What is Philosophy? Meaning of Philosophy

Summary

In this introductory episode of Filo Notes, the host delves into the essence of philosophy, tracing its etymological roots and defining it as the love of wisdom. The video outlines the major branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics, each with its unique focus on understanding the world, knowledge, reasoning, and moral conduct. The script poses fundamental questions that philosophy addresses, like the origin of the world, the nature of reality, and the justification of God's goodness amidst evil, inviting viewers to explore these profound topics further.

Takeaways

• 📚 Philosophy is defined as the love of wisdom, derived from the Greek words 'philia' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom), and is a pursuit of knowledge and its correct application.
• 🌐 Traditionally, philosophy is viewed as a science that investigates the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles of all beings, both material and immaterial, using human reason alone.
• 🤔 Key philosophical questions include the origin of the world, the reason for existence, the existence of God, the justification of God's goodness amidst evil, and the meaning and purpose of life.
• 🔍 Philosophy uses reason as a tool, involving reflection, questioning, articulation of thoughts, and analysis of phenomena or events in a critical and logical manner.
• 🤷‍♂️ Philosophers do not agree on a single definition of philosophy; for instance, Karl Jaspers sees philosophy as a discipline where questions are more important than answers.
• 📘 Philosophy is divided into four major branches: metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics, each with its own focus and set of questions.
• 🌌 Metaphysics, or 'the study of things beyond the physical,' is further divided into general metaphysics (ontology) and special metaphysics, which includes cosmology, psychology/anthropology, and theodicy.
• 🧠 Ontology, a branch of metaphysics, studies the essence of all things and their first principles, seeking to understand the nature of being and the reasons for existence.
• 🌍 Cosmology, a part of special metaphysics, examines the origin, dynamics, and characteristics of the universe, as well as the laws governing its order.
• 🧐 Psychology, another aspect of special metaphysics, explores the nature of the human soul or mind, including the dynamics of human behavior and the meaning of life.
• 🙏 Theodicy, or natural theology, justifies the goodness of God in the face of evil, questioning the existence and nature of God, and how evil and suffering can coexist with a benevolent deity.
• 📝 Epistemology is the study of knowledge and justified belief, analyzing what knowledge is, how it is acquired, and the criteria that define its limits and justification.
• 🔧 Logic is the science of correct thinking, distinguishing between sound and unsound reasoning, and establishing criteria for valid arguments.
• 👤 Ethics, derived from 'ethos' meaning custom or habit, is the study of morality, focusing on how humans should act, defining right conduct, and seeking the good life.

Q & A

What is the etymological meaning of the word 'philosophy'?

The word 'philosophy' comes from the Greek words 'philia' meaning love, and 'Sophia' meaning wisdom, thus it means the love of wisdom. It refers to the strong desire of a person to possess knowledge and apply it correctly.

What is the traditional definition of philosophy according to the script?

Traditionally, philosophy is defined as a science that studies beings in their ultimate causes, reasons, and principles through the aid of human reason alone.

What are some of the fundamental questions that philosophy attempts to address?

Philosophy attempts to address questions such as the origin of the world, the reason for existence, the existence of God, the justification of God's goodness in the face of evil, and the meaning and purpose of life.

How does philosophy use reason as a tool?

Philosophy uses reason as a tool to reflect, question, articulate thoughts, and analyze phenomena or events in a critical and logical manner.

What are the four major branches of philosophy mentioned in the script?

The four major branches of philosophy mentioned are metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics.

What is the meaning of 'metaphysics' and how is it subdivided?

Metaphysics is the study of things beyond the physical, including concepts that cannot be experienced. It is subdivided into general metaphysics (ontology) and special metaphysics, which includes cosmology, psychology or anthropology, and natural theology or theodicy.

What is the specific focus of ontology within metaphysics?

Ontology, as a part of metaphysics, focuses on the study of beings in their ultimate causes, reasons, and principles through the aid of reason alone. It studies the first principles and the essence of all things.

What are the main areas of study within special metaphysics?

Special metaphysics includes the study of cosmology, which examines the world or universe; psychology or anthropology, which studies the soul or mind; and natural theology or theodicy, which justifies the goodness of God in the face of evil.

What is epistemology and what are some of its key questions?

Epistemology is the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief. Key questions include what knowledge is, how it is acquired, the structures and limits of knowledge, and what makes beliefs justified.

What is the main focus of logic in philosophy?

Logic is the science of correct thinking or the study of principles and criteria of valid argument. It focuses on distinguishing sound reasoning from unsound reasoning and includes questions about what makes an argument good or bad, how to detect fallacies, and the criteria for determining argument validity.

What is ethics in philosophy and what are some of its primary concerns?

