Philosophy eludes exact

definition

Scholastic Definition: Philosophy as the study of the ultimate causes of things under the light of reason alone.
 Common use of the word

Philosophy as a set of beliefs or ideas held by an individual or groups of individual regardless of the specific
nature of their beliefs.

Philosophy as an activity (The act

of Philosophizing)

1. To Philosophize is to ask
Foundational questions
(Framework questions)

Conceptual Framework is a term which refers to our belief systems or worldview which serve as the bases or
foundations of our interpretation of the things and events in the world and of how we make sense of our lives in
relation to our natural and social environment
Factual questions require fact-based answers. There is only one correct
answer, which can be verified by referring to the text or other learning
materials. Everyone will eventually agree on the answer.

Philosophical questions are those that address fundamental issues and beliefs
and which require complex thinking rather than empirical research to answer.
Philosophical questions are not resolved by discovering new facts, providing
accurate information or filling gaps in our knowledge. We resolve them by
making sense of issues that do not seem to make sense even when we have all
the information.
Tao. Isipin mo: Sino ka? Ikaw, sino ka talaga? Sino ang ikaw? Kung matatanggal ang kamay mo dahil sa isang
disgrasya, syempre ikaw pa rin ang matitira--ikaw na walang kamay. Pero kung magkakahiwalay-hiwalay ang
mga parte ng katawan mo, sino ang ikaw? Yung ulo? Yung katawan? Yung pinakamaraming parte na
magkakadikit pa rin?

Paano kung walang matira sa katawan mo?

Naisip ko ang tanong na 'to dahil na rin sa joke tungkol sa preso na unti-unti na raw tumatakas ng kulungan
dahil sa sunod-sunod na organ donation nito at amputation ng mga kamay at paa. Isang patawa na nakasandal
sa seryosong tanong kung sino ka nga ba. Ikaw ba ang bahagi ng katawan mo na buhay pa? Ikaw ba ang parte
na nakakapag-isip? Ikaw ba palagi ang ulo?

-Bob Ong, Stainless Longganisa

 b. To philosophize is to
critically examine beliefs—
and assess whether they
are justified or not.

Knowledge as justified
belief
3. Philosophy as the love of
wisdom

“Philo” “Sophia”
(Love) (Wisdom)

Pythagoras Sophists
Is wisdom the same as
knowledge?
a. Wisdom consists in knowing what one
knows and what one does not know

Socrates
Chaerephon
Oracle of Delphi

‘I only know one

thing, and that is I
know nothing.’
AGORA
‘Athens is like a
horse and I’m like
a gadfly who’s
trying to sting it
back to life.’
Corruption of
the youth

Impiety or
Worship of gods
b. Wisdom consists in understanding
what is valuable in life

Discernment

Apparent Goodness

Maieutics- Positive Aspect of the Socratic Method

Elenchos/Elenchi – Negative Aspect of the Socratic
Method

EUDAIMONIA
c. Wisdom entails knowing what should
be done and acting accordingly
 Thematic Types (Branches of
Philosophy)

Philosophies are distinguished from

one another according to the topic Ontology
or the issues being addressed

Epistemology

Aesthetics

Axiology
Ethics
Branch of Philosophy Subject of the Inquiry Some issues or topic of
concern
Logic Reasoning Distinguishing between
correct and incorrect
forms of reasoning
Epistemology Knowledge Determining the kinds,
sources and conditions of
knowledge
Metaphysics Reality, Existence Establishing whether
reality consists of physical
objects only, of non-
physical
Ethics Morality Identifying the standards
for making moral
judgments, clarifying the
meaning of moral
judgments
Aesthetics Beauty Determining the criteria
for judgments about
beauty
Social and Political The state Legitimizing the existence
Philosophy of the state, defining
social and distributive
justice
Philosophy of science Science Distinguishing between
scientific and nonscientific
statements
Philosophy of Religion Religious Beliefs Clarifying the meaning of
religious statements,
proving the existence of
God
Philosophy of Language Meaning of linguistic Determining the meaning
expressions of proper names, definite
descriptions and
psychological statements
Philosophy of the Mind Mind or consciousness Establishing whether the
mind is physical or not
Positional Types

Philosophies are distinguished from one another according to the answers that they
propose for a certain issue

Example

Branch of Philosophical Positions

Philosophy
Ethics Deontology Consequentialism Virtue Ethics Care Ethics
Methodological Types

Philosophies are distinguished according to the method used to resolve a certain issue

Philosophical Method Methods Used

Analytic Philosophy Conceptual Analysis, Logical Analysis, Conceptual Analysis

Phenomenology Bracketing of presuppositions (Epoche), Direct Experiential

Analysis
Hermeneutics Different forms of textual analysis as methods of
interpretation
Marxism Methods of historical and economic analysis and dialectical
materialism
Existentialism Existential analysis or analysis that relates to life’s meaning

Feminism Gender Analysis

Postmodernism Deconstruction and Power Analysis

Regional Types

Philosophies are distinguished according to the geographical location in which the

Philosophy transpired or flourished

Soteriological Theoretical
 Historical Types

Philosophies are distinguished Ancient

from one another according (585 B.C. to
to the period in which said 400 A.D)
philosophy occurred.

Medieval
(400 A.D to
1500 A.D)

Modern
(1500 A.D to
1900 A.D)

Contemporary
(1900 to
Present)