UNIT I

A. GENERAL CONCEPT OF SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the etymological and technical definitions of Philosophy;
• Exposed the History of Philosophy;
• Compare and contrast the objects of Philosophy;
• Explain the importance of Philosophy.

1. OVERVIEW OF PHILOSOPHY:

Philosophy is often offered as a subject in most schools. In such case, many students may not have background in Philosophy. Therefore, to help the students understand Social Philosophy, it is necessary to orient them first about Philosophy.

Philosophy is not really a subject rather an activity. One must not simply study it rather one must do it. Its study is unlike the study of other subjects. There are no dates, formulas, or rules to be memorized. No field of work and technical equipment is necessary. The only thing that is needed is a questioning mind and a mind that looks for the ultimate cause. It is not a monster to be feared. It is not an enemy that brings chaos and problems. In fact, philosophy becomes a necessary way to humanize a person through its knowledge and wisdom.

Definition of Philosophy

Philosophy is the oldest form of systematic inquiry. Etymologically, Philosophycame from the Greek words philomeaning "love" and sophiameaning "wisdom". Thus, Philosophy means "love of wisdom". It was Pythagoras who coined the word "love of wisdom" or Philosophy. Thus, a philosopher is a lover of wisdom.Wisdom connotes knowledge - knowledge directed to the basic concerns of existence. Wisdom in philosophy helps us think more clearly, precisely, and systematically.

Technically, Philosophy is the science of beings/all things in their ultimate reasons, causes, and principles acquired by the human reason alone.

Philosophy is a science. What makes Philosophy as a science? The word science comes from the Latin word scirre which means "to know". Thus, science is about possessing or knowing a certain kind of knowledge. Here we can see the first comparison of science and philosophy; they both seek for a certain kind of knowledge.

Generally, science is defined as a "systematic body of knowledge" but have you ever asked why is that the knowledge on science is systematic? Simply because science has a systematic way of looking for answers. There goes the second comparison; philosophy is a science because both have a systematic way for looking answers. To sum up, philosophy is a science because it seeks for a certain knowledge and it has a systematic way of looking for answers. However, the knowledge/causes that philosophy seeks is not the same with science. Philosophy seeks for ultimate causes unlike science seeks for immediate causes only. In terms of system of looking for answers, Philosophy uses deductive method and science uses inductive method.

Philosophy is a science of beings/all things. It is a science of beings/all things which can be reached by human mind. This includes man, world, God, and everything that is or is known. Philosophy encompasses all things. In fact, the material object of Philosophy is all things/beings.

Philosophy searches for the ultimate reasons, causes and principles of beings. This means that philosophy studies the ultimate whys and wherefores of being. Philosophy does not investigate plant life or the physiology of an insect rather it will ask; what does it mean to be a living thing and to be a non-living thing? The philosopher is not concerned with the nervous system or DNA's of animals. Rather, philosophy would like to know what it means to be an animal or what it means to be a species. The philosopher is not concerned with proximate cause. When you asked a doctor what is the cause of cancer, technically he/she will give you chemical reactions or biological information and that's it! But when you asked a philosopher what is the cause of cancer he/she will answer you "it's because of the existence of evil" the ultimate cause of all sickness.

Philosophy uses the light of natural reason alone.Philosophy is acquired by the aid of human reason alone. This means that philosophy does not base its knowledge on authority, but solely on the reasoning power of the human mind, but what about divine revelation? God's revelation to man? Is it excluded? Yes, because it is from authority who is God himself. However, it can and should assist the mind of man by pointing out the proper direction for philosophic solutions of a problem along purely natural lines.

History of Philosophy

Originally, philosophy intended a quest for the explanations, origins and nature of things both actual and conceptual. The method that they used was scholasticism, a type of intellectual activity which is regarded as a great system of thought. It used the light of natural reason alone for the investigation of the truth.

Human beings want to understand the world and to know the truth for there are so many things we have not figured out. We wonder about many things including the universe, the mystery of human experience, and the existence of Supreme Being. We wonder about things that puzzle us.

According to Socrates, "wonderis the only beginning of philosophy" Later, Aristotle said that "it is because ofwonderthat men began to philosophize." This is precisely the context and basis of the now famous claim that philosophy begins inwonder.

But what kind of wonder is this? For sure, wonder includes the feeling of surprise with admiration, that is, when one is being curious. We are curious on how a new gadget works, but we may wonder whether one can live without the new gadget. But this is not enough. Wonder as the beginning of philosophy is precisely "philosophic wonder,"that is, the feeling of being puzzled. For example, the ancient Greek philosophers were puzzled about the origin and nature of the world. As Aristotle writes:

"For men were first led to study philosophy, as indeed they are today, bywonder. Now, he who is perplexed and wonders believes himself to be ignorant. They took to philosophyto escape ignorance.

In this sense,philosophic wonderseeks clarity by trying to understand the confusion that disturbed the questioning mind. In other words,philosophic wonderseeks answers to or at least make sense of the mysterious world. Thus, when one begins to make sense of the questions regarding, for example, the origin of the world, or the meaning and purpose of life, one begins to philosophize. Thus, inphilosophic wonder, one is not merely amazed by the mysteriousness of the world or of life, but seeks to understand this mystery.In a word: one thinks!

