Group-1

Unit 1: Introduction to philosophy

Development of westem philosophy is defined by the emergence of various school thought in various
periods in history

WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

Today we'll discuss

*Historical Period

*School of thoughts

*Main Features, Beliefs

*Notable Philosophers

Historical Period

Ancient Rome (1st Century BCE to 5th Century CE)

School of Thoughts:

Stoicism

Main Features, Beliefs:

Emphasis on morality. virtue, calm, and emotional fortitude

Notable Philosopher.

Seneca (c. 4 BCE-65 CF A Roman statesman and philosopher who wrote extensively on ethics and the
importance of inner peace. His works include "Letters to Lucilius" and "On the Shortness of Life

Notable Philosopher:

Epictetus (c 50-135 CE)** A former slave who became a prominent Stoic philosopher. His teachings,
compiled in "The Enchiridion an "Discourses focus on the power of controlling one's reactions to events

Notable Philosopher
Marcus Ainellus (121-100 CE)A Roman Emperor whose "Meditations" provide insight into Stoic
philosophy, emphasizing slef- discipline and the nature of human existence.

*Historical period

Medieval Period (5th to 15th Centuries)

*School of Thoughts:

Scholasticism

*School of Thoughts:

Scholasticism

*Main features, Beliefs

Application of Philosophy to define and explain religious doctrines

Notable Philosopher:

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE)

**Known for his synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine, Aquinas "Summa
Theologica" addresses theological and philosophical issues, including the existence of God and the
nature of morality.

Notable Philosopher:

St. Augustine (354-430 CE) His works, including "Confessions an d "The City of God," laid the foundation
for medieval Christian philosophy by exploring the nature of God, free will, and the relationship
between faith and reason

Summary

The evolution of Western philosophy is characterized by the development of Stoicism in Ancient Rome,
focusing on personal virtue and emotional resilience, and Scholasticism in the Medieval Period, which
sought to harmonize philosophical reasoning with Christian teachings Key figures such as Seneca,
Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas played pivotal roles in shaping these
philosophical traditions
Group 3

Empiricism

empiricism, in philosophy, the view that all concepts originate in experience, that all concepts are about
or applicable to things that can be experienced. furthermore the term empiricism from the ancient
Greek word empeiria, “experience.”

Knowledge is gained through the senses and experience; reliance on inductive reasoning to arrive at
generalizations

David Hume

David Hume (1711–1776) was a Scottish philosopher known for his philosophical empiricism and
skepticism. He viewed philosophy as an inductive, experimental science of human nature, drawing on
the scientific method of Isaac Newton and the epistemology of John Locke.

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon (1561–1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who advocated for the
empirical method in scientific inquiry. He emphasized the importance of observation and
experimentation in acquiring knowledge and proposed a new method of reasoning to establish a
legitimate command over nature.

John Locke

John Locke (1632–1704) was an English philosopher whose ideas laid the groundwork for modern
philosophical empiricism and political liberalism. He is best known for his theory of knowledge, which
posits that all ideas originate from experience.

These philosophers collectively shaped the empiricist tradition, emphasizing the importance of
experience and observation in the pursuit of knowledge.

Social and Political Philosophy

Discussions on the ideal human situation and society; emphasis on individual rights and liberties.

Voltaire

Voltaire (1694–1778) was a French writer and philosopher known for his wit and criticism of tyranny,
bigotry, and cruelty. He was a key figure in the Enlightenment, advocating for civil liberties and
influencing the direction of European civilization during a transitional era.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau
 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) was a Swiss-born philosopher whose works inspired the French
Revolution and the Romantic movement. He was influential in political and ethical thinking, promoting
reforms in education and the arts, and emphasizing liberty and the expression of emotion.

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English philosopher best known for his political philosophy,
particularly articulated in "Leviathan" (1651). He justified government powers through a social contract,
emphasizing the trade of liberty for safety and collective security.

John Stuart

John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) was an English philosopher and economist, a proponent of utilitarianism,
and a significant figure in the reforming age of the 19th century. He is remembered for his contributions
to logic and ethical theory.

These philosophers, each in their unique ways, contributed to the development of modern political and
ethical thought, influencing both their contemporaries and future generations.

Group 5

Phenomenology, developed by Edmund Husserl, is a philosophical approach that studies experiences

from the subjective viewpoint of the individual. It focuses on how things appear in our consciousness,
rather than on objective reality.

Example: When holding a cup of coffee, phenomenology examines your experience of the cup—its
warmth, texture, and smell—rather than the cup as an object.

Absurdism, introduced by Albert Camus, argues that humans seek meaning in a chaotic and indifferent
universe. The absurd arises from the conflict between this search for meaning and the universe's lack of
inherent purpose.

Example: Like Sisyphus endlessly rolling a boulder up a hill, a person might search for the meaning of life
only to find more questions, highlighting the absurdity of this quest. Camus suggests embracing this
absurdity and finding joy in the act of living itself.
JUDAISM & POSTMODERNISM /STRUCTURALISM

Contents
Introduction of Judaism
Historical Period
Main Features and Belief
Notable Philosophers and Major Text
Introduction of Post Modernism and

Structuralism
Historical Period
Main Features and Beliefs
Notable Philosophers and Major Text

Post modernism & structuralism

● Postmodernism is a way of thinking about culture, philosophy, art

and many other things. The term has been used in many different

ways at different times, but there are some things in common.

Postmodernism says that there is no real truth. It says that

knowledge is always made or invented and not discovered.

● Poststructuralism encourages a way of looking at the world that

challenges what comes to be accepted as “truth” and “knowledge”.

Poststructuralists always call into question how certain accepted

“facts” and “beliefs” actually work to reinforce the dominance and

power of particular actors within international relations