PHIL 201
Lesson Overview
STUDY GUIDE: LESSON 2
Philosophy’s General Importance and Divisions
Having discussed what philosophy is, we now consider why it is important for all persons in
general. (In the next lesson, we will come back to the question of why it is important for
Christians, specifically, to study philosophy.) In this lesson we introduce the idea of the
philosophic mindset. We will end by providing an overview of the different branches/divisions of
philosophy.
Tasks
Read and take notes from Chapter 2 of Foreman’s Prelude to Philosophy: “Why is Philosophy
Important?” As you read, make sure to understand the following points and questions:
•
What is meant by the philosophical mindset? (52)
o An attitude or approach to life that involves regularly examining beliefs to
ascertain what they mean, whether they are true and what value they have
•
How does the job/vocation analogy apply to adopting the philosophical mindset? (53)
o Job=makes money
o vocation=way of life to which persons are called
•
List and explain the 5 reasons provided for why it is important to develop a philosophical
mindset.
o The Examined life (54)
▪
Understanding and knowledge
▪
Examinging and evaluating beliefs
▪
We have appetites (aesthetic, intelligent, social)
▪
Understand how strongly our beliefs affect us
•
What are the 2 benefits of examining and evaluating beliefs?
o Understanding life enhances our enjoyment of it (54)
o When we consider how strongly our beliegs affect us
•
What are the 2 respects in which clarification is important? (58)
o Important that we are clear about what we belive for our own benefit
o Clarifying terms and concepts is of the utmost importance because our
discussions with others about our beliefs are based on a shared understanding of
what those terms and concepts mean
•
Why is clarification important in philosophical discussions? (59)
o Important that all participants are clear on the meaning of terms involved…if not
it leads to fruitless discussion
•
Distinguish between the 2 kinds of arguing in 4 ways.
o (59-60)
•
What kind of arguing do philosophers do?
o Dispute of ideas, not between individuals (60)
•
What are 2 values for arguing in philosophy?
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o Foremost way that we fulfull the justification aspect of critical examination, offer
reasons for why belief is true (60)
o Forces us to understand an issue better, strips an issue down to its basic elements
clarifying what we mean and provide reasons for our beliefs about it (61)
•
What is the difference between having a worldview and establishing a worldview? (62)
o Have= adopt, without much critical reflection, accepting what they were told or
what their culture proclaims or tacitly endorses
o Cultivate= reflect on foundational beliefs, to consider the different options
concerning them and to arrive at a good justification for holding the beliefs we do
•
What are the 3 elements of a worldview?
o 1. Beliefs must be internally consistent, shouldn’t contradict one another (63-64)
o 2. External comprehensiveness: when a new fact that might have a profound
effect on a worldview comes to light, the worldview needs to account for it (64)
example: even if our worldview says God is all loving and good, evil still exists
and must be accounted for
o 3. Coherence: beliefs involved in a worldview should fit together and mutually
support one another, it’s a set of related beliefs that together form a basis from
which to act in the world (66)
•
If there is inconsistency in a worldview, how do we determine what should change?
o Question on what to change depends on which beliefs have best support in their
favor (63)
•
What should we do when we encounter new information that challenges our worldview?
o (65) philiopshical mindset requires that we account for it, and it might involve
showing how the new information fits within our worldview…involves adapting
our worldview to the new information, none of us should be so committed to a
worldview that we are not willing to change our minds if that is where the
evidence leads (66)
•
List and explain 5 ways philosophy is practical.
o 1. A person’s worldview deteramines his ultimate goals and these in turn strongly
shape everyday decisions (68), also helps consider what our goals for the future
should be and how to best achieve them
o 2. Indviduals evaluate questions and problems in other fields…no matter what
discipline one is in, one will eventually encounter basic philosophical questions
(70)..
o 3. plays a big role in our ethical reasoning because we frequently make moral
descisions (72)
o 4. Concerns how we relate to one another, understanding others’ worldviews aids
in the task of relating to them but helps us live and disagree while respecting the
other one (73)
o 5. It opens and expands our minds to new ideas and options we may have
considered…helps us rid of dogmatism, prejudice, and poor reasoning…we
become more analytical of what we read and hear (74)
•
What did Kierkegaard mean when he said we should understand life backward but live it
forward?
