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Introduction to
systematic
philosophy
| Section A
Introduction
“Philosophy” comes from the two words - philein (to love) + sophie (knowledge)
Kind of conversation or discussion 3 a particular kind of thinking activity and not a fixed body
of knowledge. All thinking people take part in the philosophical conversation at some point in
their lives. “my/our/your” philosophy is different than the activity of philosophizing (thinking
about thinking)
Philosophers= individuals who make the philosophical question their calling and contribute
to it in a sustained and systematic way. They have developed methods of reasoning and
injury that characterize the philosophical question in everyday life and in academia.
We don’t just believe things 3 we believe for reasons (Philosophy = rational inquiry
into the reasons for our beliefs). Reasons have a direct impact on the reliability of those beliefs
Philosophy is the opposite of canned thinking (beliefs not backed by thought or haven9t
investigated the rational reasons for those beliefs) Philosophical thought is never static,
reasons open themselves up for inquiry and critique and thus are always developing and
improving.
1. The nature of philosophical questions
Philosophical questions and scientific questions
To understand the nature of philosophical questions 3 we need to consider the similarities
and differences between philosophical and scientific questions.
Science was once called <natural philosophy= so by comparing closely reacted questions we
can determine the nature of the questions themselves.
Investigate the similarities and differences in light of 2 propositions
Proposition = asserts something is the case/ is notthe case
- Building blocks of reasoning
Proposition 1 ( Similarities between Scientific and philosophical questions)
“The common origin of philosophical and scientific questions is the striving of the human mind to
understand the principles according to which human experience is ordered, and according to
which human existence in the world ought to be ordered. This striving is fulfilled by means of
independent investigation, conducted from atheoretical perspective and in a reasonable way.”
This statement describes a way of thinking that is common to philosophy and science
Striving that begins with the liberation from mythical thinking.
Mythical thinking: they truth of the myth is
accepted as a given and experiences are
then explained in terms of this
unquestioned “truth” = Circular reasoning
Myth = story about supernatural
forces that are true, hidden causes
beneath reality as we experience it
- Mythical thinking is a way of making the
world understandable to ourselves, and
thereby trying to overcome the
strangeness of existence.
- Stories are passed down from
generations to make us feel less strange
and thus more secure
Eg.
- Poseidon god of the see, protecting ships
- Aries god of war, certainty in battle
, Philosophy 114
Examples of circular reasoning
- You must obey the law, because it's illegal to break the law.
- It’s illegal to do drugs because it9s against the law.
- Women should have access to abortion services, so abortion should be legal and available
Three main characteristics of mythical thinking
1. The myth is a manifestation or revelation of a hidden reality; the content of the myth
is not independently discovered
2. Knowledge is tied to (ritual) action - what is known is known, in order to influence, in
order to survive in a dangerous world
- ritualistic repletion, primal forces are convinced to maintain order they have established
- to know is to always try to influence the prevailing supernatural forces so as they act
favourably towards the believer / not live in constant fear
- characteristically personifying natural phenomenon into “gods” with human/personal traits
thus the strangeness and unpredictably of these phenomenon are reduced.
We know, in order to influence, in order, ultimately, to survive in a dangerous and
unpredictable world.
3. Myths are not open for rational deliberation, and thus cannot be criticized
- a myth can only keep fulfilling its function as long as its accepted unconditionally. The myth
claims total authority
Mythical thinking = dogmatic thinking
Accept truth of received beliefs without subjecting the reasons for these beliefs to independent,
critical inquiry.
The opposite of dogmatic thinking = critical thinking
Basis of all philosophy and science
Early Greek Philosophers
Greek Philosophers wrote down ideas, thus their ideas have been documented and are most
widely mentioned
Early Greek philosophers (+- 600 BC) - asked different questions
Not: what do our myths say?
But: what is the best possible explanation for what we observe?
(not unique to the Greeks 3 appears in India, Asia, north Africa, further developed and spread
by Islamic thinkers of 9th and 10th century AD)
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