LESSON 2: METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING

• Plato's critique of imitation (outlined in his famous book The Republic) is pivotal for philosophy's method
• Philosophy's method


  Cannot be a hybrid or a pseudo of a genre of literature, must be consistent after making its own site and field of investigation
• Branches of philosophy

  • Ontology
  • Epistemology
  • Ethics
  • Aesthetics
  • Logic
• Logic


  A person is called every day to reason and to decide on matters that actually demand his/her better judgement
• Elements of critical thinking

  • Independent thinking
  • Proactive thinking
  • Contextual thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Collaborative thinking
• Critical thinking in philosophy


  The person does not just accept things as they are but asks questions to the point of gathering and uncovering the best argument possible
• Independent thinking


  Thinking is not just embodying the truth but also embodying that truth-for-you which you believe in
• Proactive thinking


  To actively anticipate and prepare for potential objections in their arguments or positions and to execute contingent plans if one fails
• Contextual thinking


  Provides the necessary framework of thought and clarifies the actual range of thought
• Creative thinking


  Great thinkers are also master stylists because they can represent the truth in a manner where they could be seen in a different light
• Collaborative thinking


  To think is always to think in close collaboration with others, it is also a manifestation of the relational aspect of thought, communion, and participation
• Epistemology


  A study on the theory of knowledge, it explores diverse manners and ways by which truth can be achieved and generated
• Theories on knowledge


  • Theory of realism
  • Theory of relativism
  • Theory of pragmatism
  • Theory of phenomenology
  • Theory of axioms
• Theory of realism


  Truth is the adequation between what is outside the mind (reality) and inside the mind (subject), objects move in actual spaces where time is real and measurable
• Theory of relativism


  The basis of truth is always related to the subjective intervention of any phenomenon, hence, the truth for one person may not be the truth for the other
• Theory of pragmatism


  Emphasizes that truth should have practical consequences, practical consequences have to be beneficial in order to justify the truthfulness, what appears as truth also has to work as truth, theories alone are not enough, it should have real and concrete implications
• Theory of phenomenology


  Usually referred to as the theory of appearances that is essential to objective or empirical knowledge, "to see the world anew and again as if for the first time"
• Theory of axioms

  Axiomatic reasoning mediates the world through the principle of mathematics, noting the implications of principles on reality and truth, fundamental principles or statements that are considered self-evidently true and serve as the foundation for reasoning or argumentation
• According to Plato

  Mytheme : ideas based on stories

  Matheme: ideas based on reason
• ONTOLOGY: The theory of reality and nature of being.
• ESPITEMOLOGY: Theory of Knowledge
• ETHICS: Theory of what's wrong or right.
• AESTHETIC: Theory of nature and valuation of beauty.
• LOGIC: Theory of correct reasoning and sound thinking