Fajilagmago, Cyrel Kathelene N.

June 26, 2017

Doing Philosophy

Etymologically the word philosophy comes from two Greek words, Philos meaning lover and Sophia means
wisdom. Philosophy originally meant LOVE OF WISDOM.

What comes to your mind every time you hear the word philosophy?

The human aspects where in a person uses his natural intellect: being open-minded. It teaches us not to what
to think but on how to think.

A typical girl who study, but wonder and curious in everything. I asked so many unanswered questions to
myself. What happened to life after death? Million years from now, will Earth still be a survival planet? I do
not know that this curiosity is a part of philosophy. I did not realized that I am philosophizing, not until I learn
what does philosophy all about.

According to Miriam Webster, Philosophy is a discipline compromising as its core logic, aesthetic, ethics,
metaphysics, and epistemology but according to Mr. Monnrad, philosophy is a way of looking at the world and
giving it meaning. It can provides a high quality method of examining our beliefs.

WONDER, DOUBT, SELF-AWARENESS that are the inevitable sources of philosophical inquiry. Why does man
have to philosophize? We, people begins to wonder, thats why different questions were formed like, What
are the origin of the solar system? Scientists believe that the solar system was formed when a cloud of dust
and gas was disturbed. How come? We doubted. Where does gas and dust came from? After answering all the
wonder and doubt on something, we are now aware. As long as an individual wonders, there will be a need to
philosophize.

Philosophy is broken up into different areas:

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy responsible for study of being in its general aspects. And anything
that 'exist' is a being. Without this, we would be helpless to deal with reality. Have you ever asked yourself if
you really existing or you're just an illusions? Do you believe that your life was just borrowed from God?

Human life is perceived as a great paradox, an incomprehensive contradiction, and dreadful tragedy. No
one has ever been asked whether or not he/she wanted to exist. Human existence is an incomprehensible
contradiction precisely because at the very moment an individual is born, he/she already begins to die and
he/she always dies before he/she is fully born. And a great tragedy, as a man is born in order to suffer and to
die.

I am also awed by the mystery of life and I think that somebody are thirsts for the true meaning of having
been thrown into a world that they didn't choose. Why does man still need to be born if we are going to die
soon?
 The problem of truth and knowledge, this is what we call epistemological. Sometimes, did you asked
yourself on where we gain knowledge?

Epistemology is the study of acquiring knowledge. As we learn, we gain information. It plays important
role in our daily life. Without it, we could not be able to think nor determine the true from false by
determining a proper method of evaluation.

Sometimes whoever is rich in experience is regarded as learned and knowledgeable but then, rationalism
teaches that the true and valid form of knowledge comes from within the mind itself not from experience.

"Values are doing right and wrong good or bad," I still remember that line in our values education subject
when I was elementary. How can one determine whether one is acting rightly or wrongly?

Ethics is the study of how we act, determining right and wrong and not taking work but taking
responsible and decision with values. Ethics is also called as moral philosophy because it talks about the
morality of a person where a theory or situation can't say it right or wrong unless the person or society tells if
it is good or bad. Ethics deal with a systemized body of knowledge that can be used, practiced and applied to
human.

We use our eyes to see the beautiful creation of God. Sometimes we can't control our self, we judge
based on its physical appearance. Art brings meaning to a man to abstract concept.

Aesthetic is the philosophical concerned with the nature and appreciation of art and beauty. Beauty
cannot exist by itself. There can no beauty without a perceiver. Are you familiar with this saying "Beauty lies
in the eyes of the beholder"? Thus, there should be a perceiver to notice, disclose, express, and appreciate the
essential characteristics that comprise and embody the beauty of the particular view or thing. Aesthetic delves
into the reason why art always existed with this, we see the world in a different and clear way.

"If you want it there is always a way but if you don't want it there are so many reasons" Reasoning, we
always do have a reason for everything. In every depth meaning there will be always a reason.

Logic is the study of correct and incorrect reasoning. Logic is important in searching for the truth and in
any form of scientific investigations. Correctness or validity of reasoning does not necessarily mean truth.
Logic is the study of correct and incorrect reasoning. Logic is important in searching for the truth and in any
form of scientific investigations. Correctness or validity of reasoning does not necessarily mean truth.

Logics exist between the conclusion and premises. Premises means the data or evidence that proves the
conclusion correct while the conclusion is the resulting statement that necessarily follows the data given the
premises.

Logic is primarily concerned with the validity or correctness of reasoning. For example: "All Visayans are
Filipino's therefore all Cebuano's are Filipino." Logic must be both valid and true.

Lastly, the Political Philosophy is the study of government and relationships between individual and
communities. It helps to the development of our economy.

The most notable ancient Greek Philosopher that I've been encountered or know are Democritus,
Pythagoras, Aristotle, Socrates, Diogenes, Plato and Heraclitus.
 Democritus studied the causes of natural phenomena. Pythagoras was the founder of Pythagorean
theorem. Aristotle was the prominent student of Plato that proposed a system of classification of animal.
Socrates was Athenian Philosopher and founder of western philosophy. Diogenes was the founder of cynic
philosophy who emphasis simplicity. Plato was the founder of Academy in Athens. And Heraclitus proposed
that everything that exists is based on logos-logic based an argument.

I was inspired to Diogenes, because his emphasis austerity and advocate of a simple and virtuous life, that
we need to live like a beggar. And I agree to him, we need to be thrifty and live simple. Life is not a contest,
you don't need to be in always on what's popular.

Like is like a novel where in we are the protagonist, different chapters with different circumstances. You
don't know what will happen next until you turn it to the next page. And at the end, you will always question
life. That is how philosophy works every day. Remember we can also be a philosopher in our own way.