Philosophy is all about reasoning

Philosophy deals with questions that cannot be answered.

What is not scientific is not worth studying. (WRONG)
A wise person is one who knows everything.(WRONG)

Week 1 - Nature and Function of Philosophy

Philosophy
● are ideas, views, principles, perspectives or beliefs.
● Activity of reasoning.
● An academic course or degree.
● Love of wisdom.

Greece - birthplace of Philosophy

Thales of Miletus
● Father of Philosophy
● 624 and 546 BCE
● “His desire to know the ultimate stuff that makes up the different things we perceived.”

1. First, a wise person is someone who is aware of what he/she/they knows and what
he/she/they does not know.
2. Second, a wise person holds the beliefs that are not only true but w/c he/she/they
can also justify.
3. Third, a wise person knows a lot about things that are valuable in life.
4. Fourth, a wise person can put his/her/their knowledge to practical use.
5. Fifth, a wise person does not only know what is true, but also knows what is good
or what ought to be done in a given situation and he/she/they acts accordingly.

3 Characterized Philosophical Activities:

● First in terms of scope, philosophy involves the widest generalizations.
● Second, philosophy is all about fundamentals.
● Third, philosophy is driven by the desire to integrate things in to a one coherent whole.

3 Central Philosophical Questions

Who am I?
How do I know it?
What should I do?
Branches of philosophy

1. Cognitive Branches

Metaphysics (from the Greek meta meaning after/beyond, and physics meaning nature) - deals
with questions regarding reality and existence. (Ex. Do God really exist?)

Epistemology (from the Greek episteme meaning knowledge) – branch of Philosophy that
studies nature and means of human knowledge . (Ex. How do we know what we know?)

2. Normative branches

Ethics – a branch of philosophy that provides a human being with a “code of values to guide
man’s choices and actions.”

Politics – branch of philosophy which defines the principles of a proper social system.

Aesthetics – studies the nature of art. It is concerned with the nature and the objective
judgement of beauty.

Socratic Method

Philosophical tools and processes.

● Philosophy uses reason to arrive at a certain knowledge or truth
● Greek philosophers gave us a hint on how to use our intellect to understand realities
around us the tools that they frequently utilized.

Philosophical Questions
● Philosophy was born because of ignorance
● If one is ignorant, he asks questions, and if he keeps on questioning the more
knowledge he acquires.
● Once a person stop questioning, he ceases to become a philosopher.
● A philosopher is like a child who has an inquisitive mind who never stops asking
question and finding answers

3 Types of questions (simple, serious, deep questions)

● Simple questions - Influence by curiosity and sense of wonder
ex: what is that?
how does it works?
why do birds fly?
 ● Serious Questions- Influence by our experience and circumstances
ex: why do I have to study?
how to deal with trials in life?

● Deep Questions- Influence to search for meaningful answers

ex: what is the meaning of life?
do we create reality, or does reality create us?

Socratic Method
The Socratic Method is a teaching and discussion technique that involves asking a series of
thought-provoking and entering questions that encourage critical thinking, promote idea
development, and reveal underlying assumptions. This method is named after the ancient
Greek philosopher Socrates, who thought that knowledge and understanding are best gained
through asking and dialogue rather than being given information.

The socratic method is a great approach to learning because

It encourages critical thinking and helps you understand why things are the way they are.
It encourages you to listen to others and express your own thoughts .
It makes learning feel more like a conversation than a lecture.

