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lOMoARcPSD|38791851Philosophy 114 (study notes) - Section AB Final
Philosophy (Universiteit Stellenbosch)
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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 don9t just believe things 3 we believe for reasons Philosophy = rational inquiry
Reasons have a direct impact on the reliability of those beliefs into the reasons for our
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
1.1 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
1. Proposition 1 3 Similarities (common origin)
2. Proposition 2 3 differences
Proposition = asserts
something is the case/ is not
the case
- Building blocks of reasoning
1
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Proposition 1 ( Similarities between Scientific and philosophical questions)
<the common origin of philosophical and scientific questions is the striving of the human
<the common origin of philosophical and scientific questions is the striving of the human mind to understand
the principles to
mind understand the
according to whichprinciples according is
human experience toordered
which human experience
, and according to is ordered,
which humanandexistence in the
according
world ought to betoordered
which human existence
. This striving in the world
is fulfilled
ought to be ordered. This striving is fulfilled
by means of independent investigation, conducted from a
by means of independent investigation, conducted from a theoretical
wayperspective and in a
theoretical perspective and in a reasonable .=
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
Myth = story about supernatural
given and experiences are then explained in terms of this
forces that are true, hidden causes
unquestioned <truth=
beneath reality as we experience it
= Circular reasoning
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. 3 Poseidon god of the see,
protecting ships
- Aries god of war, certainty in battle
Examples of circular reasoning
- You must obey the law, because it's illegal to break the law.
- It9s illegal to do drugs because it9s against the law.
- Women should have access to abortion services, so abortion should be legal and available
2
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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 3 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
The opposite of dogmatic thinking = critical thinking independent, critical inquiry.
Basis of all philosophy and science
Greek Philosophers wrote
Early Greek Philosophers down ideas, thus their
ideas have been
Early Greek philosophers (+- 600 BC) 3 asked different questions documented and are most
Not: what do our myths say? widely mentioned
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)
<nature Philosophers= 3 first Greek Philosophers to tackle independent thought
Asked questions about what nature is made of, what matter is.
Thales: (624-543 BC) <everything is made of water=
Heraclitus: (535-475 BC) <everything is made of fire=
Democritus (460-370 BC) <all matter is made of small invisible, indivisible particles = atoms=
<Post nature philosophers= 3 showed more interest in human beings and the human
consciousness
Socrates: (469-399 BC) The common origin of
Plato: (429-347) philosophical and scientific
Aristotle: (384-322 BC) questions is precisely this shift
Terentius the African: (186-159 BC) away from the belief in myths
towards independent thought
3
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