The document discusses several key ideas: 1) The philosopher sees the world from a holistic perspective that views all things as interconnected rather than taking a partial point of view. 2) The dispute between the blind men arose because each only experienced part of the elephant and claimed their partial experience was right, rather than considering other perspectives. 3) Philosophy is defined as the "love of wisdom" involving the systematic study of all things using human reason alone to investigate first causes and principles of reality and appearance.

1. “ My philosophy comes from a world
view that looks at the world as one, it is
a holistic view that sees the world as
interconnected, interdependent and
integrated in so many different ways”

3. Fan

4. ROPE

5. SNAKE

6. COW

7. SPEAR

8. Thinking Process
1. How did the blind men experience the
Elephant?
2. Why they are having a dispute?
3. Why they claim that they are right?
4. If each one of them are right why they are
disputing?

9. Thinking process behind the dispute
1. My view is my view -------Your view is your view.
2. If your view is not my view and my view is right then
your view is not right.
3. Either my view or your view is right ----never both.
4. Why must one choose only one and never have in
both ways.

10. Holistic Perspective & Partial Point of View
• Partial Point of View
In a point of view is defined as a way or a method how one sees
of perceive the reality of phenomenon. Therefore when one says
a partial point of view, he has clearly stated and admitted that the
he sees reality or a certain phenomenon is based on a single
factor or causal agency. A partial point of view then is a
perspective that is based on one of the component parts of a
whole. Furthermore partial perspective looks at only a limited
number of aspects of the given problem or situation.
Conclusions are made based on considering some, but not all,
sides of the problem or situation.

11. Holistic Point of View
Holism come from the Greek word “Holos” literally
all, entire, totality.
Looks at all aspects of the given problem or situation.
All aspects are given importance when making
conclusions.
All aspects are tied in together to form a general
overview of the problem or situation.

12. Holistic Perspective and Partial Point of View
 Looking at the characteristics of holistic and partial point of view, it
can conclude that using a holistic perspective is more desirable in
Philosophy than using a partial point of view. Partial point of view is
only promoting a limited knowledge of the situation, and leads to a
wrong conclusion.
 Learning Philosophy requires learning to look into all available
perspective and on their relationship to come up with sound logical
and valid conclusions. In the process doing philosophy helps as on to
develop the sill of broadly looking at the situation first before
concluding anything.

13. MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY
• Philosophy comes from the two Greek words:
Philia- Love
Sophia- Wisdom
Originally Philosophy is meant “ Love of Wisdom.
Where Love- is a strong desire for a particular objects.
Wisdom- correct application of knowledge.
Love of Wisdom- is strong desire for a person to possess a particular
knowledge and apply it correctly.

14. Meaning of Philosophy
• Science- It is called science because the investigation is systematic. It
employs a certain steps or it employs a certain procedure. In other
words it is an organized body of knowledge just like any other
sciences.
• Natural Light of Reason- Philosophy investigates things not by using
any other laboratory instruments or investigative tools, neither on the
basis of supernatural revelation. However the philosopher uses
human reason alone or the so called unaided reason.

15. • Study of all things-This sets the distinction between Philosophy from
the other sciences. All other sciences concern themselves with a
particular objects of investigation. Eg. Anthropologist studies human
beings in relation with the society its forms structures and function;
botanist focus their attention on plants; linguists limits themselves
with language, theologians investigates God whereas a Philosopher
studies human beings, society, religion, language, God and plants
among other concerns. The reason is that Philosophy is not one
dimensional or partial. In short a Philosopher does not limit himself
to a particular object.

16. Meaning of Philosophy
• First cause or highest principle- A principle is that from which something
proceeds at any manner whatsoever. The first principle:
• Principle of identity- Whatever is is; whatever it is. Everything is its own
being and not being is not being.
• Principle of non-contradiction- It is 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
either be or not be; between being or not being. There is no middle
ground possible.

17. Meaning of Philosophy
• Principle of sufficient reason- Nothing exist without a sufficient
reason for its being an existence.

18. Metaphysics
• It is a branch of philosophy that investigates (Being) for what is real. This
also called the philosophy of being.
• An extension of the fundamental and necessary drive in every human being
to know what is real.
• The question is how to account for this unreal things in terms of what you
can accept as real. Thus a very big part of the metaphysician task is to
explain that part of our experience which we call unreal interms of what is
real.
• In our everyday attempt to understand the world in its appearance and
reality, we try to make things comprehensible by simplifying reducing the
mass things we call appearance to relatively fewer that we call reality.

19. • Thales- A Greek philosopher, everything is water. He claims that
everything we experience is water-which we call reality. Everything
else is appearance in terms of reality.
• Idealist and materialist metaphysical theories are similarly based on
unobservable entities mind and matter. We can sse things made of
matter such as books or chair but we cannot see the underlying
matter in it.
• Plato is a good example of a metaphysician who draws the sharpest
possible contrast between reality and appearance. Reality itself is
unchanging, eternal, immaterial and can be seen only in our intellect.
• Eg. The allegory of the cave…