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General PhilosophyGeneral Philosophy

Session 1Session 1((Introduction to Philosophy)Introduction to Philosophy)

ByBy

Syed Zeeshan ArshadSyed Zeeshan Arshad

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ContentsContents What is Philosophy?What is Philosophy? Branches of PhilosophyBranches of Philosophy

EpistemologyEpistemology MetaphysicsMetaphysics EthicsEthics Logic Logic AestheticsAesthetics

Brief History of IdeasBrief History of Ideas Religion vs. PhilosophyReligion vs. Philosophy Science vs. PhilosophyScience vs. Philosophy Q&A SessionQ&A Session

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What is Philosophy?What is Philosophy? Today?Today?

Boring? Complex? Useless? Akin to Blasphemy? (common Boring? Complex? Useless? Akin to Blasphemy? (common perception)perception)

Doesn’t earn you any money? Does it? So what’s the point?Doesn’t earn you any money? Does it? So what’s the point?

– But what is Ph.D.? Isn’t it the highest academic degree?But what is Ph.D.? Isn’t it the highest academic degree?– Gives you the license to write books, expound ideas, called an Gives you the license to write books, expound ideas, called an

expert and to be taken seriouslyexpert and to be taken seriously Earlier?Earlier?

– ‘‘Philosophy is the mother of all sciences’ – Really??Philosophy is the mother of all sciences’ – Really??– In 17In 17thth century Newton called his work – Inquiry into ‘Natural century Newton called his work – Inquiry into ‘Natural

Philosophy’Philosophy’– Even earlier Aristotle (4Even earlier Aristotle (4thth century BCE) called himself a century BCE) called himself a

‘philosopher’ – though biologist, surgeons, physicists, ‘philosopher’ – though biologist, surgeons, physicists, chemists, political theorists, mathematicians, logicians, chemists, political theorists, mathematicians, logicians, religious scholars have all relied on his work extensivelyreligious scholars have all relied on his work extensively

Literally?Literally?– Philo (love/r of) Sophia (Philo (love/r of) Sophia (Greek:Greek: Wisdom) Wisdom)

So do so many others!!Poor Sophia!!

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What is What is Philosophy?Philosophy?

Philosophy is about a lot of QuestionsPhilosophy is about a lot of Questions– ““An unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates)An unexamined life is not worth living” (Socrates)

But hey! Isn’t Ignorance supposed to be bliss?But hey! Isn’t Ignorance supposed to be bliss? And didn’t the Socratic dude die a tragic death!!And didn’t the Socratic dude die a tragic death!!

– So some people are born Inquirers (“Uncle/Auntie Kiyon?”So some people are born Inquirers (“Uncle/Auntie Kiyon?”– Whereas others just wanna have fun (“Where’s the Party?”) Whereas others just wanna have fun (“Where’s the Party?”)

Most of these questions might remain unanswered Most of these questions might remain unanswered In fact Philosophers have been trying to grapple with the same In fact Philosophers have been trying to grapple with the same

fundamental questions for centuries – sometimes with no success fundamental questions for centuries – sometimes with no success - sometimes with partial success- sometimes with partial success

The world is full of man-made-ideas and –isms? The world is full of man-made-ideas and –isms? What about Revelation (wahi)?What about Revelation (wahi)?

It is said that “Beyond Philosophy lies Faith”It is said that “Beyond Philosophy lies Faith”– but what if one has faith in philosophy? [Halt: too complex for now but what if one has faith in philosophy? [Halt: too complex for now ]]

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Food for Food for thoughtthought

Some sample philosophical questionsSome sample philosophical questions What is truth? Is it possible to know anything with absolute certainty?What is truth? Is it possible to know anything with absolute certainty? Does the universe have a purpose? Does life have a purpose?Does the universe have a purpose? Does life have a purpose? Is there order in the Is there order in the cosmoscosmos (i.e. the universe conceived as an orderly system) (i.e. the universe conceived as an orderly system)

independent of what is put there by the mind? Could the universe be radically independent of what is put there by the mind? Could the universe be radically different from how we conceive it?different from how we conceive it?

