philo Flashcards
Sculptor of “The Thinker”
Auguste Rodin
Meaning of Philosophy
Two Greek words “philo” meaning to love, and “sophia” wisdom. Love for Wisdom.
Stated: “A science that by natural light of
reason studies the first causes and
highest principles of ALL things”
Ramos, 2016
Definition of Philosophy according to Ramos, 2016
Science that by natural light of reasons studies the first causes and the highest principles of all things.
The philosophical investigations are systematic. It follows certain steps or it employs certain procedures.
Philosophy: as Science
The philosopher uses his natural capacity to think, that is his capacity to use simply human reason or in other words unaided reason.
Philosophy: Natural Light of Reason
All other sciences concern themselves with particular objects of investigation, while philosophy derives ideas from any subjects to explain and examine a certain phenomenon.
Philosophy: Study of ALL things
A principle is that from which something proceeds in any manner whatsoever.
Philosophy: First Cause or Highest Principle
Four Definitions of Philosophy
Philosophy as Science, Natural Light of Reason, Study of ALL Things, and First Cause or Highest Principle
Four Highest Principles
Identity, Non-Contradiction, Excluded Middle, Sufficient Reason
Whatever is is; and whatever is not is not; everything is what it is. Everything is its own being, and not being is not being.
Highest Principle: Identity
It is impossible for a thing to be and not be at the same time, and the same respect.
Non-Contradiction
A thing is either is or is not; everything must be either be or not be; between being, there is no middle ground possible.
Excluded Middle
Nothing exist without a sufficient reason for its being and existence.
Sufficient Reason
5 Branches of Philosophy
Metaphysics, Logic, Epistemology, Ethics, and Aesthetics
Studies the state of being and the nature of reality
Metaphysics
Study of good reasoning, by examining the validity of arguments and documenting their fallacies.
Logic
Studies the nature and scope of
knowledge and belief
Epistemology
Study of the right, the good, and
the valuable. Generally, the study of the nature of moral judgement.
Ethics
Study of beauty, judgments of sentiment, or taste and its different manifestations.
Aesthetics
Author of the Blind Men and the Elephant
John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)
Described as looking at the “big picture” when
describing and analyzing a situation or problem
Holistic Thinking
Focuses on specific aspects of a situation
Partial Thinking
