Introduction to Philosophy

Inspirations: An outline of Philosophy by Dr.Abdul Matin

Philosophy can be defined as an attempt to understand existence reality and our own being through the application of our intellectual faculties. The word Philosophy is the conjugation of two Greek words Phileo = The love of something and Sophia = wisdom so the word philosophy means the love of wisdom. Philosophy seeks to know, understand and interpret the ultimate nature and meaning of existence, reality and the universe through the right application of our faculties of knowledge. It is especially interested in man’s own being for two reasons

  1. Curiosity about his own being
  2. Man seems to be the highest species in nature so understanding him goes a long way in understanding the universe at large . The philosopher’s inquiry about the world is ultimately an inquiry about himself

Philosophy is often times called the science of all sciences because it explains and examines the theoretical basis of all sciences and attempts to harmonize their separate findings under a comprehensive worldview.

It is partly positive (explicit, real, clear) and partly normative (building up from pre-existing norms) for instances among its branches cosmology and metaphysics are positive and ethics and logic are normative. It is both critical and constructive. It critically examines our own understanding of basic concepts such as mind, matter, substance etc. its constructive role it builds up a comprehensive understanding or view of the world

**Why Philosophize? The question as to why man began to philosophize at all has several answers. It stems from man’s inherent sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around him. It also come from his need for adjustment he is in a constant state of chaos and confusion in all aspects of his life and order can only be brought to this state by understanding the chaos and making sense of it. Doubt is also a great catalyst for such thinking as he begins to find the current state of ideas, bodies of knowledge and worldviews unsatisfactory he begins to search for answers himself and that process can also be called philosophy. While modern science (empirical & quantitative) makes an attempt to understand reality but it fails to reach a holistic conclusion since it does not deal with parts of the human nature like moral values and aesthetics while religion answers those question but it is too dogmatic in its approach philosophy offers a bridge between the two.

Method of philosophy

The method of philosophy or the way of investigating its subject matter. On this topic philosophers are broadly divided into two schools

  1. Intellectualists
  2. Intuitionist

Intellectualists: The intellectualists maintain that there is no difference between the method of science and philosophy. There divisions even among the intellectuals there are divisions.

  1. Rationalists: Likens philosophy to a deductive science like mathematics
  2. Empiricists: The doctrine that all knowledge is derived from experience

Intuitionists: The intuitionists contend that intellect maybe an appropriate organ of science. but it is unfit for the sort of truth which philosophy seeks. The ultimate reality is of such a nature that neither sense, nor reason can approach it. There is instead a third faculty namely intuition which overcomes the limitation of intellect and can enter the heart of reality. Which makes sense as philosophy seeks to examine the basis of science itself so using the same methodology as science will degrade the results and produce a faux philosophy which is akin to grading your own test papers while blindfolded.

Branches of Philosophy

  1. Methodology
  2. Cosmology
  3. Epistemology(Theory of Knowledge)
  4. Ontology/Metaphysics
  5. Anthropology
  6. Axiology
  7. Ethics
  8. Philosophy of religion
  9. Philosophy of Life