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o Wisdom in the idea that a person should look at the end of her life, decide what
she wants to have accomplished and then thinking backwards from the end, plan
out her life…similar to solving a maze (69)
•
Why are our daily choices important?
o Today’s choices will mold tomorrow…it helps us consider our goals for the future
and how to best achieve them (69)
o Regular choices made in interactioons with people which form character and
relect and influence our worldview.
•
How is philosophy important to other fields of study?
o All fields need to question ethical reasoning whether its in education, government,
sports, medical (71)
•
How does the philosophical mindset help in moral decision making?
o There are steps of justification that lead to the descision making (73) helps us
think wisely
•
How does philosophy help us relate to other people?
o (73) task of philosophy helps us cultivate and understand worldviews…
understanding another’s WV, know its basical presuppositions and where is it
coming from aids in the task of understanding the person and that is the basis for
fruitful dialogue
•
What was Bertrand Russell’s point?
o It awakens us from our dogmatic slumbers, and opens our minds to new options
and ideas…love of wisdom (75)
View the video “The Branches of Philosophy,” and then read Chapter 4 of Foreman’s Prelude to
Philosophy: “The Divisions of Philosophy.” Be able to identify the kinds of questions that come
under each branch.
•
Metaphysics: what is real?
o Dualists: something besides the physical world…
•
Epistemology: how do we know anything at all? Study of knowledge itself
o What claims count as knowledge rather than opinion
•
Axiology: study of value
o Ethics: moral value, good vs evil, right vs wrong
o
Terms
Make sure you fully understand the following terms and concepts:
Note the branches/divisions:
•
Metaphysics: philosophical study of
reality (106)…knowledge of immaterial
being or first philosophy
o Cosmological: concerns
questions about the origin and
prupose of reality…on the
origin and purpose of ultimate
•
Philosophical Mindset: An attitude or
approach to life that involves regularly
examining beliefs to ascertain what
they mean, whether they are true and
what value they have
•
Epistemic Obligation: has to do with
knowledge and understanding,
normative claim that we have a duty to
PHIL 201
clarify our beliefs and be able to offer
good reasons for thinking they are true
(54)
•
Intellectual Appetite: natural desire to
know and understand, powerful and so
we get frustrated when we don’t
understand a concept (55)
•
Core Beliefs: foundational beliefs that
affect almost every area of our lifes
(57)
•
Argue: primary task of philosophers,
strategy in the pursuit of truth (59)
dispute between ideas (60)…way we
fulfull justification aspect of critical
examination (60)
•
Socratic Method
•
Worldview: philosophical mindset
plays role in helping us cultivate a
comprehensive system by which our
knowledge can be categorized and
examined, explanation or interpretation
of the world and an application of that
view to life (61)
•
Internal Consistency: beliefs must be
interally consistent, shouldn’t
contradict one another (64)
•
Comprehensiveness: when a new fact
that might have a profound effect on a
worldview comes to light, it must be
accounted for (64)
•
Coherence: beliefs in a worldview that
must fit together and mutually support
one another (66)
•
Philosophia panem non torrit:
“philosophy bakes no bread” means
philosophy has no practical value (67)
reality
o Theological: questions reality of
God (107)
o Anthropological: nature of
human beings (108)
o Ontological: nature of being or
existence itself (109)
•
Epistemology: deals with knowledge
and truth claims (109)
•
Axiology: idea of values (113)
o Ethics: moral values, good vs.
evil or right vs. wrong (113)
o Aesthetics: raisese questions
about art and beauty (115)
