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Archetypes of Wisdom

Archetypes of Wisdom. Douglas J. Soccio Chapter 1 Philosophy and the Search for Wisdom. Learning Objectives. On completion of this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions: What is philosophy? What are the primary areas of philosophy? What is an archetype?

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Archetypes of Wisdom

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  1. Archetypes of Wisdom Douglas J. Soccio Chapter 1 Philosophy and the Search for Wisdom

  2. Learning Objectives • On completion of this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions: • What is philosophy? • What are the primary areas of philosophy? • What is an archetype? • How does an archetype differ from a stereotype? • What is wisdom? • What is knowledge? • What is belief?

  3. Philosophy • Etymology: from Greek roots meaning, “the love of wisdom.” • Philo (love). • Sophia (wisdom). • We sometimes, perhaps wrongly, use the term “philosophy” to refer to a person’s code of values or the beliefs by which they live (such as “Abby’s philosophy of cooking”).

  4. What is Philosophy? • Philosophers are especially interested in the arguments (reasons) offered to support our ideas. • “Philosophy” proper consists of the systematic, comprehensive study of certain questions that center on meaning, interpretation, evaluation, and logical or rational consistency.

  5. Philosophical Questions • Philosophical thinking includes careful assessment of terms, evaluation of logical reasoning, willingness to make refined distinctions, and so forth. • But, what exactly are philosophical questions?

  6. Examples of Philosophical Questions • Does God exist? • What is the meaning of life? • Could a parent ever be morally justified in letting her child starve to death? • Why do innocent people suffer? • Is it rational to believe something when all evidence is to the contrary? • Is everything a matter of opinion? • Did philosophy originate in Africa, China, or Greece? • What is the best form of government? • Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? • Do women and men think in different ways?

  7. The Branches of Philosophy • Metaphysics – the study of “ultimate reality” or how things really are. • Epistemology – the study of knowledge or how to tell when we really know something. • Ethics – the study of moral problems, right and wrong, and practical reasoning.

  8. More Branches of Philosophy • Social and political philosophy – the study of the origins and nature of the state. • Logic – the study of the rules of correct reasoning. • Aesthetics – the study of feelings and judgments related to beauty and art.

  9. Archetypes • An archetype is an image that all humans use to represent the essential qualities of some “type,” the epitome of some kind. • Archetypes have been around throughout history – in myths, legends, and dreams. • Psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961) claimed that archetypes are integral to how we think about things in general.

  10. Philosophical Archetypes • A philosophical archetype is a philosopher who expresses an original or influential point of view, significantly affecting subsequent thinkers. • Philosophical archetypes are strict advocates of a particular philosophical worldview or philosophical method. • They challenge the beliefs of other philosophers.

  11. Philosophical Archetypes versus Stereotypes • Philosophical archetypes are powerful representations of a fundamental response to universal experiences. • Archetypes exemplify essential ways of coping with universal aspects of life (love, loss, society, wealth, knowledge, purpose, suffering, death) in uncommonly pure ways. • Stereotypes are simplistic distortions of a type of person that lack depth.

  12. Are Philosophers Always Men? • The history of Western philosophy contains mostly men, leading to the charge that it is a study of “dead white males.” • While there were many women in the history of philosophy whose work went unacknowledged, today many more women are joining the ranks of professional philosophy.

  13. The Search for Truth • Philosophy is perhaps the most “open” of all subjects, since no question or point of view is off limits. • The history of philosophy has been described as “the history of heresy,” since it challenges us to question even our most cherished beliefs. • As the philosopher Baruch Spinoza put it, “I do not know how to teach philosophy without becoming a disturber of the peace.”

  14. But Isn’t All This Just A Matter of Opinion? • Sometimes it appears that there is no clear cut right or wrong answer to philosophical questions and issues. • However, if we view philosophical problems as just a matter of opinion, we may be (wrongly) led to adopt relativism.

  15. What is Relativism? • Relativism is the belief that knowledge is determined by specific qualities of the observer. • In other words, absolute (universal) knowledge of the truth is impossible – one opinion is as good as another.

  16. The Goal of Wisdom • Remember: philosophy is a love of wisdom! • The chief goal of wisdom is a fundamental understanding of reality in relation to living a good life.

  17. The Goal of Wisdom • By combining these and other branches of philosophy, a person may gain an understanding of how all knowledge is related. • The attainment of wisdom involves reflection, insight, learning from experience, and a plausible conception of the human condition.

  18. The Need for Knowledge • One of the most important elements in the attainment of wisdom is knowledge. • Philosophers generally think of knowledge as some form of true belief. • They usually make a distinction between theoretical and practical knowledge.

  19. Types of Knowledge • Theoretical knowledge involves accurate assessment of factual and systematic information and relationships. • Practical knowledge consists of skills needed to do things like play the piano, build things, perform surgery, ride a bicycle, or bake a cake.

  20. Belief and Ignorance • In contrast to knowledge, belief refers to the subjective mental acceptance that a claim is true, though it need not actually be true. • There is a difference between an informed belief and mere belief, which tries to validate itself. • The only evidence for a mere belief is the act of believing itself.

  21. Willed Ignorance • If we hold onto a false belief regardless of the facts, we become victim to willed ignorance. • Willed ignorance is indifference to the possibility of one’s error or enlightenment. • This is the opposite of the love of wisdom. • Ignorance is not an option.

  22. Discussion Questions • To what extent do you think an individual’s gender and ethnic background should be considered in evaluating his or her philosophical beliefs? • Do gender, ethnic background, and other factors (age, income, etc.) control what we think? • Is your response to this question dependent on such factors?

  23. Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics Social and Political Philosophy Logic Axiology Aesthetics Ontology Archetype Philosophical Archetype Relativism Wisdom Knowledge Theoretical/Practical Knowledge Belief Mere Belief Willed Ignorance Chapter Review: Key Concepts

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