Meaning and Nature of Philosophy

MEANING AND NATURE OF
PHILOSOPHY
1
MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY
• The word philosophy is derived from the Greek words philia (love) and sophia
(wisdom) and means “the love of wisdom.”
• Pythagoras was said to have been the first man to call himself a philosopher; in
fact, the world is indebted to him for the word philosopher. It is said that when
Leon, the tyrant of Philius, asked him of who he was, he said, “a Philosopher” and
he likened the Philosopher to spectators at ancient games.
• Before that time the wise men had called themselves a sage, which was
interpreted to mean those who know. Pythagoras was more modest. He coined
the word philosopher, which he defined as one who is attempting to find out.
• According to him, men and women of the world could be classified into 3 groups:
 those that love pleasure
 those that love activity and
 those that love wisdom.
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Philosophy
• The term has been derived from two

Greek words, ‘Philos’ means love
and ‘Sophia’ means wisdom.
• Philosophy means= love of wisdom,
love of the truth, love for
knowledge or passion for learning.
Meaning of Philosophy
• Philosophy as:
– Love of knowledge
– An Activity
– A comprehensive picture of the universe
– A guide to a way of life
– Philosophy and Science
MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY
• Philosophy is the study of general and
fundamental problems, such as those
connected with existence, knowledge, values,
reason, mind, and language.
• Philosophy is the rational attempt to

formulate, understand, and answer
fundamental questions.
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ETYMOLOGY
(LANGUAGE)
THREE ANGLES
TO
DEFINE
PHILOSOPHY
TERMINOLOGY PRACTICALITY
Philosophia
- Philo: love
-Sophia: knowledge
- Philosophy: love for
knowledge or wisdom
ETYMOLOGY (LANGUAGE)
Philosophers: those
who have a love for
knowledge
DEFINITION
AL- FARABI
SOCRATES
“… knowledge which
encompasses truth.
… contains
metaphysics, logic,
rhetoric, ethics,
economics, politics
and aesthetics.
(382SM- 322SM)
PLATO
“… only through
knowledge can
man attain the
real truth.”
(427SM- 348SM)
AL-FARABI
“… knowledge
about the physical
universe.”
(870SM- 950SM)
Thinking
thoroughly
Free from the

PRACTICALITY
bonds of
tradition
Characteristics:
systematic,
rational,
universal
Thinking logically and
Systematic sequentially
Thinking to the finest detail and

Rational solving the problem with full
responsibility
Not being confined to several

Universal aspects only
TASK 1
Can we say that all questions are philosophical
questions?
What is classified as philosophy?
Who philosophises?
Is there a difference between a common man

who philosophises and a philosopher?
What is the difference?

Metaphysics (ontology): speculative,
cause-and-effect relationship
E.g: What is truth? What is mankind?
Logic: differentiates
between valid and Axiology: ethics and
confusing ideas BRANCHES OF aesthetics
E.g: What is good PHILOSOPHY E.g: What is goodness?
reasoning? Not so good What is beauty?
reasoning?
Epistomology: knowledge and beliefs

E.g: What is knowledge? What are the
sources of knowledge?
NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY
1. … is a set of views or beliefs about life and the
universe, which are often held uncritically.
We refer to this meaning as the informal sense

of philosophy or “having” a philosophy.
Usually when a person says “my philosophy
is,” he or she is referring to an informal
personal attitude to whatever topic is being
discussed.
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2. Philosophy is a process of reflecting on and criticizing our most deeply held
conceptions and beliefs.
These two senses of philosophy— “having” and “doing”—cannot be

treated entirely independent of each other, for if we did not have a
philosophy in the formal, personal sense, then we could not do a
philosophy in the critical, reflective sense.
Having a philosophy, however, is not sufficient for doing philosophy.

A genuine philosophical attitude is searching and critical; it is open-
minded and tolerant—willing to look at all sides of an issue without
prejudice.
To philosophize is not merely to read and know philosophy; there are skills
of argumentation to be mastered, techniques of analysis to be employed,
and a body of material to be appropriated such that we become able to
think philosophically. Philosophers are reflective and critical.
17
3. Philosophy is a rational attempt to look at the
world as a whole
Philosophy seeks to combine the conclusions

of the various sciences and human experience
into some kind of consistent world view.
Philosophers wish to see life, not with the
specialized slant of the scientist or the
businessperson or the artist, but with the
overall view of someone cognizant of life as a
totality.
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4. Philosophy is the logical analysis of language
and the clarification of the meaning of words
and concepts.
Certainly this is one function of philosophy. In

fact, nearly all philosophers have used
methods of analysis and have sought to clarify
the meaning of terms and the use of
language.
Some philosophers see this as the main task of
philosophy, and a few claim this is the only
legitimate function of philosophy.
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5. Philosophy is a group of perennial problems that
interest people and for which philosophers always have
sought answers.
 Philosophy presses its inquiry into the deepest

problems of human existence.
 Some of the philosophical questions raised in the past
have been answered in a manner satisfactory to the
majority of philosophers.
 Many questions, however, have been answered only
tentatively, and many problems remain unsolved.
– “What is truth?”
– “What is the distinction between right and wrong?”
– What is life and why am I here?
– Why is there anything at all?
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IMPORTANCE OF PHILOSOPHY
1. The study of Philosophy enables us to think carefully and clearly
about important issues.
2. In studying Philosophy, we learn to take a step back from our
everyday thinking and to explore the deeper, bigger question
which underpins our thought.
3. The focus in the study of Philosophy is to learn not what to
believe, but how to think.
4. Studying philosophy sharpens your analytical abilities, enabling
you to identify and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in any
position.
5. It hones your ability to construct and articulate cogent arguments
of your own.
6. It prompts you to work across disciplinary boundaries and to think
flexibly and creatively about problems which do not present
immediate solutions.
7. Because philosophy is an activity as much a body of knowledge, it
also develops your ability to think and work independently.
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MEANING AND NATURE OF

• The term has been derived from two

• Philosophy is the rational attempt to

Free from the

Thinking to the finest detail and

Not being confined to several

What is classified as philosophy?

Is there a difference between a common man

What is the difference?

Epistomology: knowledge and beliefs

We refer to this meaning as the informal sense

These two senses of philosophy— “having” and “doing”—cannot be

Having a philosophy, however, is not sufficient for doing philosophy.

Philosophy seeks to combine the conclusions

Certainly this is one function of philosophy. In

 Philosophy presses its inquiry into the deepest

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