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LIBERTY PHIL 201 - PHIL201_Study_Guide_Lesson_1 (1)

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PHIL 201STUDY GUIDE: LESSON 1What is Philosophy?Lesson OverviewWelcome to this introductory course in philosophy. For our first lesson, we are going to examine the question: What is philosophy? There are 4 ways you can get to know what a discipline is: define it, describe it, contrast and compare it with other disciplines, and finally experience it. In this first lesson, we will aim to accomplish the first 3 of these activities. The rest of the course will be an exercise in experiencing philosophy.TasksView and take notes of the presentation, “Misconceptions about Philosophy.”Misconceptions: an idea that’s wrong about something 1. You have to be super intelligent2. It’s just your opinion3. It’s only about casting doubts or asking questions that have no answers4. It’s unbiblical5. It’s not practical6. It’s dull. Boring.Read and take notes on Prelude to Philosophy, Chapter 1: “What is Philosophy?” As you read, make sure you understand the following points and questions:- List 4 reasons students often presuppose a low view of philosophy.1. Thinking that one must be “superintelegent” to do it (academic elite) p.162. Most students begin studying it late in school p. 163. People don’t think it is practicle p. 174. People don’t know wha tit is or how it can benefit them p. 18- Know Socrates’ quote: What is the unexamined life? What did he mean when he said it wasn’t worth living? p. 19, 21 Going through the motions of life without thinking about why or where you are going, or what you want- Know the etymology of the word “philosophy.” Greek phileo= love/affection + sophos = wisdom- Know the working definition of “philosophy” and explain each of its elements.Noun- a point of view on a topic = a set of beliefs on a topic and possible process for accomplishing it’s goal.Verb/Actvity- practice a particular kind of mental activity - List and explain each of the 6 characteristics under the description of philosophy.1. The relationship between philosophy and facts. (what lies behind the facts, meaning, significance, veracity) p.292. The importance of the method in philosophical investigation. p.30 (method employed to arrive at a belief is important)3. One of the primary tasks of philosophy is clarification. p.31 (clear thinking is important, eliminate ambiguity and vagueness)PHIL 2014. Philosophy examines and evaluates everything. Nothing is taken for granted. p.33 (require clarificationand justification before accepting any belief as true)5. Philosophy is usually concerned with foundational issues that have been perennial through out the history of humankind. p.38 (reflecting on foundationally critical issues, not all solutions are of the same quality)6. Philosophy often appeals to a system of principles or guidelines regarded to be true. p.41 (inconsistency with a set of beliefs is a sign of falsehood, law of noncontradiction, basic laws in science- laws of physics)Contrast and compare philosophy with religion - Similar in both search for "ultimate". Religion appeals to some authoritative revelation to discover truths about the "ultimate", philosophy uses rational inquiry to understand "ultimate", and is suspicious of books claiming to be authoritative. Philosophy is an exercise in critical reflection, not blind acceptance of an authority claim. p.43Contrast and compare philosophy with science - Similar in both try to understand reality in a methodical fashion, derive criteria, hypotheses and theories applied to specific situations to discover truth about reality. Differ: science focuses on the reality of the the senses (physical world), first-order questions, and scientific naturalism. Philosophy is second-order, and questionspresuppositions. p.44-45Contrast and compare philosophy with art – Similar in both are used to express sophical ideas. Art usually conveys a particual philosophical view, philosophy seeks the rational justification of a view. Philosophy argues for a view, art expresses the view. Philosophy is concerned with content and art is concerned with structure. p.46-47- Explain the value of experiential knowledge in distinction to propositional knowledge. – Experiential knowledge enhances our understanding beyond what propositional knowledge can convey. Philosophy provides a formal means of structuring and reflecting on experiences. p.48-49TermsMake sure you fully understand the following terms and concepts:- The unexamined life- going through themotions of life without thinking about why you do what you do, who you want to be or what you want to do p.19- The rational animal - refers to a classicaldefinition of humanity or human nature, associated with Aristotelianism.- Normative claim -claims about how things should or ought to be, how to value them, which things are good or - Presupposition – Beliefs people usuallydo not think about or try to prove (assumptions people hold about themselves and the world, without which they would not be able to arrive at any other knowledge. p.25- First-order discipline – a field that studies the reality diretly (example: Biology) p.30- Second-order discipline –a field that studies the methods andPHIL 201bad, and which actions are right or wrong.pp. 21-22- Wisdom – knowledge applied (in a waythat benefits one’s life) p. 23- Philosophy – love of wisdom p. 23 Thecritical examination of our foundational beliefs concerning the nature of reality, knowledge and truth, and our moral and social values. p. 24- Critical examination – analyzing beliefsp. 24 (clarification, justification, evaluation)- Clarification –To determin what it means p.24- Justification – Address the questions: Isthis true? Are there good reasons to believe that it is true? p.24- Evaluation – Determines the value or significance of the idea. p.24- Foundational beliefs – Beliefs that are central and fundamental to an overall worldview and yet are often not thought about. p.25presuppositions of first-order disciplines (not interested in the conclusionas much as the means used to arrive at the conclusion nd the presuppositions held while attempting to answer the question) p.31- Ambiguous –there is more than one possible meaning p.32- Vague - Meaning is not clear, inability to identify the parameters of a term. p.32- Worldview – A comprehensive system of beliefs that functions, first as an explanation and interpretation of the world and, second as an application of that system to the way people live and the


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