Part I: Introduction

1. Part I: Introduction Chapter 1: What is Philosophy?

2. Origin and History of Philosophy • “Philean”= love + “Sophia”= wisdom • Literally “love of wisdom” • What is wisdom? • Knowledge about universe (Pythagoras) • The possession of virtue and power (Sophists) • Awareness of ignorance (Socrates)

3. Definition of Philosophy • Philosophy – Rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions

4. Study of Philosophy • Philosophy searches for knowledge through: • Questions • Search for fundamental and abstract truth

5. Branches of Western Philosophy • Metaphysics – What is truly real? • Epistemology – What is knowledge and truth? • Axiology – What is the distinction between value and fact? • Aesthetics – What is objective or subjective? • Ethics – How is human action judged morally right or wrong?

6. If philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions, then: • What is rational? • What is fundamental?

7. What is Rationality? • Rationality – the way we think and investigate questions • Zhuangzi – 350 BCE. What are the standards by which to settle an argument? Can they be universal?

8. What is fundamental? • Two Perspectives: • Foundationalism • Constructivism

9. Foundationalism • Foundationalism –maintains that there must be objective and universal standards of rationality • Law of noncontradiction – a statement cannot be both true and false

10. Constructivism • Constructivism – the critique of foundationalism • Key Attributes • Rationality is a social construction, therefore, it cannot be achieved without prejudice or bias • Cognitive relativism – denial of universal truth • Ethical relativism – denial of universal moral principles

11. Finding Common Ground between foundationalists and constructivists • Acknowledge ethnocentrism – cultural and ethnic biases • Deny ethnocentric imperialism – the idea that cultures will impose their views on others

12. Finding Common Ground between foundationalists and constructivists • Recognize difference between strong and weak relativism • Strong sense – claims there are no universally valid standards • Weak sense – claims that standards of rationality and morality are culturally diverse

13. Finding Common Ground between foundationalists and constructivists • Hans-Georg Gadamer: “fusion of horizons” • Truth is found through • recognizing that one’s own understanding is a horizon resulting from perspective and biases • being willing to risk that horizon in order to see the other person’s

14. The Value of Philosophy • Bertrand Russell • Enlargement of the Self • Contemplation increases awareness • Mind that studies the universe is great because of the greatness of the universe

15. Who are the Philosophers? • Those honored as wise • Those who make philosophy a profession

16. “Socrates Café” by Christopher Phillips • Philosophical discussion can take place in the general public • Value questions more than answers • Socratic method – the art of learning through asking questions • Challenge to engage in philosophy

17. Reading Philosophy • Read analytically • Read critically