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DEFINITION AND BRANCHES OF Philosophy is known by natural reason alone

PHILOSOPHY The tool or instrument of philosophy in its
inquiry or investigation to explain things is
reason. Philosophy does not employ in its
The word philosophy was coined by Pythagoras
explanation instruments that we use in other
(525-500 BCE) from the two Greek words
fields of discipline. The philosopher uses his
“philos” meaning love and “sophia” meaning
reason by interpreting his perceptions and
wisdom. So, to combine the two words, it
experiences through the power of his logical
means, “love of wisdom.” It refers to the
mind.
understanding of the first truths- the good, the
real, the beautiful, the just, the truth itself. Thus,
all human beings who love wisdom are regarded HOW AND WHEN PHILOSOPHY
as philosophers. STARTED

In its broadest sense, Pinon (1973) defined We don’t have a definite answer on when
philosophy as the “science of things by their philosophy really started. All that we can say
ultimate principles and causes as known by about the history of philosophy is that it all
natural reason alone”.Whatever its definitions started when we humans started to wonder. We
are, these are the domains of philosophy: all know that this event happened when
humans, through their wonder, started to ask
simple and innocent questions about maybe
Philosophy is a science
their existence and about their world. Maybe it
As a science, it uses observation as a tool and
all started with human beings asking the
basis of its understanding to explain a
question why i am here, what is death and what
phenomenon. It utilizes the systematic way of
is my purpose in life? Thus, no one or group of
understanding and proving things. Thus, it is not
people or even a country can really claim in the
founded on opinions, speculations or mere
history of philosophy that he is or they are the
conjectures.
first philosophers in this world.

Philosophy is the science of things

TRADITIONAL BRANCHES OF
Philosophy deals with everything and anything
PHILOSOPHY
in this world. In other words, philosophy is an
inquiry to all the things under the sun. It
COSMOLOGY- it is the branch of philosophy
investigates without limit and without boundary.
that deals with the scientific study of the
It talks about god, essence, freedom, existence,
universe, concerning its origin, nature,
being, cosmos, knowledge, beauty, goodness,
structure, and evolution.
truth, reality, human being, life and others.

METAPHYSICS- it is the branch of philosophy

Philosophy is for the ultimate principles and
causes that deals with being or the nature of existence-
The object of study of philosophy is to explain what it is, what things do exist, of what
the ultimate principles that govern everything. categories, and in what structure? As a
discipline, it investigates the super sensible or
Thus, it is concerned in the ultimate and final
the things beyond the realm of experience.
cause of things.

AESTHETICS- this branch of philosophy deals

with the study of beauty. It investigates art in all
its forms as it expresses beauty and deals with deals with reasoning. This study deals with the
the issues on what standards do we use to validity and truthfulness of argument or
appreciate and judge art. inference.

THEODICY- this branch of philosophy deals HISTORY AND DEFINITION OF LOGIC

with the study of the existence of God. It
investigates the nature of God if it really exists The word logic was coined by the pre-Socratic
or not. This discipline talks about the grounds on philosopher Zeno (489 BCE) from the Greek
how we prove or disprove the existence of God word “LOGOS” which means
by using reason or by faith alone. “word”.Traditionally, logic is studied as a
branch of philosophy until it was formalized and
EPISTEMOLOGY- it is the branch of systematized as a discipline by Aristotle by
philosophy that is concerned in the theory of calling it as organon (which means tool) which
knowledge- its sources, limits, truthfulness, and is the reason why it is called as Aristotelian
reliability. Here we discuss about the varied logic, although in the mid-nineteenth century it
explanations of the different schools in has been commonly studied in mathematics,
empiricism, rationalism and skepticism. and even more recently, in computer science as
formal science.
ETHICS- It is the branch of philosophy that is
concerned in the science of the morality of Technically speaking logic is defined as:Logic as
human acts if they are good or evil. Here, it the science and art of correct and true
deals with the standards of morality how we reasoning.
judge a human act.
Logic as a Science
PHILOSOPHY OF MAN- it is an inquiry into It is a science because it is a systematized body
the nature of man as a person, his origin, of knowledge which is considered to be true. As
essence, existence, freedom and destiny, and as a science, it follows procedures, structures,
an existing being in the world. principles and rules that validate a certain
statement or argument.

RATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY- it is a Logic as an Art

philosophical study of the principles of living It is an art since it has an order or rules to be
things, especially that of man as a thinking followed in order to have a good and
being endowed with freedom. comprehensible presentation or organization of
ideas.This gives us an easy way to understand an
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY- argument, hence, as an art, it is a skill to be
it is a philosophical study of the socio- developed.
economic-political dimensions of human living,
including social values. In particular, it is a Correct Reasoning
philosophical search for the ultimate foundation Logic adheres to what is correct. Correctness in
of the state, the ideal form or system of logic deals with how we derive our judgments
government, and its basic power.( and conclusions by following the set rules or
Gualdo:2008,4 ) standards using structures or patterns.(Umali:
2006, 3)
LOGIC- it is the branch of philosophy that
True Reasoning • Real Definition - a way of defining a term by
Logic must also be true, since it is not only describing
concerned with the presentation, structure or the nature of the term being defined. In defining
form of statements and arguments but also in the
the thought or material content of the message in term, it starts from giving the genus of the term
the expressions we have about reality. Thus, by (which
combining the two standards in logic as true and answers the question what makes it the same to
correct reasoning, we can have a valid others)
argument. (Agapay: 1991, 7)
then giving its own species (that answers the
question
What is a term? what makes it distinct or different from others).

