Introduction to

Philosophy

Philosophy a word which comes

from the Greek: philo sophia
philo means love
sophia means wisdom

The love of wisdom

What does that mean?
Well, if you love a person, a
dog, or a book, song, or
movie what does loving
mean?

Pythagoras was the

ancient Greek
philosopher and
mathematician who
(some say) coined this
word. He added that
humans cant be wise.
Only the gods are wise.
But we can be lovers of
(or friends of) wisdom.

loving wisdom has something to

do with enjoying it, getting to
know it, understanding it a little
bit, sharing it with others,
protecting it,
and benefitting from it.

Philosophy can be done,

or it can be studied, or
both. As with music
you can study it and you
can play it. You should do
both, of course.

Philosophy can be compared to

other subjects: science,
religion, poetry and literature,
psychology, logic,
religion and cooking.

To be good at cooking
you must do it
and also study it.
They feed on each
other.

Science you can be a scientist, and you

can study science. Science as we usually
think of it, seeks to learn about nature.
Doing science is asking questions and
finding answers to those questions about
nature.

Poetry: you can study it, and

you can do it. That is, you can
write poetry. What is poetry
about? What do you think?

In doing poetry, you are able to

express your thoughts and
feelings about anything
whatsoever. Is it necessarily
wisdom? Is it science? Could
it be either of these?

Cooking: you can study it, and

you can do it.

So how does philosophy

differ from these other
subjects?

Science, religions,
music, poems, and cooking
each have a fairly well
known subject matter.
But what is the subject
matter
of philosophy?

We could say that philosophys subject

matter is simply a deeper understandi
of those other subjects it is trying
understand the foundations of any and
subjects. The foundations what ar

A foundation that which

comes first, and supports all
the rest.

We mean the
ideas, the
concepts, the
definitions
and
assumptions
which are the
starting
points and
the context
of everything

Honestyisgood
andsoisgenerosity.
Courageandunselfishness
aregood.

Butwhatdoyoumeanbygood?
Isgoodnessrealcanyouseeitorsmellitorweighit?
Isitonlyabunchofrulesmadeupbyhumanbeings
tocontroleachother,ortobringsomekindof
peaceandharmony
totheirlives?

Amovieisgoodwhatdoesthatmean?

Acheesesandwichisgood.
AndsowasMotherTheresa.
Acleanfloorisgoodandsoisfootball.

So,whatdoesgoodmean?

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Whatistechnology?
Whydowewantit?
Whenisitgoodforus?
Whenisitharmful?
Isthereapointofdiminishingreturns?
Canweeverrefusetousesometechnologies?

Thescienceswhatdotheystudy?
Naturetheuniverse,theatoms,animals,plants,
andbugsandfishandbirdsandmicrobes.
Throwinfeatherlessbipeds(manandwoman)and
societyandpoliticsandeconomy
Whatarethefoundationsofscience?
Thatswherephilosophycomesin.

WhatisNature?andhowcanwegoabout
discoveringthingsaboutit?Ifwelook
throughatelescopeoramicroscope,
howdoweknowwhatitis
wearelookingat?

Religions

DefineGod,thesoul,Nirvana,
Brahman,Tao,Tien.
Doanyoftheseactuallyexist?
Isthereanafterlife?
Whatdoessalvationmeanin
differentreligions?