Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy 1301:DE Philosophy 1301Danny Brown: ProfessorM.A. Philosophy- University of HoustonB.A. Philosophy- North Carolina State University B.A. Communications- North Carolina State University Philosophy is the critical and rational examination of the most fundamental assumptions that underlie our lives, an activity of concern to men and women of all cultures and races. -- Velasquez Survey CourseThe Introduction to Philosophy class is a survey course designed to familiarize students with the various fields in philosophy and with those philosophers associated with them. It should also enable students to develop skills in logic and critical thinking. PHILOSOPHYMy Mini-definition:The History of human thought.How do we (humans) think about and of ourselves as human beings.What, if any, is our purpose in the universe.How do we view the world around us. What is Philosophy?Philosophy is a 5,000 year old academic tradition that systematically analyzes the very foundational questions of human existence.Philosophy seeks clarity on issues ranging from the existence of God, the validity of scientific knowledge, arguments over right and wrong, and the existence of the soul. Philosophy 1301“Philosophy” is a combination of two ancient Greek words, “Philein” and “Sophia”, which mean “love of wisdom.”“Hard thinking” -- Alvin Plantinga Analysis and critique of fundamental beliefs and concepts. What is Philosophy?It is an enterprise which starts with wonder at the mystery and marvel of the world. Philosophy pursues a rational investigation of those mysteries and marvels, seeking wisdom and truth. What is Philosophy?If the quest is successful, it results in a live lived in passionate moral and intellectual integrity. Believing that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” the philosophy leaves no facet of live untouched by its probing glance. What philosophy is notNot mere speculationOffer reasonsPeer review Not Dogmatic Preview of Things to ComeWhy be moral?What is the best form of political organization?Is there an afterlife, and if so, what is its nature?What is the meaning of life? Does God Exist? How Does the Mind Relate to the Body? What Is Real? (What Actually Exists?) So Why Study Philosophy? Some ReasonsCritical thinking skills, writing skills and speaking skillsLiberation from prejudice and provincialism.Expansion of one’s horizonUnderstanding Society Not usually taught before college Guard against propaganda Intrinsically interesting Helps fulfill our “self actualization” needs (Abraham Maslow) Critical Thinking In most academic subjects, students are taught what to think, rather than how to think. The goal of philosophy:Autonomy The freedom of being able to decide for yourself what you will believe in by using your own reasoning abilities. In other words, learn to think for yourself. Traditional Divisions of PhilosophyEp.

1. Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy 1301:DE
Philosophy 1301Danny Brown: ProfessorM.A. Philosophy-
University of HoustonB.A. Philosophy- North Carolina State
University B.A. Communications- North Carolina State
University
Philosophy is the critical and rational examination of the most
fundamental assumptions that underlie our lives, an activity of
concern to men and women of all cultures and races.
-- Velasquez
Survey CourseThe Introduction to Philosophy class is a survey
course designed to familiarize students with the various fields
in philosophy and with those philosophers associated with them.
It should also enable students to develop skills in logic and
critical thinking.
PHILOSOPHYMy Mini-definition:The History of human

2. thought.How do we (humans) think about and of ourselves as
human beings.What, if any, is our purpose in the universe.How
do we view the world around us.
What is Philosophy?Philosophy is a 5,000 year old academic
tradition that systematically analyzes the very foundational
questions of human existence.Philosophy seeks clarity on issues
ranging from the existence of God, the validity of scientific
knowledge, arguments over right and wrong, and the existence
of the soul.
Philosophy 1301“Philosophy” is a combination of two ancient
Greek words, “Philein” and “Sophia”, which mean “love of
wisdom.”“Hard thinking” -- Alvin Plantinga
Analysis and critique of fundamental
beliefs and concepts.
What is Philosophy?It is an enterprise which starts with wonder
at the mystery and marvel of the world.
Philosophy pursues a rational investigation of those mysteries
and marvels, seeking wisdom and truth.
What is Philosophy?If the quest is successful, it results in a live
lived in passionate moral and intellectual integrity.
Believing that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” the
philosophy leaves no facet of live untouched by its probing
glance.

3. What philosophy is notNot mere speculationOffer reasonsPeer
review
Not Dogmatic
Preview of Things to ComeWhy be moral?What is the best form
of political organization?Is there an afterlife, and if so, what is
its nature?What is the meaning of life?
Does God Exist?
How Does the Mind Relate to the Body?
What Is Real? (What Actually Exists?)
So Why Study Philosophy?
Some ReasonsCritical thinking skills, writing skills and
speaking skillsLiberation from prejudice and
provincialism.Expansion of one’s horizonUnderstanding Society

4. Not usually taught before college
Guard against propaganda Intrinsically interesting
Helps fulfill our “self actualization” needs (Abraham Maslow)
Critical Thinking
In most academic subjects, students are taught what to think,
rather than how to think.
The goal of philosophy:Autonomy
The freedom of being able to decide for yourself what you will
believe in by using your own reasoning abilities.
In other words, learn to think for yourself.
Traditional Divisions of
PhilosophyEpistemologyMetaphysicsEthics Political & Social
Philosophy Logic and Critical ThinkingAesthetics
Epistemology
Epistemology refers to that branch of philosophy that critically
evaluates the nature, methodology, limitation, and origin of
human knowledge.
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5. Metaphysics
a division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental
nature of reality and being.
ETHICSThe theoretical study of morality (likened to a
theoretical study of physics)
…is a code or set of principles by which people live by.
Political & Social PhilosophyThe study of social values and
political forms of government.
Studies the nature of justice.
Logic and Critical ThinkingLogic maybe defined as the branch
of philosophy that reflects upon the nature of thinking itself.
Distinguishes, “What is the correct way of thinking?”Logic is
perhaps the most fundamental branch of philosophy. All
branches of philosophy employ thinking; whether this thinking
is correct or not will depend upon whether it is in accord with
the laws of logic.
Aesthetics
The Study of Beauty and Art.

