Philosophy
The Study of Wisdom How do we know what we know? Is there such a thing as truth? What is the difference between science and religion? Does God exist? Is there truth in history? Does science guarantee truth?
Major Branches of Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Ethics Aesthetics Logic
Major questions of the branches of Philosophy Metaphysics – What is the nature of reality; Does life have meaning? Does God exist? Epistemology – What is truth? Can we ever really know anything? Ethics – How should we treat people? How do we decide right vs. Wrong? Aesthetics – What is the nature of art? What is beauty? Logic – What are the principles of correct reasoning? How do people use incorrect reasoning to reach false conclusions?
Major Branches of Philosophy Metaphysics – the study of reality and existence Epistemology – the study of knowledge and methods used for constructing knowledge. Ethics – the study of moral values Aesthetics – the study of beauty and art Logic – the study of correct reasoning and valid arguments
Epistemology (We are drowning in information, but we are starved for knowledge) History is a reconstruction of the past; there is no such thing as a true history. The reconstruction is based on an interpretation of primary and secondary sources. To accurately interpret one must consider: Origin Purpose Content Value Limitations
Logic (the study of correct reasoning) There are two basic kinds of arguments: 1) Deductive 2) Inductive
Deductive Reasoning Premise 1: All men are mortal Premise 2: Mr. Verfenstein is a man Conclusion: Mr. Verfenstein is mortal (Categorical Syllogism- an argument that consists of two supporting premises and a conclusion) Premise – supporting reason
Inductive Reasoning Premise 1: The big bang occurred billions of years ago Premise 2: Matter spread at the speed of light Conclusion: Our solar system was formed from this. (when you reason inductively, your premises provide evidence that makes it probable, (but not certain) that the conclusion is true.
Fallacies (false reasoning) Hasty generalizations Sweeping generalizations False dilemma – either or fallacy Causal fallacies – did A cause B or is A and B occurring simultaneously Causation: Correlation: * Post hoc ergo propter hoc: (After it, therefore because of it) * Fallacies of relevance (The history is reliable because it was published by Harvard University)
Common historical argument Premise 1: The American Republic was formed with slavery Premise 2: The state rights theory held that the state was sovereign to the powers of the central government Conclusion: Slavery caused the Civil War
Two ways to conceive of history History is Random Democritus – atoms in motion randomly collide with each other History has a purpose Hegel and Marx – the events of the past happen for a reason and the ongoing story is leading towards something
Causation vs. Correlation A Causes B [One event causes another] ( Slavery caused the Civil War) causal relationship Correlation A_________________________________________(ongoing) B_________________________________________(ongoing)