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INTRODUCTION
I. What is philosophy?
A. Original Definition
From the Greek, "the love of wisdom"
Philein ( "to love" )
Sophia ( "wisdom" )
Socrates:
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
Pythagoras' definition
Plato's definition
B. Five Approaches for Definition
1. Synoptic approach--philosophy as "knowledge of ultimate"
Socrates:
James:
Spencer:
2. Analytic approach--philosophy as "the pursuit of meaning"
Schlick:
Russell:
3. Critical approach--philosophy as "critical examination"
Ducasse:
Dewey:
Radel:
4. Scientific approach--philosophy as "science of sciences"
Spencer:
Sidgwick:
Mill:
5. Linguistic approach---Philosophy as "theory of language"
Carnap:
Austin:
Four "pursuits"
"The pursuit of truth"
"The pursuit of meaning"
"The pursuit of wisdom"
"The Pursuit of criticism"
C. Twelve Common Definitions
As the science of sciences
As the science of man
As the speculative cosmology
As the theory of language
As the theory of critical discussion
As academic activity
As academic process
As academic world view
As academic discipline
As Academic argument
D. Subject Matter of Philosophy
Involving fundamental ideas
Involving questions of meaning, truth and
Logical relations
Resisting solution by empirical sections
E. Characterization of Philosophy
Speculative
Critical
Skeptical
Explorative
Rational
Objective
Constructive
Cognitive
Directive
General
Theoretical
Connective
Integrative
Intellectual
Continuing
Universal
Popular
F. Function of Philosophy
To theorize
To abstract
To examine
To criticize
To Identify
To Inquire
To generalize
To reason
To verify
To investigate
G. Objects of Philosophy
The basic conceptions of the world and human life
The basic interaction between inwardness and outwardness
The basic relationship between body and mind
The basic assumptions of reality, entity, substance, existence and nature
The basic justification of value, spirituality, moral principles and social
ideals
The basic examination of truth, reason, experience and knowledge
The basic explanation of causality, necessity, freedom, essence and
phenomena
The basic usage of logical analysis and linguistic clarification
H. Six Main Branches
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Methodology
Ethics
Aesthetics
Logic
I. Classification
1. According to the principle of quantity
Monism
Dualism
Pluralism
2. According to the principle of quality
Materialism
Naturalism
Realism
Idealism
Spiritualism
Phenomenalism
Egoism
3. According to the principle of method
Dogmatism
Skepticism
Criticism
Transcendentalism
Positivism
Solipsism
Nihilism
4. According to the principle of knowing
Rationalism
Empiricism
Sensationalism
Intuitionalism
Intellectualism
Mysticism
Agnosticism
Gnosticism
5. According to the principle of subject
Moral philosophy
Political philosophy
Legal philosophy
Social philosophy
Educational philosophy
Economical philosophy
Scientific philosophy
J. Four Separations
Religion separated from philosophy
Sciences separated from philosophy
Social sciences and humanities separated from philosophy
Psychology separated from philosophy
K. Four Main Periods
1. The ancient
The Pre-Socrates
The Greek
The Roman
2. The Medieval
The patristic
The scholastic
3. The Modern
The humanistic
The natural-scientific
The Enlightenment
The idealistic
4. The Contemporary
L. Four Great Traditions
The Western
The Indian
The Chinese
The Arabian
M. Historical Philosophy
Continuity
Progression
Changeability
Connectivity
Interactivity
N. Philosophic Reshaping
Naive materialism--mechanic
scientific materialism
materialism--dialectic
materialism--
Naive realism--new realism--critical--physical realism--scientific realism
O. Philosophical Methods
Plato and Hegel: "Dialectic"
Descartes: "skeptical"
Spinoza: "geometrical prove"
Hume: "Experimental inquiry"
Bergson: "intuition"
Russell: "theory of description"
Wittgenstein: "uncovering of nonsense"
Schlick: "clarification"
Husserl: "phenomenological description" & "bracketing"
II. How Philosophize?
A. Four Types of Philosophers
1. The Synoptic
2. The Active
The prophetic
The pragmatic
The existential
3. The Antinomian
The cynic
The Daoist
4. The Analytic
The artificial
The natural
B. Three Steps for Philosophizing
1. Before philosophizing
Reading philosophical materials
Listening to philosophical presentations
Observing philosophical phenomena
Learning philosophical approaches
2. In philosophizing
Thinking philosophical issues
Questioning philosophical authorities
Criticizing philosophical dogmas
Clearing up philosophical misconceptions
Analyzing philosophical meanings
Searching philosophical explanations
3. After philosophizing
Theorizing philosophical consequences
Creating philosophical frameworks
Tolerating philosophical differences
Evaluating philosophical achievements
Promoting philosophical developments
Predicting philosophical tendencies
C. Three Processes of Philosophizing
Induction
Synthesis
Description
Generalization
Observation--- Abstraction ---Theorization
Speculation
Conceptualization
Deduction
Analysis
Inference
Explanation
Theorization--- Specialization---Actualization
Materialization
Realization
Intuition---Essence (Non-media)
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