Is a person more than a physical body? What is the mind? What is thought? Is a person more than a physical body? What is the mind? What is thought? Do people really have a free will? Is there any moral obligation?Do people really have a free will? Is there any moral obligation?

What is a good life? Is ethics possible? What is art?What is a good life? Is ethics possible? What is art? Since questions are infinite – it would be better to categorize the Since questions are infinite – it would be better to categorize the

areas of investigationareas of investigation This leads us to major branches of philosophyThis leads us to major branches of philosophy Do understand that various forms of categorization could exist Do understand that various forms of categorization could exist

(e.g. you are a class of students) – other ways of categorizing (e.g. you are a class of students) – other ways of categorizing could be gender, height, income, residential locality etc.could be gender, height, income, residential locality etc.

What follows is the most common type of categorization that What follows is the most common type of categorization that exists..exists..

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Traditional* Branches Traditional* Branches of Philosophyof Philosophy EpistemologyEpistemology MetaphysicsMetaphysics EthicsEthics LogicLogic AestheticsAesthetics

*Some thinkers/authors have classified the branches a bit differently – they mention Axiology, Political Philosophy separately*Another domain is the “Philosophy of….” e.g. Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy of Religion etc.

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EpistemoloEpistemologygy

This branch deals with the This branch deals with the ““theory oftheory of knowledge”knowledge”

It considers questions like It considers questions like – ““How do we How do we knowknow

anything?” anything?”

– ““Is there such a thing as Is there such a thing as certainty?”certainty?”

Typical answers include Typical answers include Rationalism, Empiricism, Rationalism, Empiricism, Transcendental Idealism, Transcendental Idealism, Phenomenology etc.Phenomenology etc.

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MetaphysicMetaphysicss

Metaphysics deals with Metaphysics deals with the questionthe question of of REALITYREALITY and and BEINGBEING.. It deals with questions about the non-physical world, It deals with questions about the non-physical world,

such as such as – ““what is real?”, “Is there a god?” and “Is reality one?”what is real?”, “Is there a god?” and “Is reality one?”

Typical answers include Typical answers include – Monism, Dualism, Pluralism etc.Monism, Dualism, Pluralism etc.

This branch is further sub-divided intoThis branch is further sub-divided into– Ontology Ontology – CosmologyCosmology

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EthicsEthics

This branch is also known as MORAL PHILOSOPHY.This branch is also known as MORAL PHILOSOPHY. It deals with questions about right and wrong, It deals with questions about right and wrong,

– e.g. “Is morality subjective?”, “What makes actions e.g. “Is morality subjective?”, “What makes actions rightright and and wrongwrong?”?”

Typical answers includeTypical answers include– Hedonism, Eudemonism, Stoicism, Utilitarianism etc.Hedonism, Eudemonism, Stoicism, Utilitarianism etc.

Ethics is derives from the Greek word Ethics is derives from the Greek word ‘Ethos’ ‘Ethos’ (meaning (meaning ‘habit’) – in this sense ethics is generally classified as ‘habit’) – in this sense ethics is generally classified as external observable behaviorexternal observable behavior

Convenient distinction between Convenient distinction between EthicsEthics and and MoralityMorality Ethical theories in the philosophical world today are secular Ethical theories in the philosophical world today are secular

and formulated by humansand formulated by humans

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LogicLogic

Logic is the language of philosophyLogic is the language of philosophy This branch of Philosophy deals This branch of Philosophy deals

with the METHOD of argument.with the METHOD of argument. It offers answers to questions such It offers answers to questions such

as: as: – Is that reasoning sound?, Is that reasoning sound?, – Is that statement true? Is that statement true? – Is that conclusion valid ?Is that conclusion valid ?

Topics include Topics include – Induction, Deduction, Syllogisms, Induction, Deduction, Syllogisms,

Fallacies, paradoxes etc.Fallacies, paradoxes etc.

