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Module 1

Understanding
Philosophy
and Its Branches

Unit I: Essence of Philosophy

What is Philosophy?
- Philosophy comes from the Greek words
philein, which means to love; and
sophia,
which
means
wisdom.
Etymologically speaking, philosophy
therefore necessarily means love of
wisdom. Consequently, philosophers are
lovers of wisdom.

Four Main Points of Philosophy


Philosophy is a science
Science of things
Ultimate principles and causes
Known only by natural reason

Philosophy is a science
- It is a science of sciences, because it is a
systematic body of knowledge which is not
only based on ideas, theories, and
hypothesis but on knowledge that
conforms to reality.

Science of things
- Philosophy is concerned with everything
in the world as far as the human mind can
reach, from the microscopic particles to
the giant mountains. Nothing is exempted,
all things are the concern of philosophy.

Ultimate principles and causes


- In their ultimate cause, it tells us all
about asking and answering not only the
facts and causes but which conforms to
reality.

Known only by natural reason


- Philosophy does not use a piece of
equipment, a laboratory device, etc. The
philosopher uses his natural reason,
particularly, human reasoning.

Types of Philosophy
Speculative Philosophy
Practical Philosophy

Speculative Philosophy
It is a philosophy professing to be
founded upon intuitive or a prior insight
into the nature of the Absolute and Divine.

Practical Philosophy
It is the use of philosophy and
philosophical techniques in everyday life.
This can take a number of forms including
reflective practice, personal philosophical
thinking and philosophical counselling.

Branches of Philosophy

Logic
Ethics
Epistemology
Cosmology

Metaphysics
Aesthetics

Logic
- This is the theory of correct reasoning,
which seeks to investigate and establish
the criteria of valid interference and
demonstration.

Ethics
- Ethics is the study of the morality of
human act. Ethics and morality are often
used
interchangeably
as
ethics
is
sometimes called moral philosophy.

Epistemology
Epistemology is also known as the
theory of knowledge. It is a branch of
philosophy that concerns itself with the
nature of knowledge, its possibility, scope,
and general basis.

Cosmology
- Cosmology is a philosophical search for
the deeper understanding of the material
universe and the ultimate constituent
principles of material beings or it is the
science of the universe.

Metaphysics
Metaphysics studies the nature of
beings. It tries to answer the questions:
What is a being? and What are the
fundamental properties of being?

Aesthetics
- This is also known as the philosophy of
art. This is the philosophical study of art
and of value judgments about art, and of
beauty in general.

Theodicy
- This is a discipline that deals with the
existence, nature, and attributes of God in
the light of the truth arrived at by our
human reason alone.

Unit II: Understanding Some


Philosophers

Christian Philosophers

St. Thomas Aquinas


St. Augustine

Greek Philosophers

Socrates
Plato
Aristotle

Other Philosophers

Confucius
Karl Marx

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