PHILOSOPHY: METHODS AND

SCOPE
 BASIC PREMISES IN THE STUDY OF
PHILOSOPHY
1. All men are by nature philosophers.
2. Philosophy starts with the experience of “awe” or “wonder”
3. Philosophical questions are usually the “what”, “how” and most often
the “why” questions and not much of the “who”, “where” or “when”
questions.
4. Whenever man’s questions are answered, he has the tendency to ask
new questions, because he wants to arrive at ultimate reasons to things
PHILOSOPHY: DEFINITIONS AND METHODS

 PHILOSOPHY - Philo and Sophia (Love and wisdom)

- Love of wisdom
 PHILOSOPHY- study of the ultimate principles and explanations behind the
reality of beings through the aid of pure reason
 BEING- Anything that exist or has the capacity to exist
 PURE REASON- through the aid of reflection and not much of scientific methods
 METHODS OF PURE REASON
1. Speculation
2. Reflection
 PHILOSOPHY: BRANCHES AND SUBJECT
MATTER
BRANCH SUBJECT MATTER SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Philosophy of Man Man Is man by nature good or bad ?

What are the characteristics of
man?
Ethics Morality of Human Acts Is homosexuality good or bad
What are the basis of ones
duties or obligations?
Metaphysics Existence of beings Which comes first the chicken or
the egg?
What makes a square a square
Epistemology Knowledge Where does knowledge come
from?
How do we know whether
something is the truth or falsity
 PHILOSOPHY: BRANCHES AND SUBJECT
MATTER
BRANCH SUBJECT MATTER SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Aesthetics Beauty What is beauty?
What makes a painting
beautiful?
Logic Reasoning What is correct inference?
Political Philosophy Exercise of power What is an ideal form of
government
Social Philosophy Society What makes a just society?
What is man’s obligation to
society?
 PHILOSOPHY: BRANCHES AND SUBJECT
MATTER
BRANCH SUBJECT MATTER SAMPLE QUESTIONS
Theodicy God and Religion Is there a God?
How do you prove that God exists?
Natural Philosophy Nature and the Universe How was the world created?
“ Bata-bata paano ka ba ginawa?
PHILOSOPHY AND THE SCIENCES

 1. Philosophy provides the premises or knowledge upon which the sciences and
are based.
2. Philosophy finds meaning and application in the humanities and the sciences
3. The sciences and humanities tend to be specific or focus while Philosophy is
wholistic and interrelational in approach. (ie. The Story of the Blind Trying to
Know the Elephant
“
APPLICATIONS OF PHILOSOPHY

BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY APPLICATIONS/ APPLIED SCIENCE

Philosophy of Man Psychology, Human Resource Management, Social Work,
Education, Phenology
Ethics Business Ethics, Law, Educational Ethics, Bioethics, Sociology
Political Philosophy Political Science, Public Administration and Governance
Social Philosophy Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Corporate Social
Responsibility
Aesthetics Humanities and Arts
Metaphysics Biology
Logic Mathematical Logic, Computer Logic, Literature and the Arts
APPLICATIONS OF PHILOSOPHY

BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY APPLICATIONS/ APPLIED SCIENCES

Theodicy Theology, Religion, Sociology of Religion
Natural Philosophy/Philosophy of the Sciences Astronomy, Earth Science, Biology, Physics
Epistemology Education, Psychology of Learning
PERSPECTIVES OF VIEWING PHILOSOPHY

Traditional Modern
Theoretical Practical
Emphasis on thinking Emphasis on doing or practice
Discourse Oriented Action/ Decision Making Oriented
Generate ideas Apply ideas
Passive Active
Idealist Realist