# What is Philosophy? ![[flex-introphil_MOOC Handout 1.pdf]] ## What is Philosophy? - Philosophy is an activity that we have to be engaged in. Not just a subject. - "==Activity of working out and working out a right way to think about things==" - When we take a step back, and think about how we are thinking about a subject (questioning assumptions etc) we are doing the philosophy of that subject. - From inside -- Through questioning from inside out - the basic principles.. fundamentals. Clarifying definitions - From outside -- External evidence, observations, shows that what we believe may not be true. E.g medieval medicine theories. Or experiments ## Philosophy: Difficult, Important and Everywhere - Because philosophy is defined as an activity of stepping back to think about how we think, ANY topics/domains can be turned into a philosophical activity because we are questioning our assumptions, and presuppositions of what we are imploring. - Why children asking Why why why - Fundamental -- philosophical questions can arise from anywhere. - Not to take things as granted, asking philosophical questions, to question how and why things are done. - Stepping back, reflecting on why and how we do things. - [[Chrisman, M._ Pritchard, D._ Lavelle, J.S._ Massimi, M._ Richmond, A._ Ward, D. - Philosophy for Everyone-Taylor & Francis (2013).pdf]] ## How Do We Do It? Some jargons: - Arguments - Premises - Claims to support Conclusion - Whether premises are Valid, and Conclusion true - Question the premises, whether it's valid. - Soundness of the argument. ![[Screenshot 2022-04-15 at 4.46.10 PM.png]] - Hilary Putnam - VISION -- Keep in mind the big picture of WHY are we asking that philosophical question. - Don't just focus on clever arguments. - When we hear someone's argument - What is the person asking that question trying to say? ## Is There A 'Right Way' To Think About Things? - David Hume - Being skeptical - Causation is human interpretations - Drawing conclusions. - - Remind me of scientific methods - Immanuel Kant - Critique... very chimp... don't understand. The way we think, is also how we think the world must work.