Philosophy

Branches of
philosophy
1.Metaphysics – the study of nature of
reality, including the relationship between
mind and matter, substance and attribute,
and potentiality and actuality.
2. Epistemology- the study of knowledge
and belief , including the nature , origin ,
and scope of knowledge and the
justification of belief.
3. Ethics – the study of moral values and
principles , including questions of right
4. Logic- the study of reasoning , including the
rules of valid , inference, argument , and proof.
5. Aesthetics – the study of beauty, art , and
taste , including the creation and appreciation
of beauty.
6. Political philosophy- the study of
government , political institutions , and the
rights and obligation of citizens .
7. Philosophy of mind- the study of nature
of the mind , mental events , consciousness ,
and their relationships to physical body.
8. Philosophy of language – the study of
nature , origins , and use of language.
9. Philosophy of science- the study of
assumptions , foundations and implications
of science , including the nature and validity
of scientific knowledge.
10. Philosophy of religion – the study of
religious beliefs , practices , and the nature
ORIGINS OF PHILOSOPHY
The origins of philosophy are deeply rooted
in ancient civilizations , particularly in
ancient Greece , India , and China.
ANCIENT GREECE
Greek philosophy is often considered the
cornerstone of western philosophy. It began
around the 6th century BCE with pre-socratic
philosophers.
 Thales- of miletus – often regarded as the first
philosopher, he proposed that water is the
fundamental substance of the universe .
Anaximander and Anaximenes- part of milesian
school, they proposed different fundamental
elements( the apeiron and air , respectively)
Socrates , plato and Aristotle are the most influential
figures.
 Socrates- (469-347 BCE) known for his socratic
method, he focused on ethics and human behavior.
 Plato ( 427-347 BCE) A student of Socrates, he
founded the academy and wrote dialogues exploring
justice, beauty, equality, and the theory of forms.
 Aristotle ( 384- 322 BCE ) A students of Plato,
he wrote extensively on a variety of subjects ,
including metaphysics , ethics , politics , and
natural sciences . His work laid the groundwork
for much of western philosophy .
ANCIENT INDIA
Indian philosophy has ancient roots, with the
Vedas and Upanishads laying early philosophical
foundations around 1500- 500 BCE.
 Vedas – the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism ,
containing hymns, philosphy, and guidance on
 Upanishads – philosophical texts that explore the
nature of reality and the self, emphasizing concepts like
Brahman ( ultimate reality) and atman (soul)
ANCIENT CHINA
Chinese philosophy began with the Zhou dynasty (1046-
256 BCE) and developed through key figures and
schools.
 Confucious (551-479 BCE) Emphasized ethics ,
family , loyalty , and social harmony . His teachings are
collected in the “ Analects”
 Laozi –associated with Daoism ( Taoism) , which
emphasizes living in harmony with Dao (the way) , a
fundamental principle that is the source of all existence
 Mozi (479-391 BCE) Founded Mohism ,
advocating for universal love and meritocratic
government.
 Legalism – a pragmatic and authoritarian
school that influenced the formation of the Qin
dynasty.
WHAT DEVELOPMENTS BROUGHT ABOUT THE
EMERGENCE OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY ?
Western philosophy is primarily concerned with