6. Inappropriate Authority
We base much of what we believe on the evidence of
authority, and citing an authority is a legitimate way of
justifying a belief.
Generally speaking, philosophers do not accept a statement
solely on the basis of an individual’s authority, no matter how
eminent.
Ludwig Wittgenstein "Philosophy aims at the logical
clarification of thoughts. Philosophy is not a body of doctrine
but an activity. . . . Without philosophy thoughts are, as it were,
cloudy and indistinct: its task is to make them clear and to give
them sharp boundaries."
But why Philosophy?
What is Philosophy?
It aims for a clear, critical, comprehensive conception of
reality.
Rational ArgumentThe hallmark of philosophy is rational
argument.
Philosophers clarify concepts and analyze and test propositions

7. and beliefs, but their major task is to analyze and construct
arguments.
Distinction: Scientist vs. Philosopher
Philosophical reasoning is closely allied with scientific
reasoning in that both build hypotheses and look for evidence
to test those hypotheses with the hope of coming closer to the
truth.
Scientific Experiments:In Lab
However, scientific experiments take place in laboratories and
have testing procedures to record empirically verifiable results.
Philosophical Experiments: In MindThe laboratory of
philosophers is the domain of ideas—the mind, where
imaginative thought experiments take place; the study where
arguments are written down and examined; and wherever
conversation or debate about perennial questions of life takes
place , where thesis and counterthesis are considered.
(How Should We Live? Louis P. Pojman)
Philosophy’s MissionWhile various disciplines such as
mathematics and science are concerned with determining
specific knowledge of the universe, philosophy has a grander
mission: understanding how and why the universe is the way it
is, the core principles that underlie and govern the whole

8. experience.
(The Philosophers Way: John Chaffee)
Victor Frankl
“Man’s concern about the meaning of life is the truest
expression of
the state of being human…
Victor Frankl
…It is the rational man’s ultimate concern. It may be the
search of what defines us… is what ultimately defines us.”
In the beginning of all Philosophy 1301 Classes….
Students are introduced to the correct and valid way to
construct an argument.
Valid Arguments lead to Valid hypothesis.
Reason is the tool of the philosopher.
9 Tips to become a
better Critical Thinker
Be open-minded to new ideas.
Know that people have different ideas about the meaning of
words.

9. Separate emotional and logical thinking.
Question things that don't make sense to you.
Avoid common mistakes in your own reasoning.
9 Tips to become a
better Critical Thinker
6) Don't argue about something that you know nothing about.
7) Build a strong vocabulary to better share and understand
ideas.
8) Know when you need more information.
Know the difference between conclusions that could and must
be true.
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Logical FallaciesA fallacy is a bad method of argument,
whether deductive or inductive.
Arguments can be "bad" (or unsound) for several reasons: one
or more of their premises may be false, or irrelevant, or the
reasoning from them may be invalid, or the language expressing
them may be ambiguous or vague.
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Logical FallaciesThere are certainly an infinity of bad
arguments; there may even be an infinity of ways of arguing
badly.
The name fallacy is usually reserved for typical faults in

10. arguments that we nevertheless find persuasive.
Studying them is therefore a good defense against deception.
*
List of 17 Logical Fallacies I stumbled upon a very helpful list
of maxims of clear and careful thinking that I’m passing on to
you.
It comes from James Beverley and is gleaned from a section
entitled “How to Think and Reason Correctly” in his book Holy
Laughter and the Toronto Blessing, published by Zondervan.
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1. Emotion does not settle issues of truth.
2. Tradition is not always right.
3. Do not give human authority figures uncritical
allegiance.
4. Be careful of the way you use words. Words are tools.
They must be used properly and carefully.
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5. Do not force people into limited or false options.
6. Do not use name-calling or put-downs as a debate tactic
(argumentum ad hominem).

11. 7. Be careful of accusations based solely on the presumed
origin of a given idea or practice (the genetic fallacy).
8. The popularity or unpopularity of something does not
make it either true or false.
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.
9. The fact that something is either an old or a new idea does
not automatically make it correct (chronological snobbery).
10. Be careful in the use of “guilt by association.”
11. Do not dismiss good ideas or practices by letting your
imagination take them to inappropriate extremes. Be prudent
when using the “slippery slope” argument
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12. Be alert to cause and effect errors (post hoc propter hoc).
13. Make sure that conclusions follow from adequate evidence
and support.
14. Do not accept clichés or popular slogans uncritically.
15. Do not “stack the deck,” i.e. only point out observations
that support your pet theory, ignoring all evidence to the
contrary.

12. *
16. Be wary of generalization. Remember that the truth is not
always in the middle.
And Last:
17. Do not take ideas or people out of context.
(END)
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