Introduction to Philosophy: Lesson 1 Pursuing
Wisdom and Facing Challenges in the Twenty-
First Century
I. Introduction: Doing Philosophy
Philosophy comes from two Greek words, philo
meaning “to love” and Sophia meaning
“wisdom”. Philosophy originally meant “love of
wisdom”.
Philosophy is defined as the science that by
natural light of reason studies the first causes or
highest principle of all things.
Under this definition, four things are to be
considered.
a. Science- is called science because the
investigation is systematic.
b. Natural light of reason – Philosophy
investigates things, not by using any
other laboratory instrument or
investigative tools, neither on the basis
of supernatural revelation, otherwise its
theology; instead philosopher uses his
natural capacity to think or simply,
human reason alone or the so-called
unaided reason
c. Study of all things – This sets the
distinction between philosophy from
d. other sciences. All other sciences
concern themselves with a particular
investigation.
e. First cause or Highest Principle – a
principle is that from which somethings
proceeds in any matter or whatsoever.
 Principle of Identity – whatever is is;
and whatever is not is not;
everything’s is what it is. Everything
is its own being, and not being is not
being.
 Principle of Non-Contradiction – it’s
impossible for a thing to be and not
to be at the same time, and at the
same respect.
 Principle of Excluded Middle – a
thing is either is or is not; everything
must be neither be or not be;
between being and not being, there
is no middle ground possible.
 Principle of Sufficient Reason –
nothing exists without a sufficient
reason for its being and existence
The Branches of Philosophy
A. Metaphysics – is really only an
extension of a fundamental and
necessary drive in every human being to
know what is real; issues are concerned
with the nature of reality. Traditional
metaphysical issues include the
existence of God and the nature of
human free will (assuming we have any)
B. Epistemology – deals with nature,
sources, limitations, and validity of
knowledge. Epistemological questions
are basic to all other philosophical
inquiries (1) how we know what we
claim to know; (2) how we can find out
what we wish to know; and (3) how we
can differentiate truth from falsehood.
Human knowledge may be regarded as
having two parts:
1. On the one hand, he sees, hears,
and touches; on the other hand, he
organizes in his mind what he learns
through senses.
Induction - particular things seen,
heard, and touched are more
important. They believe that
general ideas are formed from
those examination of particular
facts.
Empiricism – is the view that
knowledge can be attained only
through senses
2. Deduction - Other philosophers
think that is more important to find
general law according to which
particular facts can be understood
or judged.
C. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that
explores the natures of moral virtue
 and evaluates human actions. Ethics is
the study of the nature of moral
judgements.

D. Aesthetics – is the science of the

beautiful in its various manifestations-
including sublime, comic, tragic,
pathetic and ugly. To experience
Aesthetics, therefore means whatever
experience has relevance to art,
whether the experience be that of the
creative artist or of appreciation.

E. Logic – Reasoning is the concern of the

logician. The term logic comes from the
Greek word “logike” and was coined by
Zeno, the Stoic. Etymologically, it means
a treatise on matters pertaining to the
human thought.