uncovering the truth through systematic
argumentation and theory . There is greater
emphasis on the use of reason rather than faith, and
an increased focus on man as an individual . This
perspective has led to the development of a more
scientific and theory based approach in philosophy.
Greece was home to one of the great civilizations
during the ancient period. Among the most
notable characteristics of ancient Greek
civilization was their love of learning . For a
Greek to claim himself a wise and learned person,
he must know a various thing from various
disciplines . The first philosphers of ancient
Greece were primarily preoccupied with the study
of nature and the universe.
How did western philosophy
develop into a modern science ?
The science and disciple of philosophy , as
we know it at present , is primarily a product
of development and changes in the western
world . From the early developments in
ancient Greece , various historical
developments in Europe and the western
world led to the gradual shaping of western
philosophy from an ancient discourse into a
modern science.
The development of western philosophy is defined by the
emergence of various schools of thought in various periods in
history.
 historical period -
What developments and characteristics
define Eastern Philosophy?
Eastern philosophy- consist of schools thought
which are often closely tied with religious beliefs .
Eastern philosophies are often described as “
wisdom “ literature, where stories , sayings, and
texts encourage people to adopt an ethical and
harmonious way of life.. There is great emphasis
on social relations , and the family and community
are considered a central aspect of life. The goal of
eastern philosophy is to achieve a balanced life
How do we characterize the
study of philosophy ?
One way of looking at philosophy is to consider it
a way of analyzing frameworks . a framework
is defined as a way of thinking about the world
and is composed of the views and beliefs of a
person . Whenever a person encounters a
problem or question in life , he or she often goes
back to his or her own framework in order to
make sense of the problem .whenever we are
confronted by a question of morality or
correctness , we go back to our own personal
Question dealing with our own correctness and
values are considered internal question
which can be addressed using our own reasoning
from our personal framework .also there are
external question that seek to question the very
framework upon which people base their own
beliefs and views .
Why is there a need for man to
philosophize?
Philosophers have often wondered and argued about the
role of philosophy in man’s life . One views is that each
one of us is a philosopher, wether or not we have studied
philosophy as a science .
 Greek philosopher Plato traced man’s need to
philosophize to his sense of wonder.whenever we are
confronted with an experience , we always wonder how
it came about. Man’s over –bounding curiosity drives
him to ask questions , some of which have no definite
answer . Where did we came from? Why do we exist?
Consider a small child’s curiosity about all things around him ,
since many of the things he sees he encounters for the first
time . This perspective drives the need of a philosopher to
question , examine , and learn more.
 15th -century French philosopher Rene Descartes traced the
need to philosophize to doubt . Descartes was famous for
rejecting or questioning traditional or dogmatic ideas , and
he even went as far as doubting his own ideas . His method of
examining ideas and perspectives became the basis of critical
thinking and analysis in the sciences . In the sciences there
is a need to verify an information or explanation before it is
accepted as truth.
The 20th –century Swiss –German philosopher
Karl Jasper saw the need to philosophize because
of experience. Jasper believed that man is often
confronted by experiences which challenge his
ideas and frameworks. Jasper called these
experiences limit situations , and these are
often accompanied by feelings of helplessness ,
anxiety , or dread. For Jaspers , philosophy
provides us a means to understand adverse or
challenging conditions , and to rise above them
and gain new knowledge and perspectives .
The need to philosophize is driven by the love
of wisdom . To love wisdom is to have an
insatiable desire for truth . A philosopher does
not seek knowledge to claim ownership of it.
And one who engages in philosophy is not
satisfied with figuring out the answer to a
question. He seeks to continue to question , to
probe, and to discuss in order to get to the
bottom of things.
REVIEW
 philosophy is the science or discipline that uses human
reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons, and
principles which govern all things.
 philosophy was coined from Greek words philos and
Sophia, which means “love for wisdom”
 philosophy originated from ancient Greece and the first
philosopher were pioneers in the study of various
discipline such as history, biology, medicine,
mathematics, astronomy, and physics.
 the historical development of philosophy led to the
growth of two major philosophies ;western philosophy an
eastern philosophy . Western philosophy developed a
Eastern philosophy , on the other hand,
consisted of schools thought closely tied to
religion , and is concerned with social relations,
ethics, and achieving a balanced life.
 the science of philosophy employs various
viewpoints and approaches in studying the
human condition. Philosophy may be
considered a way of analyzing framework , an
examination of particular areas of knowledge ,
and a distinct area of knowledge that deals
with particular phenomena or aspects of
human life.
 philosophers regard philosophy as being
driven by man’s need and desire to
understand his condition. This need is often
traced to man’s tendency to wonder and doubt.
Another philosophical view shows philosophy as
being driven by man’s need to understand
situations and experiences . Finally , philosophy
can also be seen as being driven by a need to gain
more knowledge , understand new experiences,
and examine our condition.

Philosophy

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Branches of

Western philosophy is primarily concerned with

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