1 / 16

Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 1-a What is philosophy?

Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 1-a What is philosophy?. By David Kelsey. What is philosophy?. The word Philosophy : Philo-: sophy: Philosophy is the systematic investigation into the foundational concepts and principles of any subject matter . A subject matter is:.

hila
Download Presentation

Introduction to Philosophy Lecture 1-a What is philosophy?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Introduction to PhilosophyLecture 1-aWhat is philosophy? By David Kelsey

  2. What is philosophy? • The word Philosophy: • Philo-: • sophy: • Philosophy is the systematic investigation into the foundational concepts and principles of any subject matter. • A subject matter is:

  3. Explaining a subject matter • So philosophy consists of the investigation of any subject matter. • Understanding and Explaining a subject matter • Example: Epistemology and knowledge

  4. The disciplines of philosophy • The disciplines of philosophy include: • Philosophy of religion: • Philosophy of mind: • Ethics: • Metaphysics: • Others…

  5. The tasks of philosophy • A philosopher investigates the concepts and principles of any subject matter by use of: • Conceptual analysis & Argumentation • Conceptual analysis is the analysis of concepts. • Concepts: • 2 definitions: words vs. ideas about a bit of the universe • Examples:

  6. The extensions of concepts • Concepts have extensions: • For something to be in the extension of (or to fall under) a concept: • the thing must be an instance of the concept. • The thing must fall under the concept • If X is in the extension of a concept then… • Example: • Knowledge • The extension of any concept: defined as a set of things…

  7. A view on Concepts • A view on concepts: You might also think that concepts are abstract objects which are instantiated in our world. • The picture: • LOVE KNOWLEDGE STUDENT • PHILOSOPHY SCHOOL • WORD TRUTH GRADE • -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • L W P K T Sc G St • W L P K T Sc St G • L P W K T Sc G St • Above the line: abstract objects • Below the line: our world. • Where do concepts lie? • Where is a concept instantiated, above or below the line? • The extension of a concept is:

  8. Conceptual analysis • If you will remember, one of the main tasks of philosophy is the analysis of concepts. • To analyze a concept is • An explanation • A definition • To define a concept: • Examples in the dictionary • The philosopher’s task: • To provide more detailed, full and clear explanations of concepts you can find in your what?

  9. Analytical Definitions: their form • An Analytical definition is composed of a definiendum and a definiens. • The definiendum: • The definiens: • Form: the form of a definition is this: • X =df _____ • Which is the definiendum and which is the definiens? • For example, • Bachelor =df unmarried adult male

  10. Necessary andsufficient conditions • We can think of a definition as a set of necessary and sufficient conditions. • X is a necessary condition of Y if and only if (or iff) we cannot have Y without also having X. • Oxygen and Combustion • X is a sufficient condition of Y iff X is all that is needed to get Y. • Being born in the US and citizenship

  11. Necessary and Sufficient Conditions #2 • X is both a necessary and sufficient condition of Y iff both • 1) we cannot have Y without also having X & • 2) X is all that is needed to get Y. • Bachelorhood and being an unmarried adult male

  12. The Goal of Philosophy: FindingCorrect Definitions • For a definition to be adequate the definiendum and definiens must be co-extensive. • For the defiendum and definiens of any definition to be co-extensive it must be the case that: • Everything in the extension of the definiendum is in the extension of the definiens and vice versa…

  13. Co-extensiveness:An example • So if your definition of BACHELOR as UNMARRIED ADULT MALE is correct then: • Everything in the extension of BACHELOR is in the extension of UNMARRIED ADULT MALE and vice versa.

  14. Testing definitions • To determine if a definition is adequate: • determine if its definiendum and definiens are co-extensive. • Is there any item in the extension of one that isn’t in the extension of the other? • Example: Car =df 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive • All Cars are 4 wheeled vehicles one can drive. • All 4 wheeled vehicles one can drive are Cars. • Universal generalizations and counterexamples • A counterexample: a case that violates a universal generalization.

  15. Counterexamples • 2 examples: • Defining Car as 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive: • We need to find either a Car that isn’t a 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive • Or a 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive that isn’t a Car • Thoughts? • Defining Knowledge as true belief: • We need to find either • a case of knowledge that isn’t what? • Or a case of true belief that isn’t what? • A counterexample: • The Belief Game:

  16. Counterexamples #2 • Love: Say I define Love as a deep seated feeling composed of compassion & care which one can have for another human being. • Can anyone find a counterexample to this definition? • We are looking for either: • a case of love that isn’t ____________ • a case of having this feeling for another human which isn’t ______________ • Any thoughts?

More Related