Introduction to Philosophy - Unit 1, Lecture 1: An Overview of Philosophy

Preliminary Definitions of Philosophy

• Etymological Definition: Meaning of the word and its origin.
• Academic Definition: Understanding what philosophy means today in modern academia.

Etymological Definition of Philosophy

• Etymology: Study of word origins and changes over time.
• Origin of the word "Philosophy": Derived from ancient Greek words philia (love) and sophia (wisdom).
• Philia:
  • Often translated as brotherly love, but originally referred to community and tribal affiliation.
  • Represents an active disposition towards one's beloved, which in this context is wisdom.
• Sophia:
  • Enigmatic term associated with rare knowledge that implies truth, distinguishing it from common opinion.
  • Knowledge is seen as a state of understanding the reality, not just perceptions.
• Historical Context:
  • First attributed to Pythagoras in the late 6th century BCE, referring to himself as a "lover of wisdom".
  • Popularized by Plato in connection with Socrates.

Academic Definition of Philosophy

• Academy: The social institution dedicated to knowledge discovery, transmission, and preservation.
• Historical Development:
  • Originates from Plato's Academy in the early 4th century BCE.
  • Followed by Aristotle's Lyceum and the Great Museum of Alexandria.
• Modern Structure:
  • Divided into two main branches: Arts and Sciences.
  • Philosophy functions as an umbrella term for various sub-disciplines.

Sub-disciplines of Academic Philosophy

1. Epistemology:

   • Focuses on problems related to knowledge and its acquisition.
   • Key Questions:
     • Distinguishing knowledge from opinion.
     • Can finite beings achieve knowledge?
     • How do we obtain knowledge?
   • Foundation of the academic enterprise, particularly in science.

2. Metaphysics:

   • Investigates existence and the nature of reality.
   • Key Questions:
     • What exists? What does it mean for something to exist?
     • Concepts of ontology, consciousness, and divinity.

3. Axiology:

   • Focuses on evaluative judgments and values.
   • Sub-branches include:
     • Ethics: Moral judgments.
     • Aesthetics: Concepts of beauty.
     • Political Philosophy: Nature of justice.

4. Logic:

   • Systematic investigation of reasoning and argumentation.
   • Differentiates between induction (probability) and deduction (necessity).
   • Philosophy studies the methodologies of reasoning itself.

5. History of Philosophy:

   • Examines philosophical ideas and their historical context.
   • Understanding philosophers' interests requires knowledge of their cultural backgrounds.

Summary of Key Points

• Philosophy is not a single discipline but encompasses various investigations.
• Each sub-discipline relates to each other through overlapping content and shared methodologies.
• Philosophy seeks to understand deeper truths about the universe, going beyond mere description to explore underlying principles.

Next Steps

• Upcoming videos will delve deeper into each area of philosophy and provide a historical definition of philosophy.