Introduction to Philosophy

2. Introduction to Philosophy “Philos” = Love “Sophia” = Wisdom “Philosophy” = Love of Wisdom

3. What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

4. A Formal Definition of Philosophy: • The rational, critical investigation of the fundamental questions of life that resist solutions by empirical science

5. The Major Areas of Philosophy

6. Metaphysics • The Study of the Ultimate Nature of Reality • One or many parts • Origin of the universe • Origin and meaning of life

7. Epistemology • The Study of Knowledge • How do we know things? • Experience (Empiricists) • The Mind (Rationalists) • What can we know?

8. Ethics • The Study of Right or Correct Behavior • “How should we live?” • Truth • Justice • The Good

9. Logic • The Study of Right or Correct Thinking • Study arguments • Reasoning • Deductive • Inductive • Fallacies

10. The Philosophy of Religion • The study of The Existence of God and its implications

11. Cosmological Argument Teleological Argument Ontological Argument Why is there evil?

12. The Philosophy of Religion • The Study of World Religions • Christianity • Judaism • Islam • Hinduism

13. Aesthetics • The Study of Beauty and Art • What is Beauty? • How do you recognize it? • What is Art? • What is pornography?

16. Classical Art Raphael “School of Athens” 1511

18. Modern Art Mark Rothko “Orange and Yellow” 1956

20. Political Philosophy • Philosophy of Language • Philosophy of Mind • Philosophy of Science

21. The Philosophy of __________ • The study of the basic principles of that particular subject

22. Occam’ Razor • Cut away everything that is not necessary • The simpler the better

23. Greek Philosophy

24. 4 Basic Periods • 1. Pre-Socratics: 585-468 B.C. • 2. Socrates: 469-399 B.C. • 3. Plato: 429-347 B.C. • 4. Aristotle: 384-322 B.C.

25. Why study dead philosophers?

26. Pre-Socratics Main Ideas • The One and the Many • Being and Becoming

27. From Myth to Philosophy • Homer: 750 B.C. • “Iliad “ • “Odyssey” • Hesiod: 700 B.C. • “Theogony” • Chaos = The Beginning = Void / Nothing

28. Thales of Miletus: 624-547 BC

29. LocationIonia coast (Asia Minor)

30. Thales Philosophy • There must be an “arche” • Unity • Principle • Source • behind the plurality of things • Some underlying substance that does not change as appearances change

32. The Four Basic Elements • Thales was familiar with the four elements • Air • Fire • Water • Earth

33. He assumed that all things must ultimately be reduced to one of these • But which one?

34. Thales Answer? • Water!

36. Why Water? • Of all the elements • We clear see water transformed the most • Liquid • Gas • Solid

37. 1st Reductionist • A method of explanation that seeks to reduce things to their most basic level

38. 1st Empiricist • Based upon Thales’ experience and observation he came to this conclusion

39. Pythagoras: 572-500 B.C.

40. LocationIsland of Samos - Ionia Coast

41. Pythagoras, depicted on a 3rd-century coin

42. Pythagoras • The correct description of reality must be expressed in terms of mathematical formulas

43. The Pythagorean Theorem

44. Pythagoras • Rationalist

45. Heraclitus: 540-475 B.C.

46. Ephesus

47. All things are constantly changing

48. Parmenides: 515-440 B.C.

49. Elea: Greek city on the South Western coast of Italy

50. Being • There is no change • Change is an illusion