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AestheticsAesthetics This branch deals withThis branch deals with

– beauty in Music and Art.beauty in Music and Art. It discusses questions like: It discusses questions like:

– Is that good music?Is that good music?

– Is that painting better than Is that painting better than this one?this one?

– Is pornography art?Is pornography art? It is the study of BeautyIt is the study of Beauty What is the significance of What is the significance of

Artistic Expression?Artistic Expression?

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Brief History of Western Brief History of Western Ideas Ideas

Ancient Period (7Ancient Period (7thth cent BCE to 1 cent BCE to 1stst cent AD) cent AD)– Classical Greek philosophyClassical Greek philosophy– Hellenism Hellenism

Medieval Period (2Medieval Period (2ndnd cent AD to 14 cent AD to 14thth cent AD) cent AD)– Christianity and ScholasticismChristianity and Scholasticism

Modern Period (15Modern Period (15thth cent AD to date) cent AD to date) Movements of Renaissance & ReformationMovements of Renaissance & Reformation French Revolution, Industrialization and Rise of ScienceFrench Revolution, Industrialization and Rise of Science Rationalism, Empiricism, Transcendental IdealismRationalism, Empiricism, Transcendental Idealism Liberalism, Socialism, Communism and rise of Capitalist Liberalism, Socialism, Communism and rise of Capitalist

OrderOrder Phenomenology, Nihilism, Analytical trend and Phenomenology, Nihilism, Analytical trend and

ExistentialismExistentialism Pragmatism and Post-ModernismPragmatism and Post-Modernism

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Religion vs. Religion vs. PhilosophyPhilosophy

Touchy issue – take care!!Touchy issue – take care!! You can do a PhD in Religious studies You can do a PhD in Religious studies

– but will that make you a religious person?but will that make you a religious person? Is Religious Philosophy a ‘philosophy’?Is Religious Philosophy a ‘philosophy’? You need to be clear about the issue of ‘Faith’You need to be clear about the issue of ‘Faith’ If Faith is ‘If Faith is ‘yominoona bil ghaibyominoona bil ghaib’ then it is not Rational ’ then it is not Rational

(in terms of philosophy)(in terms of philosophy) Religion and Philosophy overlap on issues of Knowledge Religion and Philosophy overlap on issues of Knowledge

– but what about character or ‘taqwa’?– but what about character or ‘taqwa’? Can philosophy make you a ‘pious’ person?Can philosophy make you a ‘pious’ person? Religion can decide the question for you once and for all Religion can decide the question for you once and for all

but Philosophy would want you to keep thinking…but Philosophy would want you to keep thinking… So Keep thinking and have Faith !! So Keep thinking and have Faith !!

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Philosophy vs. Philosophy vs. ScienceScience

Both Science and Philosophy want “to know, to investigate” Both Science and Philosophy want “to know, to investigate” Aristotle is considered to be the first ‘scientist’ – but would he be Aristotle is considered to be the first ‘scientist’ – but would he be

called a scientist today?called a scientist today? Newton (one of the pioneers of modern science) published in Newton (one of the pioneers of modern science) published in

1687 1687 Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia MathematicaPhilosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy?)(Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy?)

Difference today is of Methodology and focus of investigationDifference today is of Methodology and focus of investigation Science today is characterized by Scientific Methodology Science today is characterized by Scientific Methodology

(experimental research followed by peer review and publication)(experimental research followed by peer review and publication) Philosophy remains based on argumentative laws of thought Philosophy remains based on argumentative laws of thought

(Logic)(Logic) Science is now closely tied in to Technological developmentScience is now closely tied in to Technological development Philosophy has spawned into sociology, psychology, economics, Philosophy has spawned into sociology, psychology, economics,

politics and remains the guiding force in non-religious societiespolitics and remains the guiding force in non-religious societies

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Question & AnswersQuestion & Answers

Thank You for your patience - SZA