Why Philosophy?

2 Points of the Brief History of Philosophy 1. That philosophy, which started centuries before Christ, shows no sign of coming to an end. (It is still very much alive) 2. That there is no such thing in philosophy, as a completely new idea. So why philosophy? .. there will always be some thinking men in every generation, men who will wonder at what they see, not just accept what they see.

In philosophy, it is not possible to be an authentic thinker unless we allow tradition to plan an inspiring role. - The classical works of the past embody the collective history of what mankind has seen. Seeing is a personal act.

When philosophy is under a cloud 1. Man misunderstands philosophys nature and function by comparing it with science 2. Man experiences his own life as a problem 3. He turns to philosophy only to discover that reality is not something only out there but it also involves him. (response is subjective).

PHILOSOPHIZING AND INSIGHT INSIGHT when one sees into something more than what meets the ye. *** Man have insight since they use their intelligence and powers of reflection. The history of philosophy shows that men have seen and noticed things around them, though and pondered on these, and acts on their reflections. FATHER Roque J. Ferriols, S.J (in article Insight) Two Techniques in handling insights: 1. Use of metaphors 2. Use of conceptual analysis Abstraction is one of the tools often used in the analysis of insights. Abstract thought called a concept Analysis by abstraction conceptual analysis

THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY Ontological Pragmatism: ontological the intellectual conception of knowing actually enables us progressively to discern its nature Pragmatism because it views thematic knowledge as an instrumental function of experience aimed at the latters transformation. *** Ideas must be tested by consequences. Inquiry defined as mans effort to integrate his experience as responsible agent Experience signifies the interaction process itself, that is, the human self in dynamic relation with the whole range of the other.

Different Steps in Inquiry: 1. Man functions as the responder. - He is confronted with external realities like problems and he answers these problems keeping in mind of the impact of his responses 2. Man may be aware of the inadequacy of past habits in dealing with a problem which gives rise to hesitancy and uncertainty. 3. The uncertainty is a positive and pervasive quality of the interactive process itself. It is this incoherence that calls for inquiry. *** INQUIRY that whole process by which mans experience of himself as responder to actions on him is transformed from an incoherent state to one whose elements hang together, from a state of tension and discord to one that is resolved and integrated.

THE MATRIX AND SCOPE OF PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY 1. Human experience is a shared experience = cooperative activity (bayanihan spirit) - Relationship between man and his community. If he affects his community by what he does with others, his community affects him, too. 2. This shared experience has a double import. 3. Use of common sense Common sense that generally accepted body of regulative meanings and procedures applied to particular circumstances, to the here and now. 4. Need for philosophical inquiry

THE MODES OF PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY 1. LOGIC (theoretical coherence) - Trying to relate the meanings of my life as a logical whole, to make sense of them on the level of thought. 2. PHENOMENOLOGY to live his thought 3. META-PRAGMATICS philosophy must self-consciously plan itself in the context and service of human life of which it is a function and whose direction it has to grasp both to control its own conduct as inquiry and to measure the adequacy of its results. THE THREE ROLES OF PHILOSOPHY 1. The Role of Krisis look into political and economic scenery Crisis from Greek work krisis meaning the act or power of distinguishing, of separating, of distinguishing the good from the bad, not just concentrating on the bad alone. 2. The Role of Poesis poesis is a creative role 3. The Role of Phronesis Aristotle: phronesis is a sort of practical wisdom, a certain capacity to think and feel in the situation as befits a man of action.
Source: Philosophy of Man by Corazon Cruz