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Mekelle University College of Law and Governance Department of Philosophy : Course Title: Logic and critical thinking Academic Year: 2019 | Instructor's Name: Habtamu.T Email
[email protected] CHAPTER ONE Introduction to Philosophy Philosophy is not as elusive as is ofien thought and claimed. Philosophical reflection is not an activity indulged in only by specialists called philosophers who allegedly live in architectural monstrosities known as /vory Towers. Just as each of us at times engages casually in horticulture or medicine or carpentry without special training. so practically all of us on certain occasions spontaneously occupy ourselves with philosophical questions. In fact, most people have had occasion to use philosophy meaningfully. For example, one might argue that his or her “religious philosophy is based on love of neighbor. Thus, philosophy is not remote from the problems of people. Truly, most of us lack knowledge of philosophy’s and history and do not have a clear idea of wonder. We wonder whether God exists: whether all we can ever know-all that can ever prove meaningful- is what can be framed in the language of science: what we should do to be happy: whether we should protest a national policy we disagree with: how we should treat other people and the environment. jargon issues. All philosophy derives from the feelings of Such questions are posed not only by people who get older but also sometimes children ask the same questions as: “what is beyond sky?” How did the world start?”, who made God?". why is one and one two, not three?” and so on. Thus, neither philosophy nor philosophizing is entirely new to any of us, for we wonder about what we expericnee. What is new is philosophy as a discipline of study, an academic subject. 1.1 The Meaning of philosophy: the Love of Wisdom A word philosophy derives from a two Greck words philia (love) and Sophia (wisdom), which means “the love of wisdom.” It was first used by the ancient Greek thinker Pythagoras at about 600B.C. and he was the first to call himself a philosopher, who likened philosophers-pursuers of wisdom-to spectators at ancient games. ...When Leon the tyrant of Phlius was, he said,” a philosopher, “and that he compared life to the GREAT GAM. sked him who he . where: Y Some went to compete for the prize Others went with wares or objects to sell But the best as spectators: for similarly, in life: some grow up with servile natures, greedy for fame and gain. but the philosopher seeks for truth S64 1|
