What is Philosophy?

Thus, wisdom consists in:

Two Greeks words
a) knowing what one knows and does not know
‘philo’ - love
b) having justified true beliefs
‘sophia’ - wisdom
c) knowing things that are valuable in life
Philosophia – love of wisdom, coined by d) having the ability to put knowledge into
Pythagoras (one of the sages of ancient Greece, practice
born about the year 584 B.C.) e) knowing what should be done and acting
accordingly.
Philosopher - lover of wisdom
Question: What is the advantage of one who
Philosophy is the search for wisdom is search for
knows that he/she does not know over another who
meaning.
does not know that he/she does not know?
Wisdom means learning the principle of things, the
 Philosophy is the science of beings
first cause of all things, and the meaning and
(things) in their ultimate reason, causes,
purpose of understanding such things.
and principles acquired by the aid of human
Wisdom deals with an understanding of the reason alone.
meaning of one’s existence and the importance of  Philosophy is a search for meaning.
the things around the human person. Philosophy is engaged in the search of the
meaning of life.
 Philosophy is an important part of the
Who is the wise person?
human person’s life whether he knows it or
 a wise person is one who is aware of what he
not because a human person is, by nature,
knows and what he does not know
a rational being, as such his nature is to
 a wise person holds beliefs that are not only
search for the source of his own fulfillment
true but which can also justify.
and happiness.
 a wise person knows a lot about things that are
valuable in life.
 a wise person can put his knowledge to Importance of Philosophy
practical use.
Why should we philosophize or study philosophy?
 a wise person does not only know what is true
What good will philosophizing do considering that
but also knows what is good or what ought to
we are in a world where life is hard and largely
be done in a given situation and acts
dictated by scientific and technological advances?
accordingly.
What is the point of doing philosophy?
 Philosophy supplements scientific
explanations to come up with holistic
explanations.
  Contributes to the development of some B. Philosophy of Reality
disciplines This is that part of philosophy that deals
 Provides ethical guidelines for the use of with the reality of the world., of the existence of
modern technology God, the metaphysical beings, and the immortality
 Contributes to social transformation of the human soul. This includes Metaphysics,
 Expands the boundaries of knowledge Theodicy, Cosmology, Philosophy of
Psychology, Social Philosophy, and Political
Philosophy concerns itself with the acquisition of
Philosophy.
truth. Because it focuses on truth, Philosophy,
therefore, involves critical thinking. Philosophy 1. Metaphysics
deals basically with the systematic search for the This branch of philosophy is considered the
origin and nature of the world, the explanation of most abstract and, in some view, the most
one’s knowledge and belief, and the explanation ‘highfalutin’ part of philosophy. Metaphysics is the
regarding the manner of life. branch of philosophy that deals with the origin of
things. This is the branch of philosophy that deals
with the study of the nature of beings as it tries to
Branches of Philosophy
answer questions like “what is being?” and “what
A. Philosophy of Thought are the fundamental properties of being?”
It is that part of philosophy that deals with
answering the problems related to knowledge and 2. Theodicy

reasoning. This includes Epistemology and Logic. This is also known as Natural Theology or
the Philosophy of Religion. This is the branch of
1. Epistemology philosophy that deals with the problem of God’s
Comes from two Greek words: episteme existence.
which means knowledge and logos which means
study. Epistemology is a philosophical theory that 3. Cosmology

deals with the origin of human knowledge; hence, it The term cosmology comes from the two

