“Philosophy is the study of truth and knowledge. The word philosophy is of Ancient Greek origin and means ‘love of wisdom’.”
Introduction to Philosophy
Philosophy is the pursuit and study of knowledge and wisdom. The term Philosophy comes from the Greek “philosophia“, which literally translates to “love of wisdom”.
Philosophy is divided into several areas of study:
- Metaphysics: the study of reality & the world.
- Epistemology: the study of knowledge & truth.
- Ethics: the study of moral values.
- Political: the study of government, justice, property, etc.
- Aesthetics: the study of beauty and material value.
- Logic: the study of correct thinking and reasoning.
- Mind: the study of consciousness and the mind.
- Language: the origin and usage of language.
Philosophy is also divided by region:
- Eastern: Philosophy that originated in Indian, Asian, and some Middle-Eastern cultures.
- Western: Philosophy that originated in Greek culture and spread to Europe, Australia, and North America.
Western philosophy is further divided into six historical periods:
- Ancient (600 B.C. – A.D. 500)
- Medieval (c. 500-1350)
- Renaissance (c. 1350-1600)
- Early Modern (c. 1600-1800)
- Nineteenth Century (c. 1800-1900)
- Contemporary (c. 1900-Present)
Logic
I will talk about matters of logic, which is a branch of philosophy. Simply put, logic deals with proper reasoning and argumentation. It is a complex subject, but my goal is to discuss the various aspects of logic in small easy to understand posts.
The word derives from Greek λογική (logike), “possessed of reason, intellectual, argumentative”.
Socrates
Socrates is a Greek philosopher that was born in 469 BC. He is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy (philosophy of European origin).
His most important contribution to philosophy is a system of inquiry known as the “Socratic Method“. It is a technique that breaks down a problem into a series of questions to gradually reveal a solution. This approach is commonly seen today in modern science.
Socrates also had strong moral convictions. He criticized the customs and practices of Athens, which lead to his trial and execution in 399 BC.
Famous Quotes:
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
“Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.”
“Follow the evidence, wherever it leads.”
Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (1787):
Plato
Plato is a Greek philosopher and mathematician. He sometimes considered the most important figure of western philosophy. Ancient sources imply that he was born between 429 and 423 BC to an influential family in Athens or Aegina.
Plato was a student of Socrates and was greatly influenced by his thinking. Plato founded a school in Athens called the Academy, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Plato went on to become the teacher of Aristotle.
Famous Quotes:
“Never discourage anyone… who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”
“In questions about good and bad, we ought not to follow the opinion of the many, but the opinion of the one who has understanding.”
“Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.”
“Knowledge is true opinion.”
School of Athens by Raphael (1511):
Deductive & Inductive Arguments
Arguments can be divided into two categories: Deductive and Inductive.
Deductive Arguments
A deductive argument is an argument where the conclusion is certainly true. The supporting evidence (premise) guarantees the truth of the conclusion. Here is a classic example where the conclusion is certain:
- All men are mortal. (premise)
- Socrates was a man. (premise)
- Therefore Socrates was mortal (conclusion).
Inductive Argument
An inductive argument is an argument where the conclusion is probably true. The evidence (premise) supports the conclusion, however it does not guarantee it to be true. Here is an example where the conclusion is probable but not certain:
- Socrates was Greek. (premise)
- Most Greeks eat fish. (premise)
- Therefore Socrates ate fish. (conclusion)
9PA5GC2WEXT5
