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2.  Philosophy is the “Love of Wisdom” o From 

3.  Philosophy is one’s personal view of something  These days most people try to capture their philosophy in a phrase (motto)

4.  Philosophy is “a critical approach to all subjects” (R. Solomon)

5.  Philosophy is the pursuit of the Truth o Not the desire to learn facts or math or true from false, but the desire to learn … o The desire to learn … o This is ___________________, a pursuit that never grows old o Therefore, philosophy is the pursuit of …

6.  Philosophy is living thoughtfully o “A life of ideas or the life of reason” (R. Solomon) o Socrates: “The unexamined life is not worth living” (reflective)

7.  Philosophy is how we view the world  Philosophy is a discipline o It disciplines our … o It teaches us how …

8.  Philosophy is “an attitude of critical and systematic thoughtfulness” o It knows that the answer … o It knows that many things … o And so philosophy tries hard to hold the apparent opposites in tension

9.  Modern philosophy is based primarily on ethics o How we live o What is important o The individual (subject) is the center of attention  Pre-modern philosophy is based primarily on “what’s out there” o Other things or persons (object) is the center of attention

10.  Philosophy helps us ask (and answer, to some degree) the “big questions” o ___________________________________________? (Metaphysics) o ___________________________________________? (Ontology) o ___________________________________________?(Epistemology) o ___________________________________________?(Anthropology) o ___________________________________________?(Ethics)

11.  If philosophy is the desire or passion for wisdom… o The wise man understands who he is, where he stands in the universe, that he has a divine part within him (that he is a rational soul), and how that divine part must transcend the lusts of his body and the fleeting ambitions (and daily grind) of daily life to reach true happiness

12.  Philosophy allows us to rise above ourselves; to seek the eternal – Cicero o “If the souls which we have are eternal and divine, we must conclude that the more we let them have their head in natural activity, that is, in reasoning and the quest for knowledge, and the less we are caught up in the vices and errors of mankind, the easier it will be for them to ascend and return to Heaven.” (Brown, 40) o St Augustine (inspired by Cicero): “I should love Wisdom, of whatever kind that should be. I should search for it, follow hard upon it, hold on to it and embrace it with all my strength.” (Brown, 41)

13.  OT: Philosophy is “the fear of the Lord” o “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”  NT: Philosophy is the pursuit of Truth o Not ________________________________________ o But ________________________________________

14.  Philosophy is the fear of the Lord o Not “being afraid or scared of” but “fear of letting down” o Therefore, the desire to please o You have to know someone well in order to know what pleases them and what disappoints them

15.  Philosophy is the desire, the love, the passion to know the Lord  The key (the middle term) is Jesus o Major Premise: o Minor Premise: o Conclusion:

16.  Ultimately, then, philosophy is the passion for Jesus o (Ontology) He is ___________________________________ o (Epistemology) He is ___________________________________ o (Anthropology) He is ___________________________________ o (Ethics) He is ___________________________________