Chapter 1 What is Philosophy? Thinking Philosophically About Life
Why Study Philosophy? Defining Philosophy Studying philosophy in a serious and reflective way will change you as a person Philosophy Is the Pursuit of Wisdom Philosophy Begins with Wonder Philosophy Is a Dynamic Process The Ultimate Aim of Philosophy
Defining Philosophy
Thinking Philosophically: Becoming a Critical Thinker Qualities of a Critical Thinker Open-minded Knowledgeable Mentally active Curious Independent thinkers Skilled discussants
Thinking Philosophically: Becoming a Critical Thinker Insightful Self-aware Creative Passionate The Process of Critical Thinking State Your Initial Point of View Define Your Point of View More Clearly
Thinking Philosophically: Becoming a Critical Thinker Give an Example of Your Point of View Explore the Origin of Your Point of View Identify Your Assumptions Offer the Reasons, Evidence, & Arguments That Support Your Point of View Consider Other Points of View
Thinking Philosophically: Becoming a Critical Thinker Arrive at a Conclusion, Decision, Solution, or Prediction Consider the Consequences Stages in Critical Thinking Stage 1: The Garden of Eden Stage 2: Anything Goes Stage 3: Thinking Critically
Figure 1-1: Critical Thinking Model
Thinking Philosophically
Understanding Arguments The Structure of Arguments Cue Words Signaling Reasons Cue Words Signaling Conclusions Evaluating Arguments Truth: How True are the Supporting Reasons? Validity: Do the Reasons Support the Conclusion?
Understanding Arguments Soundness: Does the Argument Pass the Tests of Both Truth and Validity? Deductive Arguments Categorical Syllogism Modus Ponens Modus Tollens
Understanding Arguments Disjunctive Syllogism Inductive Arguments Informal Fallacies Fallacies of False Generalization Hasty generalization Sweeping generalization
Understanding Arguments False dilemma Causal Fallacies Questionable cause Misidentification of the cause Post hoc ergo propter hoc Slippery slope
Understanding Arguments Fallacies of Relevance Appeal to authority/tradition/bandwagon Appeal to emotion Appeal to personal attack Red herring
Understanding Arguments
Branches of Philosophy Metaphysics What is the nature of the self? How are the mind and body related to each other? Do we have free wills that enable us to make independent choices?
Branches of Philosophy What is the nature of reality? Epistemology Can we ever really know anything? What is truth? Ethics How should we treat other people?
Branches of Philosophy Is there a good life for humans? What is the relation between moral values and religion? How do we decide on the moral rightness of social issues? Political and Social Philosophy
Branches of Philosophy What is the most enlightened form of government? What is the nature of justice? Aesthetics What is the nature of beauty? What is art?
Major Branches of Philosophy
Major Branches of Philosophy
Reading Critically; Making Connections Bertrand Russell, from The Value of Philosophy Analyzing Russell on the Value of Philosophy How do we discover the meaning of life? Thinking philosophically in our current world is typically not a simple matter
Bertrand Russell