is also known as the Theory of Knowledge. Greek words kosmos which means universe and
logos which means study. Cosmology is the study
Also became known as Criteriology. Its of the universe from a philosophical viewpoint.
main concern is the nature of knowledge, its
possibility, scope, and general basis. 4. Philosophy of Psychology
Psychology comes from the two Greek
2. Logic words psuche/psyche meaning soul, and logos
This is the branch of philosophy that deals meaning study. It is the study of the soul.
with the problem of reasoning. It is basically the Philosophy of Psychology, which is also known as
science and art of distinguishing correct from Rational Psychology, is the study that deals with
incorrect. man not only as a sensing and thinking subject but
also as a being composed of body and soul. It
treats the whole being of man as man.
5. Social Philosophy 3. Philosophy of Person
This branch of philosophy deals with the It deals with the philosophical inquiry into
philosophical study of a society and its institutions. the human being as a person and as an existing
It is concerned with determining the features of the being in the world. It deals with the study of the
ideal or best society as it deals with the study of dignity of man, truth, freedom, justice, love, death,
relationships of the human person with others, with and his relationship with other human beings and
the environment, and with society. with God.

6. Political Philosophy
The Philosophies of Discipline
The word politics comes from the Greek
word polis which means city or community. Political 1. Philosophy of Science - This is the branch of
philosophy deals with society. Political philosophy philosophy that deals with the justification and
focuses on one social institution, the state, and objectivity of scientific knowledge.
seeks to determine its justification and proper
 Epistemology of science, which uses the
organization.
justification and objectivity of scientific
knowledge.
 Metaphysics of science, which discusses the
C. Philosophy of Morality
philosophically puzzling aspects of reality
Philosophy of Morality is that part of
uncovered by science.
philosophy that deals with man’s question
regarding the problems of morals and good deeds. 2. Philosophy of Mathematics - The philosophy of
mathematics aims to provide an account of the
1. Ethics
nature and methodology of mathematics and the
Greek word ethos which means customs,
place of mathematics in the overall intellectual life.
usage, or character. It is the philosophical study of
moral judgments. It tries to study human acts and 3. Philosophy of Education - This is the branch of
searches for the means to obtain wisdom regarding philosophy that provides a philosophical
how life should be lived. It is also known as moral understanding of the issues in education. It deals
philosophy as it tries to seek means on how to with the different methods of education and its
determine whether an action is good or evil. effects on the learning of the human person.

2. Aesthetics 4. Philosophy of Law - This branch of Philosophy

The term aesthetics comes from the Greek deals with the whys of law. If ethics is an inquiry
word aesthesis which means harmony. This is the about standards of right judgment in deliberation
branch of philosophy that provides meaning to art towards choice and action, the philosophy of law
and beauty; hence, it is also known as the investigates the relation of those standards to the
philosophy of art. directives laid down by usage or authoritative
decision.
5. Philosophy of Biology - This is the branch of The Contemporary Philosophical Traditions
philosophy that provides explanations for some 1. Analytic Philosophy - This is the belief that
biological traits, not only of the human person but of the proper method of philosophy is analysis.
other organisms in question.
2. Existentialism - The focus of existentialism, or
continental philosophy, lies on the problem that
The Philosophies of Subjects
arises from our living in a world that in many
1. Philosophy of Mind - This branch of philosophy
ways is unreasonable and absurd.
is concerned with issues like characterizing the
mental, the mind-body problem (the account for the 3. Phenomenology- This is the philosophical
status of the mind in the world that is essentially tradition that defaces assumptions and
physical), the mental causation, intentionality, presuppositions and upholds phenomena as
consciousness, and the nature of personhood. they are apprehended.

2. Philosophy of History - this branch of

philosophy that attempts to answer substantive
questions dealing with such matters as the
significance or possible purpose of the historical
processes and the factors that are fundamentally
responsible for historical development and change.

3. Philosophy of Sport - this philosophy attempts

to answer questions like: “How close is the
aesthetic interest we take in the sport to our interest
in the arts?” This branch of philosophy related
sports with aesthetics while it also tries to explain
the philosophy behind winning in relation to its
aesthetic quality.

4. Philosophy of Culture - this is the philosophical

study of all the aspects of human life, that is, the
historical, anthropological, and sociological
dimensions of social life. It aims to interpret and
transmit to future generations the system of values
in terms of which participants, in a form of life, find
meaning and purpose.

5. Philosophy of Love - this is the branch of

philosophy that deals with affection or attachment.