1. WORK BY PAIR
10 minutes
What comes into your mind
when you hear the word
“Philosophy”?
2. What is Philosophy?
• The word “philosophy”, particularly Western Philosophy, originated
from two Greek words philo which means “love” and sophia,
“wisdom”.
• Love of wisdom refers to the strong desire of the human person to
possess knowledge and apply it correctly.
• In the 6th century BCE, Pythagoras was the first to call himself a
philosopher, from the Greek word philosophos, or “lover of wisdom”.
He did not claim that he was wise. But by calling himself a
philosopher, he was saying that he was a person who valued and
cherished wisdom
3. •Philosophy as the study of general and
fundamental problems that has something to do
with our existence as human beings, the
foundations of our knowledge, values that we
hold on to, reason, mind, and language.
•It is an attempt to logically formulate,
understand, and answer the essential questions
that we ask.
4. Here are some basic philosophical questions that
human beings have asked and tried to answer
over the course of humanity:
• What is the origin of the universe and
everything that exists?
• Does God exist? If so, why is there
suffering?
• What is the meaning and purpose of
life?
5. In one way or another, you have once asked
these kind of questions. They are not easy to
answer, right? It is not as easy as answering
non-philosophical questions, or ordinary
questions such as “How much is your
allowance?”, or What time do you go to
school?” When we talk about philosophical
questions, always remember that these are
difficult questions and almost impossible to
answer.
6. This nature of Philosophy makes it highly
relative and personal. Therefore, it is
important to consider that philosophers
have their own basic understanding and
explanation of what philosophy is.
7. Philosophy studies the human
person and the world by
asking questions and
reflecting about them.
Inquiries that are also asked in
the areas of religion and
science are also attempted to
be answered in philosophy.
The main branches of
Philosophy are divided by the
nature of the questions asked
in each area.
In effect, philosophizing traces its roots to when people started asking “why” and tried looking for answers.
These questions can only be answered by using reason as a tool wherein it can be expressed in different forms such as the ability to reflect, ask questions, explain one’s thought, and analyze certain experiences and phenomenon. In a nutshell, philosophy is an attempt to understand things in a logical and critical manner.
