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Form 5 General Studies (GS) – PHILOSOPHY AND

RELIGION
edu.co.tz/library/philosophy-and-religion/

PHILOSOPHY
I. Concept of philosophy

Philosophy is the Greek word having the two words. Philo means the love of or pursuit
of and Sophia means wisdom (knowledge). The simple meaning two combine word with
the love of wisdom or knowledge. Loving wisdom involve seeking to know and
understand about what things are in their nature reason of existence and outcome of
their existence.

Wisdom is the state of using intelligence in doing anything by acting planning or

thinking.

Philosophy can be defined as the rational speculation about the reality of anything
existing in this world. This study involves critical thinking which is systematic on the
nature of the world by giving justifications under the basis of belief correct conduct of
the life.

Philosophy is the study of nature causes a principle of reality, knowledge and values
basing on logical reasoning rather than empirical method. It deals with attempt to
discover the meaning and purpose of existence through reflection of all dimension of
thought.

(i) Being the concept of philosophy in its meaning involves three technical
explanation:-

1. Philosophy is an activity.
2. Philosophy is a set of mind attitude.
3. Philosophy is a study of content body of knowledge.

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In this part philosophy is said to involve questions, asking question and think about
them all in the nature of all existing things in the world. The people who are concerned
in this work (asking question and thinking about them) are termed as philosophers e.g.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Karl mark, Fredrick angels, T. Kennedy Kwame Nkrumah , J.k
Nyerere, sidhatta Gautama ,Jesus Christ, Mohammad.

The activities of asking questions and think about them are categorically
put in the following area:

(a) Synthesizing: It is providing a comprehensive view of the work, reality from

questionings and critically thinking on the question. Example saying biology is study of
living things or geography is a study of environment.

(b) Speculation: It is thinking beyond what can be demonstrated physically e.g.

talking of shape and sex of god and Gods.

(c) Prescription: It is establishing a norms, standard, conducts and ethics when

performing or approaching a given philosophical idea. it also involves thinking.

(d) Analysis : It is critical examination of the words to use in communication when

operating given philosophical idea.

(ii) Philosophy is a set of mind attitude speculation of what is reality and the nature of
the world, start first with the idea develop in active mind. Therefore the first need of a
person to have an active mind that will bring to development of new philosophical idea
is commitment ,self awareness ,desire of completeness in work and desire of speculator
examination of phenomena (wishing to go deep in understanding of reality). Allowing
that to happen our mind needs flexibility and openness so as to allow the new ideas that
might be philosophical when examines.

(iii) Philosophy is a study of content, philosophy is found so since, and it deals with the
areas of asking question and forming the answer on what in conjunction with giving
justification on the nature of reality. It is a body of knowledge. Philosophy is the study
of the following content.

– What is reality? (metaphysics).

– What is nature of the truth of knowledge?(epistemology)(theology).

– What is value? (Axiology).

– Rational critical thesis reasoning (wisdom) logic.

NATURE/ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF PHILOSOPHY

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Philosophy can be traced back to the period when man started to speculate the physical
as well as the mans’ physical phenomenon in the universe. philosophy started with
wondering or curiosity. that is why it is called search of wisdom.
philosophy started with rising questions. For example “what next after a person has
died? Is there another life part from the Universe life? if there is, where?

By its origin the classical period of philosophy is traced from philosophers in Anthens
which is divided into four large eras.

THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY (600BC – 400BC)

This is the time when philosophical ideas were said to originate and initiated by
philosophers like Socrates – (469 – 399 BC Plato (427-347 BC) and Aristotle

MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY (400BC – 16AD)

The history of western medieval philosophy is generally divided into two periods; early
medieval philosophy which began with St. Augustine in mid 4th century to 13th century.
The Second period was high medieval philosophy which listed up to 14th with
philosopher like St. Thomas Aquinas

RENAISSANCE PHILOSOPHY:
This is sometimes known as modern philosophy and is influenced by technological
innovations. During this period new ideas about human experiences had started to gain
momentam especially in the 16th century in Europe, later Asia and other parts of the
world like Africa. The prominent philosophers of this period include Karl Max, Fredrick
Angles, George W.F, Hegel, Lenin Kwame Nkrumah and J.K. Nyerere.

The Eastern philosophy: Broadly the various philosophers of the East Asia, included
China, India, Japan and Persia. Ancient eastern philosophy developed mainly in India
and China

THE AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY

There is no evidence about time when philosophy started in Africa. However, much like
the same historical development in the field of philosophy in other part of the world,
philosophy that emerged in Africa was also based on discussing the reality of things in
the world.

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