Socratic dialogue
In the Socratic method, dialogue is a cooperative, respectful exchange of ideas where
participants ask questions to explore beliefs and uncover deeper insights. The focus is on
mutual understanding rather than "winning" an argument, as each person builds on others’
thoughts to reach greater clarity

In a Socratic dialogue:
● Questions build on each other: each question or response is designed to build on
previous answers, gradually guiding participants to explore deeper Implications.
● Mutual respect is crucial: participants listen actively, respond thoughtfully, and remain
open to changing their views. This respectful environment fosters open, honest
exploration.
● The goal is clarity, not victory: instead of aiming to "prove" a point, participants seek
clarity and insight by examining all sides of the issue

Socratic questioning
● Socrates used a series of probing questions to stimulate critical thinking and uncover
assumptions.
● This process encourages deeper reflection and helps identify inconsistencies in one's
beliefs or reasoning.

key aspects of socratic questioning

Clarification- socrates would often start by clarification of a statement or idea.
Challenging assumptions- socrates would probe underlying assumptions in the person's
reasoning.
Exploring implication- socrates would ask questions that explore the implications of an idea or
argument.
Seeking consistency- through questions, socrates would identify contradictions in someone's
thinking
Encouraging self-reflection- socratic questioning isn't just about challenging others but also
prompting the person to reflect in their own thinking

LOGICAL REASONING
Logical reasoning is the process of thinking carefully to reach a conclusion based on facts or
ideas. It connects statements, called premises, to form an argument that leads to a conclusion.
These arguments follow rules to ensure they make sense and are convincing. The study of this
process is called logic.

Logical reasoning is essential because it provides a structured way to analyze and evaluate
ideas, ensuring conclusions are valid and consistent. In philosophy, it helps build strong
arguments by linking premises to logical conclusions, avoiding contradictions. It is crucial for
solving problems by breaking them into manageable parts and making decisions based on
evidence and sound judgment, reducing errors and biases. This methodical thinking is the
foundation of rational discussion and inquiry.

Logical reasoning works by using a set of rules to connect facts (premises) in a way that leads
to a valid conclusion

Logical reasoning works by following a structured process:

1. Start with Premises: These are facts, observations, or assumptions accepted as true. For
example, "All humans are mortal" and "Socrates is human."
2. Apply Rules of Logic: Logical rules connect the premises to form a valid argument.
3. Draw a Conclusion: Based on the premises, a conclusion is reached. In this case, "Socrates
is mortal."

6 PRINCIPLES OF LOGICAL REASONING

1. Holistic Reasoning
Holistic reasoning is an approach to thinking and problem-solving that considers the entirety of a
situation, including its interconnected parts and the broader context in which it exists.

Instead of breaking issues down into isolated components, holistic reasoning seeks to
understand the relationships and patterns among the parts to form a comprehensive view.
Examples of Holistic Reasoning:
In Healthcare: A holistic approach to medicine considers not just physical symptoms but also
emotional, mental, and lifestyle factors in treating a patient.

In Problem-Solving: Addressing climate change by examining ecological, economic, social, and

political systems as interconnected parts of the problem.

In Education: Teaching students by integrating subjects (e.g., combining history, literature, and
art) to provide a richer understanding of a time period or culture.

2. Dialectic Reasoning
Dialectics, or dialectic, refers to a form of logical argumentation involving the progression of two
opposing views, Dialectic reasoning is a method of examining and resolving contradictions
through a structured process of dialogue, debate, and synthesis.

Key Elements of the Dialectic Method:

1. Thesis: An initial idea or proposition.
2. Antithesis: A counterargument or opposing idea that challenges the thesis.
3. Synthesis: A resolution that reconciles the thesis and antithesis, forming a new
understanding or idea that incorporates elements of both.

Dialectic is the name Plato gives to his method, to the highest form of thought. In dialectic one
examines one's assumptions, one's basic concepts, and one arrives at better assumptions and
concepts.

3. Romantic Reasoning
Romantic reasoning is a type of thinking often associated with intuition, emotion, and subjective
experiences. It values creativity, imagination, and personal insight over strict logical analysis.
This form of reasoning emphasizes the importance of individuality, emotion, and the aesthetic or
ideal aspects of life. Romantic reasoning is commonly seen in literature, art, and philosophy,
where emotional depth and personal connection play central roles.

