INTRODUCTION TO

PHILOSOPHY AND
ETHICS
BY ABIRAMI A K
What is philosophy
•The word philosophy literally means love of wisdom; It is derived from two Greek words i.e.
'phileo' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom).
•It is a broad field concerned with fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values,
reason, mind, and language.
•It involves critical thinking, argumentation, and the examination of assumptions underlying
various beliefs and practices.
•Philosophy definitely forms the backbone of research as its contributes towards epistemological
questions about what constitutes valid evidence, how knowledge is acquired, and what methods
are appropriate for gaining knowledge in different fields.
•Attempts to find the deeper meanings of problems, it may be to resolve a confusing situation
Concept and nature of philosophy
•Since times immemorial there have been various pursuits for unfolding the mystery of the
universe, birth and death, sorrow and joy. Various ages have produced different thoughts
throwing light upon the mystic region. The ultimate truth is yet to be found out.

•This eternal quest for truth 'lends the origin of philosophy. A love of wisdom is the essence for
any philosophy investigation.
 What is the scope for philosophy
The scope of philosophy of education is concerned with the problems of education. These problems mainly include
•Interpretation of human nature, the world and the universe and their relation with man,
•Interpretation of aims and ideals of education,
•The relationship of various components of the system of education,
•Relationship of education and various areas of national life [economic system, political order, social
progress, cultural reconstructions.
•Educational values,
• Theory of knowledge and its relationship to education.
Branches of philosophy
Even though some branches of philosophy break down slightly differently, the major
components are universally recognized. Philosophy covers a wide and ever-evolving range of
topics to address our ever-changing world. Naturally, there is some fluidity in categorizing
philosophical branches and the subcategories of these branches
•Axiology (Aesthetics & Ethics) Axiology
(Ethics)
•Metaphysics
Axiology
Metaphysics
•Epistemology (Aesthetics)

•Logic Philosophy

•Political Philosophy Political

Epistemology
Philosophy

Logic
Axiology
Also referred to as the theory of value
This branch of Philosophy peruses upon the value of goodness.
Value Theory is often interchangeably used as Axiology and this branch of Philosophy peruses
upon the value of goodness.
Assigning value to something based on its quality or characteristics
Eg - A blunted knife is a bad knife.
•Axiology is indeed a branch of philosophy that deals with the study of value, including both
ethics (the study of morality) and aesthetics (the study of beauty).
•Ethics: Ethics within axiology focuses on understanding what is morally right or wrong, good or
bad, and how individuals and societies ought to behave.
•It delves into questions about the nature of moral principles, the foundations of ethical theories,
and the application of ethical principles to various situations.
•Aesthetics: Aesthetics, on the other hand, concerns itself with the nature of beauty, art, and
taste.
•It explores questions such as what makes something beautiful, how art is created and
appreciated, and the relationship between beauty and other aspects of human experience
Metaphysics
Delves into the fundamental nature of reality and existence.
It goes beyond empirical observation and scientific inquiry to explore questions about the
nature of being, identity, causality, time, space, and the universe as a whole.
At its core, metaphysics seeks to uncover the underlying structure of reality and understand the
fundamental principles that govern it.
Eg- The statement "a tomato is red" is true because there exists a red tomato as its truth maker.
The central concepts of metaphysics is Ontology,Cosmology ,Causality and Determinism
Ontology, the study of being and existence. Ontology answers the question: “What is reality?”
An example of an ontological question would be: “Does God exist?” There are two possible
realities (or ontologies) in response to this question: “Yes, God exists,” or “No, God does not
exist.”
“Are my feelings real?”, “What is ‘nothing,’ and does it exist?” are all examples of ontological
questions.
Cosmology investigates the nature of the universe as a whole.
Metaphysicians ponder questions about the origin, structure, and ultimate fate of the universe.
They explore theories about the nature of time, space, and causality, seeking to understand the
underlying principles that govern the cosmos.
Body mind dualism is a classical example for cosmology -They all reject that the mind and the
brain are the same things, Body and mind are considered to be entities in different dimensions.
Metaphysicians ponder questions such as: What is the nature of consciousness? Is the mind
distinct from the body, or are they ultimately inseparable?
How do mental phenomena relate to physical processes? These questions have profound
implications for our understanding of human nature and the nature of reality.
Metaphysicians examine the nature of causality, exploring questions about the relationship
between cause and effect and the possibility of determinism in the universe. They ponder
whether events are determined by prior causes.
An example is 'his tripping over the step was the cause, and his breaking his ankle the effect'.
Epistemology
It is about the study of knowledge.
It attempts to answer the basic question- what distinguishes true (adequate) knowledge from
false knowledge (inadequate).
A fundamental question concerning Epistemology is, what is knowledge?
Sources of Knowledge
• Expertise, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education ; the theoretical or practical
understanding of a subject
• What is known in a particular field or in total facts and information or
• Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.
Empiricism vs. Rationalism: Epistemology includes debates between empiricists and rationalists
regarding the primary sources of knowledge.
Empiricists argue that knowledge is primarily derived from sensory experience, while rationalists
argue that reason and innate ideas play a foundational role in knowledge acquisition.
Skepticism: Skepticism is a philosophical position that casts doubt on the possibility of attaining
knowledge. The attitude of doubting knowledge claims set forth in various areas.
It is a questioning attitude or doubt toward knowledge claims that are seen as mere belief or
dogma.
Skeptical challenges prompt epistemologists to examine the standards of justification and to
explore responses to scepticism.
This makes it important provide evidences while proposing a claim.
Social Epistemology: Social epistemology is a branch of epistemology that examines the social
dimensions of knowledge.
It explores how knowledge is shaped by social factors such as testimony, authority, consensus,
and cultural context.
Social epistemology investigates issues related to the distribution, dissemination, and evaluation
of knowledge within social groups and institutions.
Political Philosophy
Combining the two fields of Politics and Philosophy, Political Philosophy studies political
government, laws, liberty, justice, rights, authority, political states and systems, ethics, and
more.
It explores the concepts of why we need governments, the role of played by governments, what
are its constituents, amongst others.
Logic
Logic is the branch of philosophy that deals with the study of reasoning, inference, and
argumentation.
Logic includes both formal and informal logic. Formal logic investigates how conclusions follow
from premises in a topic-neutral way.
On the other hand, informal logic is associated with informal fallacies, critical thinking, and
argumentation theory
RESEARCH ETHICS
Introduction
Defined to be the ethics of the planning, conduct, and reporting of research.
Ethics in research refers to the principles and guidelines that govern the conduct of research
involving human subjects, animals, or other sensitive topics.
Ethical considerations in research are typically governed by institutional review boards (IRBs) or
ethics committees, which review research proposals to ensure compliance with ethical
guidelines and standards.
Violations of research ethics can have serious consequences, including harm to participants,
damage to the reputation of researchers and institutions, and legal and regulatory penalties.
Moral philosophy of ethics
The moral philosophy of ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions of right and
wrong, good and bad, and the principles and values that guide human behaviour and decision
making.

