A Brief Guide to Philosophy

Introduction

Why should we study philosophy?  It’s difficult, obscure, and it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the real world.  Plato said that philosophy begins with wonder.  Philosophy has been defined as all those statements which are assumed to be true without proof by the various sciences.  Often philosophy has to do with asking questions rather than obtaining answers.

Traditionally, philosophy has concerned itself with the search for something permanent – God, the absolute spirit, the world of ideas – underlying the world of everyday objects. The effects of time and social change have motivated people to seek eternal truths and sacred beliefs. Today, we live in a pragmatic age where people are driven by the acquisition of material goods rather than the acquisition of ideas.  Yet there are those who ask the fundamental philosophic questions: What is the meaning of life? What is the nature of the universe? How do we differentiate between right and wrong? Does God exist?  The issues of good vs. evil, mind vs. matter, appearance vs. reality, the validity of religious beliefs, the certainty of human knowledge, the value of art – determine how we view the world and how we conduct ourselves in life.

Philosophy is subdivided into six major categories:  metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, ontology, logic, and aesthetics.  Metaphysics attempts to explain the ultimate reality of the universe beyond the laws of physics.  Epistemology examines the methods of verifying human knowledge.  Ethics deals with the issues of right and wrong in our actions.  Ontology is concerned with existence as it pertains to human beings, matter, and ideas.  Logic examines deductive and inductive reasoning, as well as the meaning of propostions (statements).  And aesthetics deals with standards of beauty in art and nature. During the 20^th century, philosophers have emphasized logical analysis and linguistics (grammar) to the detriment of the more descriptive categories of philosophy.  Despite the differences in their methodology, all philosophers are drive by the search for meaning in life.

Plan of the Guide

We will examine some of the major themes in philosophy from the ancient Greeks to the philosophers of the 20^th century.  We are not attempting a comprehensive study of every known philosopher, but a survey of those schools of philosophy that have shaped western civilization.  This book presents a clear, concise explanation of philosophic ideas and concepts in language understandable to the average person. The topics covered in the guide are given:

The Ancient Philosophers -- chapter 1; Judeo-Christian Ethical Philosophy -- chapter 2; Philosophers of the Middle Ages -- chapter 3; Proofs of God’s Existence -- chapter 4; Renaissance Philosophers -- chapter 5; Dialectical, Irrational, and Pragmatic Philosophers -- chapter 6; The Existentialist Philosophers -- chapter 7; 20^th Century Philosophers -- chapter 8; Some Philosophic Issues -- chapter 9; Quotations and Questions.