• The term is the building block of an argument. Nominal Definition

We can never
Example/Kinds
comprehend the message or meaning of
• Illustrative Definition - This will be done by
communication or
bringing,
inference without using a term at all. A sentence
doing, or pointing to the object being defined.
or a
• Synonymous definition - This will be done by
proposition is composed of terms. A meaningful
giving
and sound
another term that has the same meaning to the
reasoning starts on the mastery of the nature of
term being
the term.
defined.
• The term is the first product of mental activity
which we call • Etymological definition - This will be done
by giving the origin of the word being defined.
simple apprehension that grasps or abstracts the
meaning of
Real Definition - A way of defining a term by
something. It is a word (verbal or written) which
describing the nature of the term being defined.
conveys an
- Start from giving the genus then giving its own
idea or concept. Without the term, we cannot
species
make any
- Nature of the term
statement of proposition that we use in
- Uses words
reasoning.
Genus- something that makes the term familiar
or similar with other species
Kinds of Definition of Terms Species- giving a more detailed description of a
word and make it distinct from other species
• Nominal Definition – a way of defining a
term by Examples: Bicycle: genus- vehicle
regarding it as a name that stands for an object, species- has two wheels propelled by a pedal
related or Monk: genus- man​ ​ ​
rooted to other names. There are three types of species- who vowed to have a monastic life
nominal
definition: illustrative definition, synonymous
definition
and etymological definition.
Classification of Terms According to Meaning Subject term- affirm or deny the proposition
Predicate- quality or attribute affirmed or
• Univocal Term - it is a term that has one denied by the subject in the proposition
meaning only in its several uses. Copula- the element that links the subject to the
• Equivocal Term - it is a term that has several predicate
meanings in its several uses. Example: Libmanan is not a town
• Analogous term - it is a term that has
similarity in meanings but not exactly the same. Properties of Proposition
Quality - The proposition has agreement
Rules in Giving Good Definition (affirmative) or disagreement (negative).
Quantity- Refers to the number of the
• Be clear in definition - To give the definition proposition if it is universal (U) or particular (P)
without ambiguity or vagueness we just need to
give what is essential or important in defining Four Types of Proposition
the term. Thus, to avoid ambiguity, we need to A proposition- Universal and Affirmative
give the essential characteristics of the term we E proposition- Universal and Negative
define.
• Be direct in definition - In defining we have I proposition- Particular and Affirmative
to clarify the meaning of the term we define by O proposition- Particular and Negative
not repeating or by making the term part of the Example: No human is immortal - A
definition. proposition. No human- subject; is- copula;
• Give a positive definition - In defining a term, immortal- predicate.
we give the positive definition of the term by Structure of the sentence does not literally affect
affirming its essential characteristics of the term the meaning.
we define. It is not correct to define a term by
starting with a negative statement since, if we do THE THREE ACTS OF MINDS
that, we are not giving at all the meaning of the 1.​ APPREHENSION - Act of getting what
term we want to define. something is. Identifying the object
• Be exact in definition - In defining a term, we 2.​ JUDGMENT - Whether something is or
need to give an accurate or precise definition by not so. We deny or affirm things like,
not having a too broad or too narrow meaning. human beings are animals. We
sometimes need senses to judge
What is a proposition something.
-​ Composed of several term 3.​ Reasoning - We reason from a set of
-​ Simple apprehension and if it used as a judgment to conclusion. Ex: All human
fact then it can be judgment and the beings are mortal; Socrates is a man;
second mental activity is proposition Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
-​ A proposition is a declarative sentence
-​ A sentence in which the two terms EXAM:
(subject and predicate) assert or negate
something Subject- main character in Philosophy
the sentence. Predicate- the one that 1. What tool do we use to come up with thoughts
describe the subject and knowledge when it comes to philosophy?
Elements of Proposition
- Inquiry and Investigation (experiments, Type of Exam:
research) - Multiple choice (20 items)
- In philosophy, logic is the tool. - modified true or false (two statements per item,
- If we use logic, we use observations. determine whether both statements are true, both
- When they come up with their theories statements are false or if the first statement is
(Philosophers) use is Questions. true and the second is false) (5 items, 2 points
How do you answer questions? Through or we each)
use reasons. - Identification (10 items)
• Type of mental operation
2. Quantity • Definition
- Particular - Explanation (3 items, 5 points each)
- Universal
- Singular
- Indefinite
When we use judgment, it uses a certain type of
proposition.
If the subject of the judgment is less particular, it
is INDEFINITE
Only one subject - SINGULAR.
Full scope - UNIVERSAL.
Partial Extension - PARTICULAR.

TRUE OR FALSE: (Example)

1. Ideas are considered as a building block of
knowledge.
A mental operation by which an idea is formed
in the mind.
Act of agreement and disagreement is
pronounced.
Form conclusion - REASONING.
Different types of Definition
- Bring or Pointing - ILLUSTRATIVE
- Origin of the Word - ETYMOLOGICAL
- describing the nature of the term - REAL
DEFINITION

• Rules in giving good definition (Doesn't have

to be verbatim as long as its close to the
definition)