What is Philosophy?

1. What is Philosophy? Philosophical Methods

2. What is Philosophy? – Well, it’s all Greek to me φιλοσοφία • The word “Philosophy” comes from the Greek meaning: • “LOVE OF WISDOM” • Philosophers relentlessly pursue answers to the most fundamental questions.

3. Do philosophers “know” or “do” philosophy? • Unlike specific content areas, philosophy is not defined or confined by any specific content area. • Philosophers systematically study knowledge and the fundamental nature of the world. • In other words, philosophy studies anything and everything!

4. Do philosophers “know” or “do” philosophy? • Philosophy is a “process” for exploring certain kinds of questions. • Soooo, do philosophers “know” or “do” philosophy? • Philosophers DO philosophy!

5. What the heck is “doing” Philosophy? • Like a good philosopher, here is your not so straight answer… • Philosophers DO NOT: • Give opinions • Speculate • Talk aimlessly

6. What the heck is “doing” Philosophy? • Ok, I guess I’ll tell you what philosophers do, do… That’s right, I just said do do • Philosophers DO: • Investigate questions by giving arguments for particular answers • Remember (Conclusion + Premises = Proposition) • Use logic to evaluate reasoning behind the arguments

7. Yes…that is a dress made out of meat! Do you recall the Lady Gaga argument? “Doing” philosophy is not winning a dispute…it’s a constant state of searching for rational knowledge. But, is rational knowledge obtainable? Or, is everything in a state of irrationality, much like this dress?

8. VocabularyPhilosophical questions can be divided in three broad areas • 1. Ontology: The study of “being” and/or existence – AKA, Metaphysics: the study of what there really is in the world. What kinds of things exist? How are they related to one another? For instance, is the mind simply a brain or is there something that exists over and above our physical bodies? • 2. Epistemology: The study of “knowledge” and justified belief. What are the necessary and sufficient conditions for knowledge? Can we know anything at all? When can a belief be said to be justified? • 3. Axiology: The study of value judgments – AKA, Value Theory. Axiology can be divided into two main philosophical types: ethical values and aesthetic values • Ethical values: What makes an action right or wrong? Is morality subjective? • Aesthetic values: How do we define beauty? Are there objective criteria to call something art?

9. What good could come of a Philosophy Degree? • Philosophy graduates are found working for almost every type of employer in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Opportunities are available in arts-based areas like publishing, the media, journalism, advertising and teaching, through to computing and IT. Matt Groening

10. The Short List… Typical employers include: • local government and the Civil Service • advertising, marketing and public relations agencies • management consultancies • secondary schools, further education colleges and higher education institutions • law firms • publishing companies • charities • banking and insurance companies • accountancy firms • recruitment agencies.

11. PETER THIEL If Peter Thiel’s name doesn’t conjure up recognition, perhaps some of his technological creations and investments do. The co-founder and former CEO of Paypal also assisted in the development of Facebook, Yelp, Spotify, Yammer, LinkedIn, and plenty of other familiar and not-so-familiar online ventures. The hedge fund leader, venture capitalist, philanthropist, and all-around money-haver launched his billion-dollar career after a stint at Stanford, where he completed work on a B.A. in philosophy.

12. ETHAN COEN Along with brother Joel, Ethan Coen has produced some of modern cinema’s most beloved masterpieces, such as Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, and plenty more. In 1979, he earned himself a philosophy degree from Princeton University, where his senior thesis dealt with language theorist (among other things) Ludwig Wittgenstein. Fans of the pair’s trademark quirky, occasionally staccato dialogue probably won’t find this at all surprising.

13. STEVE MARTIN California State University, Long Beach holds popular comedian, musician, writer, and general entertainer Steve Martin amongst its alumni. By then, he already managed to channel his own emotions and experiences into performing, leading one to understandably assume he probably pursued a degree path involving drama or theatre. Philosophy piqued his fascination most of all, however, particularly when it came to ideologies regarding logic and language.

14. ALEX TREBEK For $400. This Jeopardy host majored in philosophy at University of Ottawa. *Ding* Who is Alex Trebek? That is correct! He completed his diploma in 1961, then launched a television career two years later as the face of Canadian game show High Rollers. Other stints on different programs followed before he finally landed his most famous and long-standing gig in 1984 – JEOPARDY!

15. BRUCE LEE Bruce Lee’s real emphasis at University of Washington dredges up quite the dispute! His official records state “drama,” but the martial arts superstar always claims philosophy — as do many of his followers and fellow(?) majors. Regardless of how things actually went down, he did in fact study the subject quite extensively, and frequently touted its role in shaping both his acting and his athletics.

16. PHIL JACKSON Legendary Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson accomplished much more than just sharpening his basketball (and track and field!) acumen while attending University of North Dakota. Players, contemporaries, administrators, and fans don’t call him “The Zen Master” because he just loves getting his Bobby Knight on. Inquiries into “Eastern” thought and Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance won him 11 championships as a coach, added to the two earned as a player. He even published a book, Sacred Hoops, about how sport and philosophy interplay in his mind.

17. RICKY GERVAIS This controversy-courting comedian behind beloved TV shows Extras and The Office (the original British series) majored in philosophy at the undergraduate level while attending University College London. When asked about how it helped bolster his television career, he whipped out the old saw about monkeys and typewriters. Fans, however, can certainly see the humorous benefits of devoting time, energy, and money towards the philosophical arts if pursuing an entertainment career.

18. Now…What does “doing” philosophy really look like? Seriously, help me out here. Is rational knowledge obtainable? Let’s talk about this before we watch this video. • PHILOSOPHY - Epistemology: The Problem of Skepticism [HD] • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqjdRAERWLc • What do you think? Is there absolute truth or knowledge? • What philosophical type does this video fall under? • Can you point out the conclusion? What are some of the premises?