Metaethics: Metaethics examines the nature and meaning of ethical concepts, such as
goodness, duty, and moral obligation.
Normative Ethics: Normative ethics focuses on developing and evaluating moral principles and
theories that guide ethical decision-making.
Applied Ethics: Applied ethics addresses specific moral issues and dilemmas in various domains,
such as bioethics, environmental ethics, business ethics, and social justice. It involves the
application of ethical principles and theories to real-world problems and decision-making.

Ethical Relativism: Ethical relativism is the view that ethical principles and values are relative to
particular cultures, societies, or individuals, and there are no universal or objective moral truths.
It acknowledges diversity in moral beliefs and practices across different contexts and emphasizes
the importance of cultural and situational factors in ethical judgments
Ethical Egoism: Ethical egoism is the theory that individuals ought to pursue their own self
interest or maximize their own happiness, without regard for the interests or well-being of
others.
It asserts that self-interest is the ultimate basis for moral action and that individuals have no
moral obligations beyond promoting their own welfare.

Ethical Altruism: Ethical altruism is the opposite of ethical egoism, advocating that individuals
have moral obligations to prioritize the interests and well-being of others over their own self
interest.
Nature of moral judgement and reactions
Cognitive Processes: Moral judgments often involve complex cognitive processes, including
reasoning, decision-making, and evaluation. Individuals may draw on moral principles, social
norms, personal values, and prior experiences to assess the moral rightness or wrongness of
actions.

Cognitive factors such as empathy, perspective-taking, and theory of mind also play a role
in understanding others' intentions and moral reasoning
Emotional Responses: Emotions play a crucial role in moral judgments and reactions. Moral
situations can elicit a wide range of emotional responses, including empathy, compassion, guilt,
shame, anger, and moral outrage.
These emotions can influence how individuals perceive moral issues, make moral judgments,
and respond to moral dilemmas.

Social Influences: Social factors, such as cultural norms, socialization, peer pressure, and group
dynamics, can shape individuals' moral judgments and reactions.
People often look to others for guidance on what is morally acceptable or unacceptable
behaviour, and social context can influence the salience of moral values and principles.
Intuitive vs. Deliberative Processes: Research suggests that moral judgments can arise from
both intuitive, automatic processes and deliberative, reflective processes.
Intuitive moral judgments are often quick and automatic, based on immediate emotional
reactions and gut instincts.
Deliberative moral judgments involve more conscious reasoning and reflection, weighing
different considerations and consequences.
Moral Development: Moral judgments and reactions can vary across individuals and develop
over time.
Individuals progress through stages of moral reasoning and understanding as they mature.
Factors such as education, life experiences, and exposure to diverse perspectives can also
influence moral development.
Cultural and Moral Diversity: There is considerable diversity in moral judgments and reactions
across cultures, societies, and individuals.
Different cultures may have distinct moral values, norms, and ethical principles, leading to
variations in moral judgments and behaviours. Understanding cultural differences in moral
reasoning and reactions is essential for promoting cross-cultural understanding and dialogue
Conclusion
The scope of philosophy is vast and encompasses the pursuit of wisdom and understanding of
reality. Francis Bacon referred to philosophy as the "great mother of science," indicating its
broad reach.
It includes branches such as metaphysics, which delves into fundamental questions about
reality, logic, epistemology (the theory of knowledge), and the study of good and evil.
Philosophy examines everything in terms of its ultimate causes and principles.
Research Ethics encompasses the ethical principles governing the planning, conduct, and
reporting of research, ensuring its integrity and credibility while respecting the rights and
welfare of participants.
Upholding ethical principles is crucial for researchers to conduct responsible and credible
research. The moral philosophy of ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions of
right and wrong, good and bad, and the principles guiding human behaviour.
THANK YOU…