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TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY: An introduction to the lectures. MYTHOS AND LOGOS What is philosophy ? 2. JERUZALEM AND ATHENS Where is philosophy localized? THEORY AND PRACTICE How do philosophers act?. 1. MYTHOS AND LOGOS. WISDOM AND LOVE.
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TWENTIETH CENTURY PHILOSOPHY: An introduction to the lectures
MYTHOS AND LOGOS What is philosophy? 2. JERUZALEM AND ATHENS Where is philosophy localized? • THEORY AND PRACTICE How do philosophers act?
WISDOM AND LOVE • Philosophy > love of wisdom (philo = love; sophia = wisdom). • Philosophers start to replace a mythological narrative by a scientific narrative. • Disenchantment of the world. • Philosophy as the mother of the sciences.
THE LONESOME MOTHER • Metaphysics > (from the Greek metá (= beyond) and physiká (physical)) the investigation of principles of reality that transcend those of the particular sciences. • The relation to the sciences, religion and art is still a point of discussion. • Focus on the truth, the good and the beauty. • Kant formulated three questions to describe his philosophical interests: 1. What can I know? 2. What must I do? 3. What may I hope?
PHILOSOPHICAL SUBDISCIPLINES • Ethics. • Philosophy of Art. • Philosophy of Mind. • Philosophy of Religion. • Political Philosophy. • Philosophy of Law. • Philosophy of Science. • Social Philosophy. • Philosophical Anthropology. • Philosophy of Language.
TEXTS AND CONTEXTS • In order to understand philosophers we have to consider in which contexts they work(ed). • Philosophers have two interests: 1. A historical interest. 2. A systematic interest. • Philosophical theories transcend specific contexts > reiteration is important.
TWO SOURCES OF WESTERN THOUGHT • JERUZALEM > monotheism > ontological discontinuity. • ATHENS > philosophy > ontological continuity.
TOP-DOWN PHILOSOPHY • Philosophers where a long time mainly interested in theories. • Self-perception: the top-down dispersion of theoretical knowledge. • Ordinary practice should be guided by independently maintained beliefs.
FROM DISPERSION TO TRANSLATION • The philosophical scene changed in the 19th and 20th century: from dispersion to translation. • Practice is the starting point of philosophical reflection. • Four philosophical movements are responsible for this radical change: 1. Marxism. 2. Existentialism. 3. Pragmatism. 4. Ordinary language philosophy.
THE THREAD OF THE LECTURES • What concept of philosophy do the heroes of twentieth century philosophy have? • Which key themes do these heroes discuss? • How do they relate theory and practice?
BEYOND INSTRUMENTAL REASON • Dominant way of dealing with knowledge > knowledge as a mean to attain a goal. • Philosophy embodies an erotic way of dealing with knowledge > to understand something is in itself great! • Philosophers try to get beyond instrumental reason.