Philosophy: Meaning, Modes - Assignment Example

Philosophy Question Philosophy is the study of basic nature of reality, existence, and knowledge normallywhen taken to be an academic discipline. Additionally, it means the theoretical benchmark of a given experience or knowledge. Philosophy is a complex subject dealing with fundamental aspects of value and reality (Jaspers, 64). It is therefore, not easy to provide a helpful and short explanation or definition of what the philosophical puzzle is. Based on the problem of free will, advanced in the scientific knowledge suggest that the actions and thoughts are majorly determined by the natural causes. However, if the actions of people are determined, it seems they fail to have free will, therefore, the can never be blamed or failed for their actions. Areas of Philosophy There are five areas of philosophy, which cluster together in standard ways, though they overlap between the areas, even in section in various clusters is rate, and there can experience slight differences in their clusters. History of Philosophy This area studies the major philosophers like Aristotle, Descartes, Nietzsche, and Hume, together with the entire periods in philosophy development (Jaspers, 16). This area is divided into various periods such as modern, medieval, 19th century, and 20th century. It tends to comprehend great figures, their influence, and their importance on the contemporary issues. Continental Philosophy The study includes area such as existentialism, deconstruction, structuralism, phenomenology, critical theory, post-structuralism, and hermeneutics. The principal figures include Badiou, Adorno, Husserl, Hegel, Sartre, and Derrida. Metaphysics and Epistemology This area consists of philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, formal epistemology, and philosophy of mathematics. Some of the areas have their own sub-branches. For instance, the philosophy of mind includes the emotions philosophy, science philosophy, special sciences philosophy, and social science philosophies. Logic The philosophy involves studying the consequence relations and their related notions. Among the logic sub-areas are higher order logic, classical first-order, and the non-classical logics like relevance, many-valued logics, intuitionistic, and modal. Value Theory This section comprises the aesthetics, ethics, political philosophy, and social areas. The ethics involves the areas of metaethics and ethics. Normative ethics addresses issues of right conduct, while metaethics is concerned with the epistemological and metaphysical commitments of ethical theories or the moral discourse. Importance of Studying Philosophy Studying philosophy is very important. It enables the learners to know how to carry out things with words. Since philosophy works on those complex issues, it helps one to write on complexities. To be specific is teaches how words can be unlocked using them precisely, and paying attention to the meaning of words. Philosophy is importance because it teaches the benefits of argument structure (Jaspers, 54). An argument is not simply a collection of facts or ideas. Their relationships determine the drawn conclusions. Studying the subject is the best way in learning the structures and relationships they form. Additionally, it teaches one to push analysis further and teaches the pleasure and power of argument with colleagues and friends that are both collegial and competitive. Importance of Studying Philosophy: Plato According to Plato, it is important to study philosophy because it is the focal point where all problems converge and all solutions come from. The philosopher claims that everything is in a flux and the reality is compared to a river where one can never step twice. Additionally, studying philosophy helps in reconciling insights in the community. This is because the opinion word comprises of particular objects and the true knowledge world comprises of the universal. Role of philosophical thinking In his view, philosophical thinking tends to play a positive social role especially to the normative social philosophy. The positive role is seen in human well-being, liberalism, communitarianism, and theory of justice. Here, he brought come organized about ethical theory, values, and facts of social arrangement for human into the discussion. It is therefore clear how his philosophical thinking illuminated the question; thereby helping to understand the society issues to progress. Question 2 Socratic Method of Doing Philosophy Socratic Method is philosophical inquiry method used in assessing the key moral concepts. In this method, Socrates is the originator and father of western ethics and moral philosophy (Jaspers, 36). The method includes interrogation of question on pivotal issues, offering answers to the questions, defending some opinion, and the ideal technique to attain triumph that is an opponent asserts anything opposite to his statement; this is portrayed as the evidence that the person is correct. Socrates’ Behavior In his dialogue, Socrates is consistent with his belief that a life that is examined is not worth a human being life. From the discussion, Socrates is a skeptical philosopher. This is because; he used the technique in examining the ethical concepts nature like justice and virtue. This was executed in various ways; interlocutor made statements, Socrates considered it wrong and cancelled it, he made other statements, interlocutor acceded that the statements are contradicting with the statement. He also assets that the statement of the interlocutor are false. Additionally, a single statement can cause a refined concept statement under the debate. Consequently, the elanchai series may happen and culminate in puzzlement. Therefore, according to Charles, an individual must understand himself to be wise. A life that is not under proper examination is not worth to live. Question 3 Forms of Knowledge Philosophers