Overview
This lecture introduces the academic discipline of philosophy, its major branches, and focuses on the concept of arguments—specifically validity and soundness—which are foundational for the course.
What is Philosophy?
- Philosophy is the academic study of fundamental questions using reasoning, not a guide for personal living.
- Famous philosophers include Socrates, Plato, Aristotle (foundational), Descartes, Hume, Kant (modern), and contemporary figures like Cornel West, Martha Nussbaum, and Angela Davis.
- Philosophers define concepts and investigate deep questions such as "What is knowledge?" or "What is it to be a human?"
Major Branches of Philosophy
- Epistemology: Study of knowledge (what it is, how we justify beliefs).
- Metaphysics: Study of existence, reality, and what kinds of things exist.
- Value Theory (Ethics): Study of what is good, right, or valuable; moral philosophy.
- Philosophy of Logic: Study of correct reasoning and argumentation.
Philosophy vs. Science and Religion
- Philosophy deals with conceptual questions, not empirical observations like science.
- Unlike religion, philosophy is open to revision and inquiry, not adherence to fixed beliefs.
Introduction to Arguments
- In philosophy, an "argument" is a set of premises supporting a conclusion, not a verbal fight.
- Arguments are composed of two parts: premises (statements/claims) and a conclusion (what is being argued for).
Types of Arguments: Validity and Soundness
- Valid Argument: If premises were true, the conclusion must also be true (form matters, not actual truth of premises).
- Invalid Argument: Premises, even if true, do not logically guarantee the conclusion.
- Sound Argument: A valid argument with all actually true premises; this is the goal in philosophical reasoning.
Examples and Testing Arguments
- Valid arguments can have false premises; validity tests the logic, not the truth.
- Invalid arguments may have true premises and even a true conclusion, but lack logical support.
- To test for soundness, first check validity, then verify if the premises are actually true.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Philosophy — The rational study of fundamental concepts and questions.
- Epistemology — The branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge.
- Metaphysics — The branch dealing with existence and reality.
- Premise — A statement offered as a reason in an argument.
- Conclusion — The claim an argument seeks to establish.
- Valid Argument — An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
- Invalid Argument — An argument where the premises do not guarantee the conclusion.
- Sound Argument — A valid argument with all true premises.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Extra Credit: On Blackboard, try to define "chair" in a sentence or two—include all chairs, exclude non-chairs.
- Complete the posted worksheets on validity, invalidity, and soundness for extra credit.
- Review these concepts; seek help if unsure, as they are essential for the rest of the course.