Example of Romantic Reasoning

Example: "I painted the sky purple because it felt more magical to me, even though it wasn’t
realistic."

Example: "I quit my job to travel the world because life should be about adventure and passion,
not just working."

Example: "I know it doesn’t make sense to everyone, but I’m moving to another city to be with
the person I love."

4. Inductive Reasoning
Inductive reasoning is a logical process that involves drawing general conclusions from specific
observations or examples. It moves from particular instances to broader generalizations.

For example:
- Observation: "Every swan I have seen is white."
- Conclusion: "All swans are white."

Example of Inductive Reasoning

A student observes patterns in the weather:
- Observation 1: It rained on Monday when the sky was cloudy.
- Observation 2: It rained on Tuesday when the sky was cloudy.
- Observation 3: It rained on Wednesday when the sky was cloudy.
- Conclusion: If the sky is cloudy, it will probably rain.

Example:
Observation: All the cats I’ve seen like to chase mice.
Conclusion: All cats like to chase mice.

Example:
Observation: Every time I study for a test, I get a high grade.
Conclusion: If I study for the next test, I’ll get a high grade.

While inductive reasoning can lead to useful conclusions, it is not always certain because it
relies on patterns and probabilities rather than definitive proof.

Summary of Differences
- Romantic reasoning is more emotional and subjective, focusing on creativity and intuition.
- Inductive reasoning is analytical, drawing conclusions from specific observations to form
general ideas.

5. Deductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning is when you start with a general rule or principle and apply it to a specific
case to draw a conclusion.

Key Features
- Starts with a general rule or theory.
- Applies that rule to a specific situation.
- If the rule is true, the conclusion must be true.

Examples
Example 1:
General Rule: All birds have feathers.
Specific Case: A sparrow is a bird.
Conclusion: Therefore, a sparrow has feathers.

Example 2:
General Rule: All squares are rectangles.
Specific Case: This shape is a square.
Conclusion: Therefore, this shape is also a rectangle.

Example 3:
General Rule: Objects with density greater than water sink.
Specific Case: A steel ball has greater density than water.
Conclusion: Therefore, the steel ball will sink.

Example 4:
General Rule: Students who study daily perform well in exams.
Specific Case: Maria studies daily.
Conclusion: Therefore, Maria will perform well in her exams.

Conclusion
Deductive reasoning is useful because it helps us apply universal rules to specific cases,
ensuring our conclusions are logically sound and certain. It's important when we need to make
clear, reliable decisions based on established facts or laws.

6. Analytical Reasoning
Analytical reasoning involves breaking down a complex problem or idea into smaller,
manageable parts to understand and solve it.

Key Features
- Focuses on breaking down information.
- Analyzes each part separately.
- Aims to understand the details before making a decision.

Examples

Example 1:
Problem: The internet is not working.
Step-by-step analysis:
Check if the Wi-Fi router is powered on.
Test the connection with another device.
Restart the router to see if it resolves the issue.
Contact the service provider to check for outages.

Example 2:
Problem: A car isn’t starting.
Step-by-step analysis:
Check if there’s fuel in the tank.
Inspect the battery for power.
Examine the spark plugs for damage.
Ensure the ignition switch is functioning properly.

Example 3:
Problem: A computer won’t boot up.
Step-by-step analysis:
Check if the power cord is securely connected.
Test the monitor to ensure it’s working.
Verify that the RAM or hard drive is properly installed.
Look for error codes or lights indicating hardware issues.

Example 4:
Problem: Plants in the garden are wilting.
Step-by-step analysis:
Check if they’re receiving enough water.
Examine the soil for pests or diseases.
Assess if they’re getting the proper amount of sunlight.
Test if the soil nutrients are sufficient for plant health.

Conclusion
Analytical reasoning is essential because it helps us break down complex situations into
simpler, more manageable parts. By understanding each detail, we can make better decisions
and solve problems more effectively. It’s important because it encourages logical, organized
thinking to handle challenges systematically.