Unit I

Defining
philosophy

Prereading

What does the

first image
evoke on you?
1) Before you read, discuss this questions with
your partner.
a) What is the title of the unit?
b) What does the title tell you about?
c) What can you see in this images?
d) What do you think is the relationship between the images and
the title?
e) Do you consider that the images are related with philosophy?
Why?
2)
Choose where we can find this type of
f)information.
What specific information do you expect to find in the text?

a) Magazines b) newspapers
encyclopedias

c) internet d) dictionaries e)

Reading
What is Philosophy?
Philosophy is an activity people assume when they seek to understand fundamental truths
about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and to
each other. Those who study philosophy are perpetually engaged in asking, answering,
and arguing for their answers to lifes most basic questions.
The very meaning of the word philosophy (derived from the Greek compound philo +
sophia) points at once to a special attitude of a philosopher and her/his objective.
According to this etymology, "philosophy" is "love of wisdom", which means that it
combines both cognitive and emotional dimension of our mind. "Love" is named first and it
is not knowledge - it is a passion and a struggling to conquer the object of love. But
struggling to learn precedes knowledge. We need the passion of love to start and keep
questioning the things that are either too familiar or too uninvolved from everyday
concerns. The continuation of this struggle points to the essence of wisdom; its posture is
a passionate search for wisdom, not the possession of it. Nothing great has ever been
accomplished without passion. In western tradition it is not possible to attain wisdom as a
final equilibrium. Consequently, philosophy is a state of mind rather than a particular kind
of knowledge.

3) Read the following statements and write which are true

(T) or False (F). If they are false explain why.
a. People that study philosophy are not interested in asking, Answering, and
asguing for their answers to lifes most basic questions. ( )
b. The word "philosophy" comes from the Ancient Greek (philosophia),
which literally means "love of wisdom". ( )
c. Philosophy is a particular kind of knowledge. ( )

4) Read the text again and look for words that have similar
meaning in Spanish.
Cognates
are
English
Spanish
words
in
two
languages
that
are
spelled
exactly or almost
exactly the same
way and have
the
same
meaning.

5) What is the text about? Write the main idea.

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6) Write your own definition of philosophy

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Postreading
7) How is philosophy defined nowadays?
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8) Do you think philosophy is important in people 'lives? Why?

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9) How can a philosopher motivates others to engaged in asking,

answering, and arguing for their answers to lifes most basic
questions?
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