Given the above brief discussion on the origin of philosophy on the conceptual level, it is therefore reasonable to suppose thatwestern philosophy originated in Miletus.Thales, the acclaimed first philosopher in the western world was from Miletus. Miletus during the time of Thales was the richest and the most powerful of all the Ionian cities and was the first center of scholarship in ancient Greece.

It is commonly believed that Thales was the first philosopher because he was the first, at least in recorded history to put his philosophy into writing.In fact, we find in Thales, and many philosophers after him some reasoned arguments for the origin and development of the world. Indeed, this is a unique feature of ancient Greek philosophy that distinguishes it from the pre-philosophical rumblings of other cultures.

IN SUMMARY, many of us will ask where this philosophy came from and who started it. It started at Miletus with Thales then there were the ancient Greek philosophers known as "pre-Socratics". They were called that way because they came along with Socrates, a key figure in early Greek philosophy. The pre- Socratics were interested in knowing the place of human person within the entire universe.

That is why they were asking questions about what the whole universe was made of. Thus, the main questions on ancient era were about the universe. Why that is there is a sun, water, plants? Where does lightning come from? Why do trees grow? Later on, as Greek thinkers began to elaborate their reflections, they began to focus more on the human person.

Centuries has passed, another era on philosophy arise, the medieval era. In this era the main questions were majority about God, faith and reason. Who is God? Where is God? Is God a spirit? Is there only one God? St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine of Hippo were the most prominent figures that time.

In the late 1500's and early 1600's, the modern sciences became an important influence in Europe. Philosophy participated in this development. Thus, came individuals like Rene Descartes. Descartes shifted the focus of Philosophy. This era focus on society and truth.

PHILOSOPHY PERIODS OBJECTS OF THINKING

Ancient --------------------------- Universe

Medieval --------------------------- God

Modern --------------------------- Truth/ Society

Objects of Philosophy

Every science does two things. First, it treats a certain subject matter. Second, it treats its subject matter in a certain way and with especial definite aim. The former one is called the Material Object while the later one is called the Formal Object.

Material Object is the subject matter of a science - the field in which the science works. For instance, in cosmology the material object encompasses the whole universe, from the largest galaxies to the minimal sub atomic particle.

Formal Object is the special thing for which the science seeks in that field, that is to say, the special aim, end view, point of focus. For instance, in cosmology the special point of focus is its origin, evolution, structure and by extension humanity's place in it. Formal object has two subdivisions which are the Formal Object Quod and Formal Object Quo.

Formal Object Quod- is the special and immediate viewpoint from which a thing is considered. For example, a tree may be considered from a viewpoint of its color or its shape, whether it is material or living, whether it is being as opposed to nothing.

Formal Object Quo- is the light or vehicle by which the science studies its object. For instance, the medium for color is light, for sound is air, and for scientific knowledge is reasoning.

Since philosophy is a science, it has also its material and formal object. In the case of philosophy, the material object is all beings. The formal object quod is the first causes and the highest principles of beings.The formal object quo is the natural reason alone.

Science immediate causes, reasons reasoning

and principles

Philosophy ultimate causes, reasons reasoning

and principles

Importance of Philosophy

• Educationally and intellectually. Philosophy enlarges our understanding of the world. If you ever watch the movie Big Brother starting Donnie Yen, in one of his class scene, he said; knowledge is power, the more you have the knowledge the more you can judge things correctly. Philosophy expands our intellectual horizon and freedom of thought. It helps develop the capacity to look at the world from the perspective of other individuals and cultures.
• Socially and Politically. Philosophy raises public awareness and helps in forming engaged and responsible citizens. By performing critical examination of current social and political conditions it can enlighten people as to the shortcomings of the current order.
• Morally and Practically. Philosophy can increase our sensitivity for universalistic moral values and stimulate our readiness to stand up for the principles of justice and fairness. It provides tools and opportunities to reflect on our basic values and concepts It proves very practical in defining our choices and acts. Philosophy is practical in the sense that its question pertains to the value of our personal existence as well as personal relations with others. Practical life is not necessarily an acquisitive life, but life focused on self-reflection and ethical issues.
• Psychologically and personally. On a personal level, philosophy can give one self-knowledge, foresight, and a sense of direction in life. It touches upon our own existence in a way we are fully human only if we are capable to reflect upon our humanness and tackles the questions of our personal identity. It can lead to personal discovery, expansion of consciousness and self-renewal. Philosophy nurtures individuality and self-esteem and broadens the range of things one can understand and enjoy.
  1. What is the etymological and technical definition of philosophy?

Assessment:

1. Discuss Philosophy:
   1. as Science of all things;
   2. as searches for the ultimate reasons, causes and principles of beings;
   3. as uses the light of natural reason alone?
   4. Philosophy periods Objects of thinking
      1. Medieval _________________?
      2. Ancient _________________?
      3. Modern _________________?
   5. Formal object of philosophy -
      1. Formal object QUO -
      2. Formal object QUOD -
   6. Material object of philosophy -
   7. Elaborate the different importance of Philosophy
   8. How can philosophy ease our lives?

Reference:

Adelaida B. Almeida, Ed.D (2005) "Social Philosophy 2" (Philippines, Rex Book Store)

Claudio V. Tabotazo, Ronald M. Corpus (2011) "Introduction to Social Philosophy", (Philippines, Mindshapers Inc.)

Joseph Losco and Leonard Williams, (2003) "Political Theory: Classical and Contemporary Readings" 2nd Edition, Roxbury Publishing Corp.