Transcript Unit 1 – What is Philosophy and Why do It?

Modern Philosophy
 Jean Paul Sartre – 20th c. French
Existentialist Philosopher – father of
modern philosophy - Influenced by his
relationship with the author Simone de
Beauvoir
 Friedrich Nietzsche – 19th c. German
philosopher – most famous for his works
on religion and morality
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Ancient Philosophy
 William Arthur Butler – Irish historian of
philosophy – first ‘complete’ history of
philosophy – opened it as a new field of
study
 Thales of Miletus – pre-Socratic Greek
philosopher/scientist. Considered first
Western philosopher. Attempted for the first
time to explain the natural world in terms of
natural phenomenon and not supernatural
explanations.
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Identity – the relation each thing bears just
to itself. The notion of identity gives rise to
many philosophical problems including the
identity of indiscernibles and questions
about change and personal identity over
time
 Theory – a set of sentences in a formal
language. Usually a deductive system and
understood from context. Not a guess… a
mathematical formula that can be proven
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Rational – the quality or state of being
agreeable to reason. An action, belief or
desire is rational if we ought to choose it.
Rationality is a normative concept that
refers to conformity of one’s beliefs with
one’s reason to believe, or of one’s actions
with one’s reason for action.
 Natural Rights – as opposed to legal/civil
rights made by men, natural rights are not
contingent on laws or society, they exist
independently
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Political Philosophy – study of politics, liberty,
justice, property rights, law and legal codes.
 Institutional Theory – a widely accepted
theoretical posture that emphasizes rational
myths, isomorphism and legitimacy. 2 trends
: (1) Old institutional – related to historical
institutionalism; (2) New institutionalism –
focuses on deeper and more resilient
aspects of social structure.
 Social Philosophy – study of questions about
social behavior typical of humans.
Concepts and principles of society
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Analytic Philosophy – in the English speaking
world it is the dominant type. A broad
tradition characterized by an emphasis on
clarity and argument, often achieved by
modern formal logic and a respect for
natural sciences.
 Logic – the study of valid reasoning.
 Aesthetic – study of sensory or sensoriemotional values, sometimes called
judgments of sentiment and taste. Critical
reflection on art, culture and nature (a field
of Axiology)
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Inference – the act of process deriving
logical conclusions from premises known or
assumed to be true.
Fallacies – misconception resulting from
incorrect reason
Tautology – a formula which is true in every
possible interpretation
Antecedent – first half of a hypothetical
proposition
Post hoc – (after this) – logical fallacy that
claims since an event followed this one,
that said event was caused by this one
Continental Philosophy – 19th – 20th
century philosophy from mainland
Europe.
 Deconstruction – a form of semiotic
analysis derived mainly from Jacques
Derrida (Grammatology). The proposal
that all texts contain the binary
opposition in constructing meaning and
values. The first task is to overturn all
binary oppositions
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Thales of Miletus - Water
Anaximenes of Miletus - Air
Anaximander of Miletus – Apeiron (Absence of limit, boundless,
infinite) All 4 elements originally from within Apeiron
These 3 are also known as the Milesians
All concerned with fundamental question – What is the world
made of?
Maintained world was constantly in flux
There are an infinite plurality of things in the world – everything is
different – infinite variation
Everything is made of same ‘stuff’
Greeks thought this stuff was the Arche (source/beginning/ruler)
The Arche is alive, imbued with spirit, it was divine and intelligent
– matter is alive
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Heraclitus – 540 BCE- Ephesus – He was very
obscure intentionally. Anything worth having is
worth ‘digging into.’ Famous for paradoxes.
A single principle guides mankind – The Logos –
it contains an objective Truth – positivism – yet
most people are too ignorant to see it.
3 main ideas
1) everything is in flux
2) the world is an ever living fire
3) war is the father of all.
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Parmenides – 5th century BCE, from Elea (sw Italy).
Most influential of all pre-Socratics although also most
ridiculous.
Our experience of the world is an unequivocal
illusion. Nothing moves of changes, nothing is born or
dies. There is in fact no separate things. Reality is one
thing – never changing, never ending. No past,
present or future – all continuous.
Something cannot emerge from nothing
Nothing can morph from one thing to another
Paradox – contrary to appearances
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNjmPyHIoOc
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Empedocles – 490 BCE in Acagras – most colorful of
pre-Socratics. Strong scientific mindset alongside
deep spiritual longing.
An innumerable number of earth, air, fire and water
that are always existing, they cannot change but
they do mingle.
This mingling causes all things to come into existence
depending on the mixture of the particles – change
occurs when particles are added or lost.
There are 2 forces in the Cosmos (universe) – Love
(attraction) and Strife (repulsion)
Strife appears to be winning as the world is getting
worse (Empedocles explained)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmdA4geRo_w
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Anaxagoras – first philosopher to separate mind and matter,
created a theory of matter, considered himself a citizen of the
universe (putting no preference on being Greek as others had)
Being alive is better because one can study the universe
He dismissed Empedocles explanation of particles
Everything is in Everything – literal interpretation. Everything
preexists in everything. An apple has everything in it (blood, flesh,
bone, rocks, etc). So why are things different?
The Principle of Predominance – each thing is what it is because
of highest concentration of what is in it. An object has the most
of itself in it (an apple is mostly made of apple, yet still have
everything else in it).
Divides universe into mind and matter – matter does not have
intelligence. Matter is moved by the mind (Nous) – it is the
intelligent force that moves the universe.
Democritus – 460 BCE, Abdura in
Greece. One of the founders of atomism
alongside Leucippus (his teacher)
 Atomism – influenced mechanical
philosophy of Descartes, Galilei, Newton
– the universe is composed of tiny
building blocks known as atoms (held
until late 20th century). All things are
made of atoms, little particles that move
around in perpetual motion.
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Athenian Philosopher – Founder of
Western Philosophy, 469-399 BCE
 The Socratic Problem – little can be
known about Socrates without
hesitation, many sources contradict one
another. He wrote nothing himself.
 Most of what we know comes from
Plato, his student. Others wrote about
him as well: Xenophon, Aristophanes and
Aristotle
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Philosophy – love of wisdom
Why live if you don’t seek knowledge?
The unexamined life is not worth living.
The only thing I know is that I do not know anything.
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Socrates has 3 periods of his teachings as per Plato – Early,
Middle and Late
In these writings, Socrates philosophy changes and evolves
He starts as merely a moral philosopher, in the middle and late,
he becomes concerned with all aspects of life and philosophy.
Epicurus and Zeno http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2r1KaB15ck
Pythagoras - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlBA9_3zj9w
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