Ethics is the branch of philosophy concerned with moral principles, human actions, and the search for right conduct and the good life. It asks questions about what constitutes right conduct, how to determine it, what a good life is, and the difference between human actions and those based on instinct.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Philosophy

This paragraph introduces the concept of philosophy, highlighting its etymological roots in the Greek words 'philia' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom), thus signifying a deep desire for knowledge. It discusses the traditional definition of philosophy as a science that studies beings and their ultimate causes using human reason. The paragraph also poses fundamental philosophical questions about the origin of the world, existence, God, and the meaning of life. It emphasizes philosophy's role in critical and logical thinking and acknowledges the diversity of views among philosophers, referencing Karl Jaspers' view on the importance of questions over answers in philosophy.

05:04

🌐 Branches of Philosophy: Metaphysics

The second paragraph delves into the first major branch of philosophy, metaphysics, which is derived from Greek and signifies the study of things beyond the physical. It is further divided into general metaphysics (ontology) and special metaphysics, including cosmology, psychology or anthropology, and natural theology or theodicy. Ontology focuses on the ultimate causes and principles of all beings, while cosmology examines the universe's origin and laws. Psychology explores the nature of the human soul or mind, and theodicy addresses the justification of God's goodness amidst evil. The paragraph provides an overview of the key questions each subcategory seeks to answer.

10:07

🧠 Branches of Philosophy: Epistemology

This paragraph discusses the second branch of philosophy, epistemology, which is concerned with the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief. Epistemology seeks to understand what constitutes knowledge, how it is acquired, and the criteria for justified beliefs. It raises questions about the nature of truth, the limits of knowledge, and the process of belief justification, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between sound and flawed reasoning.

15:08

🔍 Branches of Philosophy: Logic

The third branch, logic, is explored in this paragraph. Logic is defined as the science of correct thinking and the principles of valid argumentation. It aims to differentiate between sound and unsound reasoning and to identify fallacies. The paragraph outlines the fundamental questions of logic, such as the criteria for a good argument, detecting fallacies, and understanding the types of logic, highlighting the importance of logical analysis in reasoning.

🤔 Branches of Philosophy: Ethics

The final paragraph of the script addresses ethics, the branch of philosophy that deals with morality and human conduct. Ethics is concerned with defining right action, the good life, and the criteria for moral judgments. It distinguishes between ethics as a theoretical framework and morality as a practice, and poses questions about the nature of right conduct, the good life, and the basis for moral decisions. The paragraph concludes with an invitation to continue exploring philosophy through the series of daily whiteboard discussions.

Keywords

💡Philosophy

Philosophy is defined in the script as a science that studies beings in their ultimate causes, reasons, and principles through the aid of human reason alone. It is the overarching theme of the video, encompassing the quest for knowledge and understanding of existence. The script discusses philosophy's etymological roots in Greek, meaning 'love of wisdom,' and its branches, illustrating its broad scope and deep inquiry into fundamental questions of existence.

💡Etymology

Etymology refers to the origin of a word and how its meaning has evolved over time. In the context of the video, etymology is used to explain the roots of the word 'philosophy,' derived from the Greek words 'philia' (love) and 'Sophia' (wisdom), highlighting the concept of a strong desire for knowledge.

💡Metaphysics

Metaphysics is one of the four major branches of philosophy discussed in the script. It deals with the study of things beyond the physical, such as the concepts of God, freedom, and soul. The script explains that metaphysics is further divided into general metaphysics (ontology) and special metaphysics, which includes cosmology, psychology, and theodicy.

💡Epistemology

Epistemology is the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief. The script describes it as analyzing how knowledge is acquired and its limits, which is central to understanding how we come to understand the world and what we can know.

💡Logic

Logic, as mentioned in the script, is the science of correct thinking or the study of principles and criteria of valid argument. It is concerned with distinguishing sound reasoning from fallacious arguments, which is essential for critical thinking and the application of philosophy.

💡Ethics

Ethics is defined in the script as the branch of philosophy that deals with morality and the principles of human conduct. It explores questions about right action, the good life, and the distinction between human actions and instinctual behaviors, which are vital for understanding moral responsibility and societal norms.

💡Ontology

Ontology, a subcategory of metaphysics, is the study of the nature of being or existence. The script uses ontology to discuss the fundamental questions about the essence of all things and the reasons why things exist, rather than not exist at all.

💡Cosmology

Cosmology, part of special metaphysics, is the study of the universe, including its origin, structure, and the laws that govern it. The script mentions cosmology in the context of understanding the world and the fundamental principles that order it.

💡Psychology

In the script, psychology is a subcategory of special metaphysics that studies the soul or mind, focusing on the nature and dynamics of the human person. It raises questions about human nature, the purpose of life, and behaviors, which are crucial for understanding individual and collective human experiences.

💡Theodicy

Theodicy, also part of special metaphysics, is the study concerned with justifying the goodness of God in the face of evil and suffering. The script introduces theodicy to explore the existence of God, the problem of evil, and the justification for God's necessity, which are central to many philosophical and theological debates.

