WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

FROM WONDER
TO WANDER

Wonder
• To be filled with curiosity or doubt
• An event inexplicable by the laws of
nature; a miracle.
• A feeling of puzzlement or doubt.
Source: Thesaurus Dictionary

Wander: Verb
• Walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or
aimless way.
• An act or instance of wandering.
verb. roam - ramble - rove – stray
noun. wandering - stroll - saunter - ramble
Source: Thesaurus Dictionary

WONDER WANDER

Simple, Serious, Deep???
1. Abused child kept chained in a basement for
five years finally rescued
2. Man sentenced to five years for stealing milk
for his baby
3. Lottery winner donates half of winnings to a
local orphanage
*** What questions about your life are you
struggling to find answers to?
???

• Philosophers’ definition arises out of wonder,
out of curiosity, out of desire to learn and to
understand things.
Pythagoras
(570 BCE to 495 BCE)
Epicurus
(341 BCE to 270 BCE)
Heraclitus
(535 BCE to 475 BCE)
Socrates
(470 BCE to 399 BCE)
Democritus
(460 BCE to 370 BCE)
Plato
(427 BCE to 347 BCE)
Diogenes of Sinope
( 412 BCE to 323 BCE)
Aristotle
(384 BCE to 322 BCE)

-derived for Greek words etimos and logos
Etimos - root, origin, cause, basis, history
Logos - study
Episteme - means knowledge
Knowledge - is only a million formation
- simple data that comes from the outside
that pass to our senses.
Wisdom - is an awareness of something which is basic.
- one intended product of philosophizing
- refers to a person’s ability to apply knowledge
to daily life particularly in making sound
choices and judgment.
Etymology
A. Meaning of Philosophy

The term “philosophy” comes from the
Greek words :
• philos (philia )– love, desire for or
interest in
• sophos (learned scholar, sage) or
• sophia - wisdom
• Philia and Sofia join by Pythagoras
-600 B.C.

Why is there a need to
philosophize?
• (Greek) Plato traced man’s need to
philosophize to HIS SENSE OF WONDER –
What? Where? Why? How?
• (French) Rene Descartes traced man’s need to
philosophize to DOUBT.
• (Swiss-German) Karl Jaspers traced man’s
need to philosophize because of EXPERIENCE
also called LIMIT SITUATIONS
• Socrates: The need to philosophize is driven
by LOVE FOR WISDOM

How do we characterize the study
of Philosophy?
a. A way of analyzing frameworks
a. Internal questions
b. External questions
b. An examination of a particular area of
knowledge
c. A distinct area of knowledge with its own
goals, concerns and ways of doing things

What is the difference between
Holistic and Partial thinking?
• Holistic thinking refers to a perspective that
considers large-scale patterns in system. It requires
an individual to have an open mindset and an ability
to get the general sense or impression regarding a
situation.
• Partial thinking focuses on specific aspects of a
situation. It is an important component of analytical
thinking.
• Philosophy utilizes holistic thinking in making sense
of problems and issues related to human experience.

How does one engage in reflection?
• Reflection requires a person to be willing to
examine one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions
and learn more about one’s life and
experiences.
• Reflecting on situations, activities and
decisions enables a person to gain insights
that will help in effective decision-making.

Have you ever looked in the mirror
and asked:
The Unexamined
Life is not worth
living.” (Socrates)
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What should I do with my life?

Have you ever looked in the mirror
and asked: OR???

What is ‘Philosophy’?
Philia =“love” sophia = “wisdom.”
(Pythagoras.)
Love for wisdom
Knowledge + Action = Wisdom
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you
know nothing ."
(Socrates)

Branches of Philosophy
Philosophy
Aesthetics Logic Epistemology Ethics Metaphysics

Branches of Philosophy
Ethics
Politics
Religion
Metaphysics
Logic
Epistemology
Aesthetics
Science

Aesthetics
Sensori-Emotional
Values
Explores the nature of
beauty, art, and taste
with the creation and
appreciation of beauty

Aesthetics
Questions
What is beauty? What is art?
What is the value of beauty and
art?
Who should judge what is
beautiful or artistic?
Branch of philosophy which
deals with beauty and what
makes things beautiful

Logic
Rules for Thinking
The systematic principles (or
rules) for thinking rationally.
Inferences are made by
construction of Arguments
Rules of Logic determine which
arguments are VALID and which are
FALLACIES
Branch of philosophy which
deals with correct reasoning

Logic
A philosophical study on the correct processes of
thinking.
The systematic study of argument
The rule of inference
Distinguishing valid from invalid argument
Examination fallacies
Using correct argument patterns

Epistemology
Knowledge Science
Explores the nature
and limitations of
knowledge
Definition of knowledge
Investigates how
knowledge is obtained
Explores the relationship
between belief, truth and
knowledge

Epistemology
Questions:
What is knowledge?
How is knowledge acquired?
How do we know what we know?
Epistemology (from Greek
ἐπιστήμη - episteme-,
"knowledge, science" + λόγος,
"logos") or theory of knowledge
is the branch of philosophy
concerned with the nature and
scope (limitations) of knowledge

Ethics
Questions:
1. How should we live?
2. Is right and wrong the
same everywhere or
different everywhere?
Branch of philosophy
which deals with moral
questions and dilemmas

Metaphysics
Knowledge Science
Ontology
Existence
Objects
Properties
Space and Time
Cause and Effect
Branch of philosophy which
deals with the fundamental
nature of reality and being
(existence)

For your reflection:
1. What are the practical uses of
philosophy in our lives?
2. Reflect on your life so far. Can you say
that you have lived a meaningful life,
considering all your experiences and
achievements? What do you consider as
the “highlights” of your life? What
things are you looking forward to in the
future?

Enrichment:
• Make a poster showing a holistic
view of your life. Come up with
creative visualization that will
show your life in its totality and
how various experiences
contributed to give meaning to
your life.