PHILOSOPHY - 1

Faculty Name:
Cdr Anand Kumar
 PHILOSOPHY - 1

BA LLB-2ND YEAR: SEM IV

 PHILOSOPHY - 1

Module – V
Axiology/ Theory
of Morals

Module – III
Metaphysics/
Reality
Module – IV
Epistemology/
Nature of
Module – I Knowledge
Module – II
Philosophy
Methods of
Philosophy
 LET’S HELLO !!!

Self Intro

Body of Knowledge &

Professionals
+
Good Human Beings

Class Intro
 REFERENCE MATERIAL

Introduction to Philosophy – GTW Patrick

Types of Philosophy – William Ernest Hacking

History of Philosophy – Frank Thilly

An introduction to Philosophical Analysis – John Hospers

Research materials – Pdf from open sources (which I will discuss and share)
BREAK-1
 PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy
What is the & Science
Doubt & purpose of
perplexity Philosophy?
What is
knowing?
What’s your
What is Philosophy?
meant by the
Term
Philosophy? Epistemology-
Get the best theory of
out of life Knowledge
 MODULE – I : INTRODUCTION

What is Philosophy?

Definition & nature of

Philosophy

Relevance of Philosophy
in everyday life
 PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS
She had gone The driver was driving the car very
Perhaps God’s purpose is shopping when a fast, the accident was bad and
unknowable or perhaps car hit her that’s why she died
there was no purpose at all
I’ve just answered the
I know all that.
Well, why will question, she happened to
But, I mean, why
Why did she be at the place just when
God would want did she die?
die? the car hit her
her to die? Yes, I want to
know the
She was on her way to buy
Purpose But why was she
Maybe it’s God’s groceries. She would have passed
at that place?
will the place a few minutes earlier,
but she got delayed due to some
I have already told you the visitors at her home
cause of her death. But
perhaps you don’t want to I understand that she got
know the cause but the delayed but I want to
purpose of her death know why did she die?
 PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS
➢ In this imaginary conversation, we got involved in philosophical questions

❖ There was description of some facts about a car accident

❖ But certain words were introduced that are typically ‘philosophical’ words, -
purpose, cause, death, God & God’s will, etc

➢ All these words need to be

dissected & and clarified

➢ We use these words in our daily

conversation but most of the time
we don’t use them with care-we
just “talk-past” one another and
engage in pointless back-and-forth
arguments and
 DOUBT & PERPLEXITY
There was never a time when so many people were so uncertain about so many things present around
us – Anonymous

The best form of Govt-Democracy?

Best economic model or social system

Uncertain about

What things are right and what things are wrong?

About the existence of God

Whether people are better behaved today than they were

some ten years back
BREAK
 DOUBT & PERPLEXITY
There was never a time when so many people were so uncertain about so many things present around
us – Anonymous
 DOUBT & PERPLEXITY
There was never a time when so many people were so uncertain about so many things present around
us – Anonymous

In crisis like this, there is one thing we can certainly do

One authority to consult Reflective thinking

Human being’s peculiar power & prerogative- to think

Real progress & progressive
Medium of Reflective thinking
thoughts

Serious, sustained, logical and directed towards

Questions of Life & Values It becomes Philosophy
 DEFINITION & NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY ?
➢ When we open a book with the word "philosophy" in the title, what is the subject on
which we may expect it to inform us?

➢ Unfortunately, the word "philosophy“ wouldn't give us a very clear idea of what to expect

➢ The word is used very loosely

Scenario 1 Scenario 2

➢ "How many planets are in the solar ➢ Let’s say, we ask ''What's your philosophy?"
system?“
➢ What kind of answer is appropriate for such a
➢ And the reply is "Eight," question?

➢ The answer would be correct/ incorrect, ➢ If someone responds, "Get whatever you can
but it would be an answer to the out of life, that's my philosophy,“ is this an
question acceptable answer?
 WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY ?
➢ Is "Get whatever you can out of life" - even an answer to the question asked?

➢ It's not even clear what this statement is supposed to mean

➢ Does it mean that one should do whatever one pleases, even if this involves harm to
others?

➢ So, by analyzing both scenarios, we understand that if a question can be answered

❖ Empirically
❖ by the use of the senses
❖ by seeing, hearing, touching, or the other senses
❖ or setting up experiments

➢ Then it is not a philosophical question

 WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY ?
Thus,

➢ Statements of ordinary perception, such as "There are three chairs in this room," and "Most
of the earth's surface is covered with water," are not philosophical questions

➢ Questions that the sciences can answer are not philosophical questions. Physics, astronomy,
geology, chemistry, biology, and psychology are all empirical sciences and their discoveries
are made through observations and experiments

➢ Questions about what has happened in the past are not philosophical questions

➢ "When did Abraham Lincoln die?" and "Who lived on the earth a million years ago?“
are historical questions

➢ Questions in arithmetic, algebra, and the other branches of mathematics are not
philosophical questions. "How much is 600 + 500?" is a question in arithmetic
 DEFINITION OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy is the study of
reality
Philosophy is the study of
justification
Philosophy is the analysis of
various concepts that are
central to our thought
➢ But not that aspect of reality that is already covered by
the various sciences
➢ It is concerned with how we justify the claims we make
➢ How do you know that there is a physical world?
➢ That we're not all dreaming?
➢ That there is a God beyond the stars?
➢ That goodness and beauty really exist?
➢ That the mind is separate from the body?
➢ That time is infinite?
➢ we speak of causes every day, but what is a cause?
➢ We use numbers, but what is a number?
➢ We speak of justice, but what is justice?
➢ We describe things as beautiful, but what is beauty?
➢ We speak of before and after in time, but what is time?
➢ We describe things as real, but what is reality?
 PURPOSE OF PHILOSOPHY
➢ Concerned with ‘how’
Philosophy is the study of ➢ How do you know that what you say is true?
justification-Examples ➢ How do you know animals are conscious?
➢ How do you know that if Hitler had not existed, World
War II would not have occurred?
Philosophy is the analysis of
➢ Concerned with questions like
various concepts that are
➢ What do you mean? , followed by some word or phrase
central to our thought-
➢ Analyses ‘meanings’
Examples
➢ The purpose of Philosophy is not to try to solve social, economic, and political problems

➢ Its purpose is to think carefully and systematically about certain fundamental questions
that concern ourselves, our conduct, and the world around us

Philosophy is an unusually persistent effort to think logically and clearly

 NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
A world view-Cosmos-Universe
• Theory of the Universe
• Its extent and duration (Space & Time)
• Its Creator (God?)
• Its purpose
• Its relation to human being-to his/her soul & destiny
Interpretation of Life-changing customs,
morals, religion, politics
• Its value & meaning
• Its source
• Its destiny

Philosophy is an attempt to understand the

word we live in
 BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
Logic
• Study of correct reasoning

Epistemology
• Study of the justification of claims to knowledge
• Answers the Q- How do you know?

Metaphysics
• The study of reality
• Other than –historical, empirical and mathematical subjects

Axiology - Study of values

• Principally the good (ethics) & the beautiful (aesthetics)

DISCUSSIONS !!!

Q & A !!!
THANK YOU ALL