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Week 1 - The Meaning of Philosophy

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13 views

Week 1 - The Meaning of Philosophy

na

Uploaded by

John Paul O. Cagadas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Meaning of Philosophy

The term Philosophy came from two Greek words philo and sophia which means

“to love” and “wisdom”, respectively. Simply put, Philosophy means the love of

reasoning making wisdom as its primary goal. Technically, Philosophy is defined as

the science that by natural light of reason studies the highest principles of things.

In order to understand further the meaning of Philosophy, the following salient

features of it must be taken into consideration: A.) Philosophy is a science. It is called

as such because it is systematic and follows certain steps or procedures. In short, it

is an organized body of knowledge same as any other sciences. B.) It employs Natural

Light of Reason. This means that philosophical investigation does not use any

laboratory instrument, investigative tools nor supernatural approach. Philosophers

use their natural thinking capacity or use the so-called unaided reason. C.) Philosophy

has an inclination to Study All Things. Other sciences concern themselves with a

particular object of investigation such as: anthropology which deals with human

beings in relation with the society; sociology focuses on society, its forms, structures

and functions; botany concentrates its attention on plants; Philosophy may deal with

human beings, society and plants among others. It is this character that Philosophy

is considered multidimensional or holistic. D.) Philosophy employs First Cause or

Highest Principle. Note that principle means a reason (or an explanation) from which

something proceeds in any manner whatsoever.

The fourth characteristic (D) of Philosophy mentioned above is composed of the


following:
1.) Principle of Identity. In simple terms, this principle means “everything is what it is”.

What is not is not and what is is. For example, a seed is a seed and will no longer be

seed when it appears like not a seed. 2.) Principle of Non-Contradiction. This principle

states that it is an impossibility for a particular thing to be and not to be at the same

time at the same respect. For example, a seedling is different from a seed. If we say

that a seedling is a seed, then that seedling is a seed. They can never be both. 3.)

Principle of Excluded Middle. This principle explains that everything must be “either

be or not be” or “either is or is not”. There is no middle ground thus the term “excluded

middle”. For example, anger is different from happiness. There is no such thing as

mixture of anger and happiness. And lastly, 4.) the Principle of Sufficient Reason.

This principle states that there is sufficient reason for the being and existence of

everything. Conversely, nothing exists without any reason at all. For example, to say

that something is unexplainable already gives a reason for it being unexplainable.

By using the aforementioned philosophical concepts will enable one’s

argumentation more valid, reliable and strong. Thus, doing philosophy becomes more

easy and intelligible.

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