divide knowledge into 3 forms; propositional, personal, and procedural. Propositional knowledge concerns the philosophers. Understanding the connection between the 3 forms of knowledge is important in understanding the analyzed section by the various forms of knowledge. Personal knowledge This is the knowledge by acquaintance. This is the form of knowledge that people claim to have when they utter things. Procedural Knowledge The second form of knowledge is called procedural knowledge; this is the knowledge on how someone does something. People claiming to know juggling, driving, do not claim that they comprehend the theory involved in the tasks. Rather, they claim that they possess the skills that are involved, that they are in a position to carry out these things (Jaspers, 75). Propositional Knowledge This is the knowledge of facts. When people say that the triangles angle adds to 180 degrees and knowing “when is today” we claim having a propositional knowledge. The propositional knowledge is based on the fact that something is always the case. The knowledge has 3 important components. The components are recognized with the view that the propositional knowledge is a true belief that is justified, according to conventional definition; it is a belief that is special and satisfies the two conditions of the truth and justification of the belief. Skepticism The first approach on skepticism is that knowledge is not similar to the justified belief. It is possible to justify one belief without knowing the actual belief. Even if we fail to know what we know for instance if Descartes is nor right and we do not have the world outside knowledge, it is possible that most of our knowledge is well justified or rational. Meaning if one lacks knowledge, we will still have proper reasons for beliefs. Issues if we have knowledge are not dependent on the issue if we have the beliefs that are justified. Therefore, it is possible accepting skepticism on knowledge but also accept that most of our beliefs are supported by evidence. Question 4 Platos Idealistic philosophy Plato developed the idealistic philosophy in a proper manner. When one asks the cause of something, they end up having their essence. According to Plato, the knowledge is based on the fact that the knowledge object must be eternal, permanent, and since nothing is permanent, no one must look for stable knowledge outside the deceitful and fleeting world of material things. When Diogenes disapproved the ideas’ theory, by saying it could be the cup not cones. He retorted since he could see using his eyes not intellect. It is therefore true that basing oneself on a perception is not exclusive. It is possible shifting to universal from particular. The basic flaw here is thinking that the intellect generalization can be independent from the materials of the world where they are found. According to Plato, it is important to study philosophy because it is the focal point where all problems converge and all solutions come from. The philosopher claims that everything is in a flux and the reality is compared to a river where one can never step twice. Additionally, studying philosophy helps in reconciling insights in the community (Jaspers, 54). This is because the opinion word comprises of particular objects and the true knowledge world comprises of the universal. In his view, philosophical thinking tends to play a positive social role especially to the normative social philosophy. The positive role is seen in human well-being, liberalism, communitarianism, and theory of justice. Here, he brought come organized about ethical theory, values, and facts of social arrangement for human into the discussion. It is therefore clear how his philosophical thinking illuminated the question; thereby helping to understand the society issues to progress. Question 5 Principle Arguments for God’s Existence? Over the years, there are many attempts proving the God’s existence by the religious philosophers and canons of classical arguments. Not all the arguments based their origin on the philosophy of Christians. The Muslim and Jewish philosophers have contributed to religion philosophy and the Aristotle and Plato have directly influenced the development. Recent year have increased the interest in theology and the religion philosophy. Each classic theistic argument have been refined and revived, shown in defended afresh and in revised from. The arguments for the God’s existence explain each common atheism philosophical argument, and explore the case for the God’s existence. The arguments for the God’s existence are based on the cosmological argument, teleological argument, moral argument, Pascal’s wager, and religious argument. According to Pascal’s Wager, God exists based on the self-interest. It is the interest of people to believe in God. Therefore, it is a common rational for one to believe in God. This argument is supported by possible consequence of unbelief and belief. If one believed in God, we will receive the reward in heaven. The ontological argument proves his existence based on abstract reasoning. The argument starts on the explication of God’s Concept. The concept believes that God is a perfect being. An existing God is better than the God that fails to exist. According to teleological argument is based on the world’s order to the being’s existence that created it with a sole purpose in mind. The universe is a complex system. The universe scale is astounding and the conventional laws that manage it perplex the scientists after the generation of research. It is a higher ordered system and serves a reason. The universe offers exactly the proper conditions for the sustenance and development of life. Therefore, there are various mechanisms in which the world can be different, and the wide majority would not support life. Reference Jaspers, Karl. Philosophy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. Print. Read More