Rai’s calling

RAI is God’s school, a Christ-centered place

of learning. God has given us vision and
calling to educate global Christian leaders
to change the world through the power of
the Holy Spirit. For this calling, as a servant
of this school, I will do my best for God’s
glory.
 When you hear the
word Philosophy what
comes to your mind?
Knowled Existenc
ge
Reality e
 -a theory or attitude
held by a person or
organization that acts
as a guiding principle
for behaviour:
 Etymological definition
Philosophy comes from the two
Greek words
philo meaning “love”
sophia meaning “wisdom.”
philosophy means “love of wisdom.”
Philosophy is absolutely
committed to the truth
the whole truth and nothing but
the truth.”
truth is being shown and
practiced by a man of wisdom.
 Technical definition
Philosophy is defined as “the science of
beings in their ultimate reasons, causes, and
principles acquired by the aid of human
reason alone
 To better understand Philosophy, let us
break down the statement into the
following:
Philosophy is a science.
- Science is about acquiring a certain kind of
knowledge. Philosophy is a science because
the questioning is given more importance
than the answers to the questions, since
answers can become questions themselves.
 Philosophy is a science of
beings.
- As a science of beings, it covers
all the things that can be reached
by the human mind. This includes
man, the world, God, everything
that is, or becomes, or is known.
 Philosophy searches for the
ultimate reasons, causes and
principles of beings.
- This means that philosophy studies the
ultimate “whys and wherefores” of beings.
- Philosophy does not investigate plant life,
but rather, it seeks an answer to the
question: “What does it mean to be a living
thing as opposed to a non-living thing?”
Philosophy uses the power or
natural light of reason.
The study of philosophy help us
acquired by the aid of human reason
alone. Meaning, philosophy doesn’t
base its knowledge on authority, but
solely on the reasoning power of the
human mind.
 What are the divisions of
Philosophy?
Practical Divisions of Philosophy –
is composed of philosophical fields, which
study not only to obtain knowledge and
wisdom but also to use that knowledge and
wisdom for practical purposes. It includes logic,
ethics, axiology, aesthetics, and semantics.
 Logic(Questions related to Reasoning)
-Logic studies the laws of thought. It
is the science of correct reasoning.
-Logic attempts to resolve the following
questions: “What makes good arguments
good and bad arguments bad?”
 Ethics(Questions related to Reasoning).
-Ethics deals with development of a virtuous
and moral character. It is the science of the
morality of human acts as ordained to the end.
-Ethics attempts to resolve questions
like: “What makes my action right or
wrong, and how could I know it?”. “Is
there a norm good and evil?
 Axiology(Questions related to Values).
-It is the science of value. It is the study
of the origin, nature, functions, types,
and interrelations of values.
-Axiology attempts to resolve questions
like: “How are values experienced?”
“What are the kinds of value?
 Aesthetics(Questions related to Beauty and
Taste).

It is the science of beauty and art. Beauty means

the quality attributed to whatever pleases the
beholder such as form, color, and behaviour.
Aesthetics attempts to resolve questions like:
“What are the essential characteristics of
beauty?” “What is aesthetic value?” “Do the arts
provide knowledge?”
 Semantics(Questions related to Meaning).
It is the science of meaning. It studies the
natural and artificial language scientifically.
Semantics attempts to resolve questions like:
“What sorts of meanings do human
grammars yield, and by what rules are these
meanings assembled?” “How does
grammatical knowledge develop in children?”
 Speculative Division of Philosophy

- is made up of philosophical fields whose

main concern is the acquisition of
knowledge without any thought of applying
it for any practical use. It includes
epistemology, theodicy, cosmology,
philosophical psychology, and metaphysics
 Epistemology(Questions related to
Truth and Knowledge).

Epistemology is the science of knowledge. This

includes the statement and solution to the
critical problem, nature, origin, objectivity, and
validity of knowledge, truth and certitude.
Epistemology attempts to resolve questions
like: “What is knowledge?” “What is fact?”
“What is truth?”
 Theodicy(Questions related to God).
Theodicy is the science of God - His
nature, existence, essence, attributes
and operations.
Theodicy attempts to resolve questions
like : “Does God exist?” “Why God allows
evil?”
 Cosmology(Questions related to Universe).

Cosmology is the science of the universe – its

origin and development with its parts, elements,
laws, especially its characteristics with regard to
space, time, causality and freedom.
Cosmology attempts to resolve question like:
“How did the world begin and where will it end?”
 Psychology(Questions related to Soul).
Psychology is science of soul. The study
deals man not only as a sensing or
thinking subject but also as a being
composed of body and soul
Psychology attempts to resolve question
like: “Is there really a soul?”
 Metaphysics(Questions related to Being and
Existence).

It studies the nature of the mind, the self,

and consciousness. It is the science
which deals with the nature of being, its
attributes, constituent principles, and
causes.
Metaphysics attempts to resolve the following
questions: “What is being?” “Why is there
 Why the study of Philosophy is
important?
According to Zunjic (2011) studying or doing
philosophy could be beneficial in many regards
such as:
1. Philosophy enlarges our understanding
of the world. It expands our intellectual
horizons and freedom of thought.
2. Philosophy raises public awareness and
helps in forming engaged and responsible
citizens
3. Philosophy can increase our sensitivity for
universalistic moral values and stimulate our
readiness to stand up for the principles of
justice and fairness.
4. Philosophy can give one self-knowledge,
foresight, and a sense of direction in life.
 Why is there a need to
philosophize?
1. Menhave the tendency to wonder (Plato).
For example: we asked questions about
our existence
2. Men also have the tendency to doubt
( Rene de Cartes). For example: Men have
to test and verify information before
accepting it.
3. Men do philosophize because of his/her
experience ( Karl Jaspers). Our daily experience
challenged our ideas and way of thinking. For
example: Giving money to a beggar, and found
out that he uses it for gambling.
4. Men’s love for wisdom (Socrates). Men’s
desire for truth or seeking of knowledge is not
to claim ownership of it but to get the bottom
of things.
 The most notable ancient Greek
Philosophers
1. Pythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE) – He is a
mathematician and a scientist, and he was
credited with formulating the Pythagorean
theorem.
2. Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)- He proposed
that everything that exist is based on a higher
order or plan which he called logos.
3. Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE) – He
primarily remembered today for his formulation of
an atomic theory of the universe. He was the first
to propose that matter is composed of tiny
particles called atom.
4. Diogenes of Sinope (412 BCE to 323 BCE)- He
was known as advocate of living a simple and
virtuous life. His teachings and views influenced
the development of several schools of philosophy
such as Cynicism and Stoicism
5. Epicurus ( 341 BCE to 270 BCE) – He believed that
philosophy could enable man to live a life of happiness.
His perspective gave rise to Epicureanism – a school of
philosophy which believes that wisdom and simple living
will result in a life free of fear and pain
6. Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE) – He was considered
the foremost philosopher of ancient times. He contributed
much to the field of ethics. He was known of developing
Socratic Method - a means of examining a topic by
devising a series of questions that let the learner
examine and analyze his knowledge and views regarding
the topic
7. Plato (427 to 347 BCE) –A student of
Socrates, he wrote some of his mentor’s
teachings and incorporated some of his
own ideas.
8. Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE) – He
attended the Academy and was a
prominent student of Plato. He go against
the idea of Plato’s theory of forms and took
a different stance in interpreting reality.