply study philosophy, but must you do it.
This is the essence of philosophy as a way of life. More so, as a way of life, it’s
not just about thinking, but it is also about reflecting on things which you believe
to be good is good. It’s about thinking and living with others morally and
harmoniously in the community (family, neighbors, church, and government)

 
VI - Branches of Philosophy

Philosophy as science has dramatically improved into a more impressive

source of knowledge and information. The branches of philosophy are taken as proof
for the emerging nature of philosophical diversity. These branches comes in different
numbers according to the design and acceptance of other philosophers (Malitao, A.,
2010, p.4). 
 
1. Axiology – is a philosophical study on the nature of value in 
                             relation to man’s moral life.
2. Social philosophy – it deals with the nature of man as a social being and his
relationships in society.
3. Aesthetics – is a philosophical study on the nature of beauty.
4. Philosophy of man – is a philosophical study of man as a person in consideration
of his faculties.
5. Philosophy of Religion – it deals with man’s relationship with God.          
6. Metaphysics – is a branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of
reality. 
     7. Cosmology – is a philosophical study of the material world with 
               regards to its order in the universe.   
8 . Theodicy – is a philosophical study on God’s justice.
9. Anthropology – is a science that studies the nature of man with regards to the union
of body and soul and his relationship in society.
10. Epistemology – is a branch of philosophy that deals with human knowledge with
regards to certainty and truth. 
11. Ethics/Moral philosophy – is a branch of philosophy that deals with the principles
of man’s right and moral actions as endowed by his reason and free will. 
12. Logic – is a science and art of correct thinking.