💡Socrates

Socrates is mentioned in the script as an example of a sage or wise man from the ancient world, known for his philosophical inquiries and the Socratic method. His inclusion illustrates the historical and cultural significance of philosophy and its pursuit of wisdom.

Highlights

Introduction to the etymological definition of philosophy as 'the love of wisdom' from Greek words 'philia' and 'Sophia'.

Philosophy's definition as a science studying beings in their ultimate causes, reasons, and principles through human reason alone.

Discussion of the basic questions in philosophy, such as the origin of the world and the existence of God.

Philosophy's role in addressing moral dilemmas like euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The use of reason as a tool in philosophy for critical and logical understanding.

Diversity of opinions among philosophers on the definition of philosophy.

Introduction to the four major branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and ethics.

Metaphysics defined as the study of things beyond the physical, including concepts like God, freedom, and soul.

Ontology as the branch of metaphysics studying the essence and first principles of all things.

Special metaphysics subdivided into cosmology, psychology/anthropology, and natural theology/theodicy.

Cosmology's focus on the origin, dynamics, and characteristics of the universe.

Psychology's exploration of the nature and dynamics of the human mind and behavior.

Theodicy's concern with justifying the goodness of God amidst the existence of evil.

Epistemology's role in analyzing the nature and scope of knowledge and justified belief.

Logic as the science of correct thinking and the criteria of valid argument.

Ethics' focus on morality, defining right conduct, and the search for a good life.

Ethics' distinction from morality in terms of theory versus practice.

Invitation to subscribe for more daily whiteboard additions on philosophy.

