Introduction to Introduction to PhilosophyPhilosophy

Introduction to Introduction to PhilosophyPhilosophy

““Philosophy”… a word which comes Philosophy”… a word which comes from the Greek: from the Greek: philo sophiaphilo sophia

philo means “love”philo means “love”sophia means “wisdom”sophia means “wisdom”

““Philosophy”… a word which comes Philosophy”… a word which comes from the Greek: from the Greek: philo sophiaphilo sophia

philo means “love”philo means “love”sophia means “wisdom”sophia means “wisdom”

The love of wisdom… The love of wisdom… What does that mean?What does that mean?

Well, if you love a person, a Well, if you love a person, a dog, or a book, song, or dog, or a book, song, or

movie… what does loving movie… what does loving mean?mean?

The love of wisdom… The love of wisdom… What does that mean?What does that mean?

Well, if you love a person, a Well, if you love a person, a dog, or a book, song, or dog, or a book, song, or

movie… what does loving movie… what does loving mean?mean?

Pythagoras was the ancient Greek

philosopher and mathematician who

(some say) coined this word. He added that

humans can’t be wise. Only the gods are wise. But we can be lovers of (or friends of) wisdom.

Pythagoras was the ancient Greek

philosopher and mathematician who

(some say) coined this word. He added that

humans can’t be wise. Only the gods are wise. But we can be lovers of (or friends of) wisdom.

loving wisdom has something to loving wisdom has something to do with enjoying it, getting to do with enjoying it, getting to

know it, understanding it a little know it, understanding it a little bit, sharing it with others, bit, sharing it with others,

protecting it, protecting it, and benefitting from it.and benefitting from it.

loving wisdom has something to loving wisdom has something to do with enjoying it, getting to do with enjoying it, getting to

know it, understanding it a little know it, understanding it a little bit, sharing it with others, bit, sharing it with others,

protecting it, protecting it, and benefitting from it.and benefitting from it.

Philosophy can be done, or it can be studied, or both. As with music…

you can study it and you can play it. You should do both, of course.

Philosophy can be done, or it can be studied, or both. As with music…

you can study it and you can play it. You should do both, of course.

Philosophy can be compared to other subjects: science,

religion, poetry and literature, psychology, logic,

religion and cooking.

Philosophy can be compared to other subjects: science,

religion, poetry and literature, psychology, logic,

religion and cooking.

To be good at cooking you must do it… and also study it. They feed on each

other.

Science… you can be a scientist, and you Science… you can be a scientist, and you can study science. Science as we usually can study science. Science as we usually think of it, seeks to learn about nature. think of it, seeks to learn about nature. Doing science is asking questions and Doing science is asking questions and

finding answers to those questions… about finding answers to those questions… about nature.nature.

Science… you can be a scientist, and you Science… you can be a scientist, and you can study science. Science as we usually can study science. Science as we usually think of it, seeks to learn about nature. think of it, seeks to learn about nature. Doing science is asking questions and Doing science is asking questions and

finding answers to those questions… about finding answers to those questions… about nature.nature.

Poetry: you can study it, and Poetry: you can study it, and you can do it. That is, you can you can do it. That is, you can write poetry. What is poetry write poetry. What is poetry about? What do you think?about? What do you think?

Poetry: you can study it, and Poetry: you can study it, and you can do it. That is, you can you can do it. That is, you can write poetry. What is poetry write poetry. What is poetry about? What do you think?about? What do you think?

In doing poetry, you are able to In doing poetry, you are able to express your thoughts and express your thoughts and

feelings about anything feelings about anything whatsoever. Is it necessarily whatsoever. Is it necessarily

wisdom? Is it science? Could wisdom? Is it science? Could it be either of these?it be either of these?

In doing poetry, you are able to In doing poetry, you are able to express your thoughts and express your thoughts and

feelings about anything feelings about anything whatsoever. Is it necessarily whatsoever. Is it necessarily

wisdom? Is it science? Could wisdom? Is it science? Could it be either of these?it be either of these?

Cooking: you can study it, and Cooking: you can study it, and you can do it.you can do it.

Cooking: you can study it, and Cooking: you can study it, and you can do it.you can do it.

So how does philosophy differ from these other

subjects?

So how does philosophy differ from these other

subjects?

Science, religions, Science, religions, music, poems, and cooking music, poems, and cooking each have a fairly well each have a fairly well known subject matter.known subject matter.

But what is the subject But what is the subject matter matter

of philosophy?of philosophy?

We could say that philosophy’s subjectmatter is simply a “deeper understanding” of allof those other subjects… it is trying to understand the foundations of any and all subjects. The “foundations” … what are those?

A foundation … that which A foundation … that which comes first, and supports all comes first, and supports all

the rest.the rest.

A foundation … that which A foundation … that which comes first, and supports all comes first, and supports all

the rest.the rest.

We mean the ideas, the

concepts, the definitions

and assumptions

which are the starting

points and the context

of everything else which is to follow.

Honesty is good

and so is generosity.

Courage and unselfishness

are good.But what do you mean by “good” ?

Is goodness real… can you see it or smell it or weigh it?Is it only a bunch of rules made up by human beingsto control each other, or to bring some kind of

peace and harmonyto their lives?

A movie is good… what does that mean?

A cheese sandwich is good.And so was Mother Theresa.

A clean floor is good and so is football.

So, what does “good” mean?

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

What is “technology?”

Why do we want it?

When is it good for us?

When is it harmful?

Is there a point of diminishing returns?

Can we ever refuse to use some technologies?

The sciences… what do they study?

Nature… the universe, the atoms, animals, plants,and bugs and fish and birds and microbes.

Throw in featherless bipeds (man and woman) and society and politics and economy…

What are the foundations of science?That’s where philosophy comes in.

What is Nature? and how can we go aboutdiscovering things about it? If we lookthrough a telescope or a microscope,

how do we know what it iswe are looking at?

ReligionsReligions……

Define God, the soul, Nirvana, Brahman, Tao,

Tien.

Do any of these actually exist?

Is there an after-life?

What does “salvation” mean in different

religions?