Introduction to Philosophy

Overview

This lecture introduces philosophy, its historical origins, and its main branches—metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, and logic—while outlining the goals and methods of philosophical inquiry.

What is Philosophy?

• Philosophy seeks to understand the nature of reality, knowledge, values, and reasoning.
• Unlike science, philosophy asks big foundational questions and focuses on critical evaluation, not just description.
• The term "philosophy" comes from the Greek "philosophia," meaning "love of wisdom."

Historical Origins

• Philosophy began in ancient Greece around 500 BCE during a time of global intellectual movement.
• Early philosophers distinguished between "philos" (analytical inquiry) and "mythos" (storytelling).
• Early disciplines like math, science, and poetry were all considered parts of philosophy.

Major Branches of Philosophy

Metaphysics

• Metaphysics explores the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and being.
• Key questions include: What is the world made of? Is there a soul? Do immaterial things exist?

Epistemology

• Epistemology is the study of knowledge—how we know what we know.
• Main questions include: Is reality as we perceive it? How can we know if our beliefs are true?

Value Theory

• Value theory examines what is good, beautiful, or worthwhile.
• Divided into ethics (what is right and how we should live) and aesthetics (the nature of beauty and art).

Logic

• Logic is the system of reasoning used to construct clear, valid arguments and avoid fallacies.

The Method of Philosophy

• Step 1: Understand ideas charitably and deeply.
• Step 2: Critically evaluate and challenge those ideas, regardless of personal agreement.
• Philosophy is about developing strong reasoning skills, not just memorizing facts.

Philosophy in Everyday Life

• Everyday decisions and debates involve philosophical thinking about values, actions, and beliefs.
• Philosophy trains you to formulate arguments and explain your reasoning.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Metaphysics — study of the fundamental nature of reality and existence.
• Epistemology — study of knowledge and how we come to know things.
• Value Theory — study of what is valuable, encompassing ethics and aesthetics.
• Ethics — study of how humans should act and what is right or wrong.
• Aesthetics — study of beauty and art.
• Logic — system for clear and valid reasoning; evaluates arguments for soundness.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Prepare to learn about each major field of philosophy using the two-step method: understanding and critical evaluation.
• Reflect on examples of philosophical thinking in your own life.