Transcripts

hello everyone welcome to filo notes

this is our daily whiteboard where we

will be discussing relevant topics in

philosophy every single day and for our

very first edition I will present the

definition of philosophy and briefly

discuss its major branches but

specifically I will address the question

what is philosophy now I would like to

start off with its etymological

definition so philosophy particularly

Western philosophy comes from the two

Greek words

philia which means love and Sophia which

means wisdom

thus etymological is speaking philosophy

means the love of wisdom as is well

known love in this context is understood

as a strong desire for a particular

objects while wisdom is understood as a

correct application of knowledge thus

philosophy as the love of wisdom at

least in this context could refer to the

strong desire of the human person to

possess knowledge and apply it correctly

so it's not a coincidence therefore that

most philosophers in the ancient world

particularly in Greece India and China

were sages or wise men

think for example of Socrates Gautama

Buddha Confucius and loud -

traditionally however philosophy is

defined as a science that studies beings

in their ultimate causes reasons in the

principles through the aid of human

reason alone and when we speak of being

or beings in philosophy in this context

we mean all things that exist material

or immaterial an example of beings are

stones trees persons cars air water and

the notions of God soul and or spirits

all of these are beings and philosophy

studies their ultimate causes reason and

principles through the aid of human

reason alone in other words philosophy

is concerned with a reason and

principles that account for everything

that exists the some of the basic

questions in philosophy are what is the

origin of the world of everything that

exists why do this things exist rather

than not to exist at all and is there

God

if so how can we justify the goodness of

God in the face of evil and what is the

meaning and purpose of life why do we

have to suffer and if one is suffering

from an unbearable pain such as cancer

is it morally right to resort to

euthanasia or assisted suicide these are

just some of the questions that

philosophy attempted to address and in

doing so philosophy uses reason as a

tool which can be expressed in many

forms such as the ability to reflect

question articulate one's thoughts and

analyze certain phenomenon or events in

short philosophy attempts to understand

things in a critical and logical manner

it is important to note however that

philosophers do not agree in a single

definition of philosophy in fact

philosophers differ in their basic

understanding of philosophy for example

Karlee Esper's a famous german existence

of philosopher understands philosophy as

a discipline in which questions are more

important than answers because answers

themselves will in turn becomes

questions

after addressing the question what is

philosophy I will now proceed and

discuss its major branches so basically

philosophy is divided into four major

branches namely metaphysics epistemology

logic and ethics metaphysics comes from

the two Greek words meta which means

beyond or after and physica which means

physical or in nature hence etymological

is speaking metaphysics means the study

of things beyond the physical

that is concepts or things that cannot

be experienced such as the concepts of

God freedom and soul metaphysics is

commonly understood as the foundation of

philosophy in fact hours total calls it

the first philosophy originally the

Greek word metaphysical which literally

means after physics actually designated

that part of our totals works which came

after those chapters that dealt with

physics

however it was misappropriated later by

the medieval commentators on a classical

texts as that which is beyond the

physical this overtime metaphysics has

been understood as the study of that

which exists beyond the physical

now metaphysics is further subdivided

into two namely general metaphysics and

special metaphysics general metaphysics

is also referred to as ontology and

under special metaphysics we have

cosmology psychology or anthropology and

natural theology or a theodicy as

mentioned earlier general metaphysics is

also known as ontology ontology is

derived from the two greek words

Anto which means being or that which is

that is everything that exists and logos

which means knowledge or study

note however that the term logos in

ancient Greek scholarship have different

connotations for example Heraclitus a

Greek philosopher of the late 16th

century BCE

understands logos as reason or the

underlying principle of all that is but

going back however ontology therefore is

the specific branch of philosophy that

studies beings in their ultimate causes

reasons and principles through the aid

of reason alone in other words ontology

studies the first principles are the

essence of all things so some of the

basic questions in ontology

are what is being and why do thinks

exist rather than not to exist at all

and what is the meaning and nature of

reality also what is the underlying

principle of all that exists and is

there nothing although these

philosophical questions are mentioned in

this edition please note that our

concern here is just to describe very

schematically the four major branches of

philosophy and if you want to know more

about the nature and dynamics of

ontology per se you may check out this

resource

[Music]

on the other hand we have special

metaphysics which includes cosmology

psychology or anthropology and natural

theology or Theo de si and I will also

briefly discuss each of these

subcategories cosmology from the ancient

Greek words

cosmos which means the world and logos

which means study is the specific sub

branch of philosophy that studies the

world or the universe including its

origin dynamics and characteristics as

well as the laws that govern its order

and some of the basic questions in

cosmology are what is the origin of the

world what is the basic material of

which the world is formed how do things

arise and in what consists its

fundamental form or principle of order

and is the world or universe infinite

next we have psychology psychology comes

from the two Greek words psyche which

means soul but this is loosely

understood his mind and longus meaning

study the psychology is the specific sub

branch of philosophy that studies the

soul or mind broadly construed though

psychology is the study of the nature

and the dynamics of the Union person as

a whole with emphasis on the way the

person's mind functions and the way she

behaves some of the questions in

psychology are what is the nature of the

human person is there such thing as

human nature and what is the meaning and

purpose of any of life

and it's their life after death

now how do we account for the existence

of sufferings in the world lastly we

have theodicy or natural theology Theo

de si is derived from the Greek word

theose which means God the word theodicy

was coined by the famous 18th century

German philosopher named gut freed fell

home live nets in his 1970 work titled

geodesy broadly construed theodicy is

the study of God but specifically the

Odyssey is concerned with a

justification of the goodness of God in

the face of the existence of evil in the

world some of the basic questions in

theology are is there God what and who

is God if he exists at all how do we

prove the existence of God

and if God exists how do we justify the

existence of evil and suffering in the

world and disability fin God's really

necessary but then again these are just

brief descriptions of those

subcategories of the special metaphysics

and for a detailed discussion on the

special metaphysics you may refer to

this material all right I think I

already have briefly described the first

branch of philosophy called metaphysics

now let's move on to the second branch

of philosophy that is epistemology

epistemology comes from the two Greek

words epistle

which means knowledge and logos which

means study as it is formally defined as

the study of the nature and scope of

knowledge and justified belief

specifically it analyzes the nature of

knowledge and how it relates to similar

notions such as truth belief in

justification here are some of the basic

questions in epistemology what is

knowledge what do we know

how is knowledge acquired what are the

structures and limits of knowledge and

what makes justified beliefs justified

for an in-depth discussion of

epistemology you can also check out this

resource the third major branch of

philosophy is logic logic comes from the

Greek word logos which as I already

mentioned has different meanings however

I would stick to the definition that

logic is the science of correct thinking

or the study of the principles in

criteria of valid argument

more specifically logic attempts to

distinguish sound or good reasoning from

unsound and bad reasoning the basic

questions in logic includes the

following what distinguishes a good

argument from a bad one how can we

detect a fallacy in an argument what are

the criteria in determining the validity

of an argument and what are the types of

logic

[Music]

now lastly in the fourth major branch of

philosophy that is ethics ethics is

derived from the Greek word ethos which

means custom or habit broadly construed

ethics is the morality of human actions

ethics therefore is concerned with

questions of how human persons ought to

act and the search for a definition of a

right conduct and the good life it is

important to note that ethics is not the

same with morality this is because

ethics denotes the theory of right

action and the greater good

while morality indicates practice that

is the rightness or wrongness of a human

action and here are some of the common

questions and ethics what is the right

conduct as that which causes the

realization of the greatest good how do

we determine a right conduct in other

words what makes a right conduct right

and what is a good life and can we

attain it what is the difference between

human act and actions that are based on

instinct and what do people think is

right

all right that's it for today keep

looking forward to our series of daily

whiteboard additions as we try to make

the learning and understanding of

philosophy incredibly easy thanks for

joining us today in this edition of our

daily whiteboard here at filo notes I

hope you find this material helpful and

if you do don't forget to subscribe

thanks take care