GEC 7 (ETHICS)

Course Intructor: Mr. Dressel L. Cornelio

Chapter 1
The Study of Philosophy
OBJECTIVES:
1. Discuss the meaning of philosophy.
2. Differentiate the different branches of philosophy.
3. Research on some philosophers and their contribution in philosophy.

“Education Without Philosophy Is Blind And Philosophy Without Education Is Invalid”

“Philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, understand and answer fundamental questions”.
“Philosophy aims at a knowledge of the eternal nature of things” - - -Plato
“Philosophy is a search for comprehensive view of nature, an attempt at a universal explanation of the nature of
things”. - - - Alfred Weber
“Philosophy is the “Science of Sciences”. - - - Coleridge

Lesson 1
Meaning of Philosophy
Etymological Meaning of Philosophy
Specific Meaning of Philosophy
Wider Meaning of Philosophy

1. Etymological Meaning of Philosophy

The term philosophy has been derived from two Greek words, “Philos/philein” means love
and “Sophia” means wisdom. Philosophy means love for knowledge or passion for learning.
2. Specific Meaning of Philosophy
One may call philosophy as that deep thinking and meditation which concerns itself to the
GOD, the soul and the nature. Henderson and his colleagues have well said, “Philosophy is a
rigorous disciplined and guarded analysis of some most difficult problems which man has ever
faced.”
3. Wider Meaning of Philosophy
It is a particular view of looking at things. Philosophizing involves thinking, criticism and
the process of solving the philosophical problem through different philosophical methods.

Other Meanings of Philosophy

Philosophy as an Activity
Philosophy as a Way of Life
Philosophy as a Science

1. Philosophy as an Activity
In its real sense, Philosophy is a mental activity which involves the problems of human life, its
nature and purposes.
“Philosophy is the first of all an activity of a certain kind and only secondary a subject matter
consisting of a definite body of literature”. - - - Levision

2. Philosophy as a Way of Life

 “Philosophy means “love of wisdom”, since wisdom is regarded as knowledge for the conduct of life
is valued as a way of life.
“Man live in accordance with their philosophies of life, their conception of the world. This is true
even of the most thoughtless”. - - - Aldous Huxley

3. Philosophy as a Science
In modern times, we are living in the “Age of Science” it might be called the age of inquiry. Both
Philosophy and science enquire with truth.
“Philosophy is the science of sciences. It has been called mother of sciences because the independent
disciplines of today were an integral part of Philosophy at one or his other times of past years”. - - -
John Brubacher

Lesson 2
Branches of Philosophy
o Logic
o Ethics
o Epistemology
o Metaphysics
o Aesthetics
o Social and Political Philosophy

1. Logic – It is the science and art of correct thinking and reasoning.

Is the systematic study of the rules for the correct use of these supporting reasons, rules we
can use to distinguish good from bad arguments.
2. Ethics – It is the study of the nature and morality of human acts, also known as moral philosophy.
It is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality; that is about
concepts like good and bad, right and wrong, justice, virtue, etc.
3. Epistemology – is the theory of knowledge which comes from the Greek word “episteme”, meaning
knowledge. A branch of philosophy that studies the sources, nature and validity of knowledge. It addresses
four main questions:
1. What is knowledge?
2. How is knowledge acquired?
3. What do people know?
4. How do we know what we know?
4. Metaphysics – is the study or theory of reality such as the study of being as beings. It is concerned with
such problems as the relation of mind to matter, the nature of change, the meaning of freedom, the
existence of God and the belief in personal immortality.

Two Kinds of Metaphysics

1. General Metaphysics
2. Special Metaphysics

a. General Metaphysics – Also known as Ontology, it is the science of being in its most general
aspects.
It is the investigation into what types of things are there in the world and what relations
these things bear to one another.
Ontology deals with questions concerning what entities exist or can be said to exist, and
how such entities can be grouped, related within a hierarchy, and subdivided according to
similarities and differences.
b. Special Metaphysics – addressed more specific questions concerning existence.
 1. Cosmology – It is the study of inanimate physical beings. Seeks to understand the
origin, evolution, structure and ultimate fate of the universe at large, as well as the
natural laws that keep it in order.
2. Rational/Philosophical Psychology – it is the study of the life principle, particularly
that of man.
3. Natural Theology – It is the study of the essence and existence of God based mainly
on reason.
5. Aesthetics - A branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, taste and the creation and
appreciation of beauty.
It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes
called judgments of sentiment and taste.

6. Social and Political Philosophy – It is the study of man and his place in society. It is the study of
concepts such as liberty, justice, property, rights, law and the reinforcement of a legal code by authority.
What makes a government legitimate?
What rights and freedom it should protect and why?
What form should it take and why?
What is the law?
What duties citizens owe to a legitimate government, if any and when it may be
legitimately overthrown, if ever?
Three Central Concerns of Political Philosophy
1. Political economy by which property rights are defined and access to capital is
regulated
2. The demands of justice in distribution and punishment
3. The rules of truth and evidence that determine judgments in the law.

Lesson 3
Importance of Philosophy
1. The study of Philosophy enables us to think carefully and clearly about important issues.
2. In studying Philosophy, we learn to take a step back from our everyday thinking and to explore the
deeper, bigger question which underpins our thought.
3. The focus in the study of Philosophy is to learn not what to believe, but how to think.
4. Studying philosophy sharpens your analytical abilities, enabling you to identify and evaluate the
strengths and weaknesses in any position.
5. It hones your ability to construct and articulate cogent arguments of your own.
6. It prompts you to work across disciplinary boundaries and to think flexibly and creatively about
problems which do not present immediate solutions.
7. Because philosophy is an activity as much as a body of knowledge, it also develops your ability to think
and work independently.

Main Points:
Philosophy is a philosophical process of solving some characteristic problems through characteristic
methods, from a characteristic attitude and arriving at characteristic conclusions and results.