Course Name

Critical Thinking

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 Lecture No. 1

Introduction to Philosophy

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 NOTE
 When a question containing the word “What” is
asked then it can be answered using three aspects viz.
1) Definition:
Stating the essential characteristics
2) Translation:
Expressing the concept in another language
3) Example:
Presenting an entity that is typical of or represents a
particular group or set

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 What is philosophy?

• Etymology:

• From Greek word φιλοσοφία

(philosophia) literally means “love

of wisdom”.

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The term was coined by Pythagoras in sixth century
B.C.

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 Definition of philosophy
• There is no comprehensive definition of philosophy.
• Working definition:
The study of the fundamental nature of
1) Knowledge
2) Reality
3) Values &
4) Argumentation

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 Why Philosophy Matters?

• Critical thinking
i. Analysis
ii. Conceptualization
iii. Comparison
iv. Synthesis
v. Application
vi. Evaluation

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 Knowing why things are the way they are
viz. self, world, language, society…
 Intellectual tools for assessing any issue
 Comprehending others’ viewpoints &
perspectives
 In-depth reading & writing skills
 Communication skills
 Transferable skills

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 Main branches of Philosophy
1) Epistemology
2) Metaphysics
3) Axiology
4) Logic
5) “Philosophy of x” where “x” can be
“mind/language/society/religion/psychology/
literature etc.”

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 Epistemology

Etymology:
It is derived from Greek word ἐπιστήμη
(epistēmē) meaning knowledge and λόγος(logos)
meaning study or science. It literally means
study or science of knowledge.

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 Definition of epistemology:
• The branch of philosophy which deals with the
theory of knowledge.
• Examples of different epistemological approaches
are:
1) Empiricism
2) Rationalism
3) Intuitionalism
4) Pragmatism
5) historicism

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 Basic questions of epistemology
1) What is knowledge?
2) How do we know what we know?
3) What are the sources of knowledge?
4) What is its structure?
5) What are its limits?
6) What makes justified belief ‘justified’?
7) Is justification internal or external to one's own
mind?
8) Is human knowledge trustworthy?
9) Can our senses be trusted?
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 Metaphysics
Etymology:
The word "metaphysics" is derived from
the Greek
words μετά (metá) meaning "beyond" or "after“
and φυσικά (physiká) meaning “physics”. It
literally means “beyond-physics”.
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 Definition of metaphysics
 The branch of philosophy which deals with the
study of being, existence, reality and its
structure.
 It includes ontology and cosmology

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 Basic questions of metaphysics
1)What is real?
2)What is non-real?
3)What is being?
4)What is non-being?
5)What is the world made of?
6)What is the structure of reality?
7)Do we have free will?
8)What is a person?
9)What is mind?
Is
10) there a God?
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 Axiology
Etymology:
It is derived from Greek word ἀξία (axia)
meaning value or worth and λογία (logia)
meaning study. It literally means the study of
values.

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 Definition of axiology
1) The branch of philosophy which deals with
the study of values.
2) It includes ethics and aesthetics.
3) It is concerned with the domain of the words
“should or ought to”.

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 Basic questions of axiology

1) What is good & bad?

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 Logic
 Etymology:
It is derived from the Greek word λόγος
(lógos) meaning speech or reason.

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 Definition of logic
 It is the study of the methods and principles
used to distinguish correct from incorrect
reasoning.

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 Basic questions of logic

1) What is an argument?
2) What is deduction?
3) What is induction?
4) What is soundness or cogency of an
argument?
5) What are the fundamental laws of logic?
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 Division of Historical Eras of Philosophy
 Ancient Greek Philosophy (approx. 600BC-300AD)
 Medieval Philosophy  (approx. 500AD-1350AD)
 Classical Islamic Philosophy (approx. 800AD-1400AD)
 Renaissance Philosophy (approx. 1350AD-1630AD)
 Modern Philosophy (approx. 1630AD-1880AD)
 Postmodern Philosophy (approx. 1880 onward)

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 Recommended books
1. Honer, S. M., Hunt, T. C., Okholm, D. L. & Safford, J. L. Invitation to
Philosophy: Issues and Options. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.
2. Warburton, Nigel. Philosophy: The Basics. London & New York:
Routledge, 2013.
3. Solomon, R. C. & Higgins, K. M. The Big Questions: A Short
Introduction to Philosophy. Belmont: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning,
2014.
4. Velasquez, Manuel. Philosophy: A Text with Readings. Boston:
Cengage Learning, 2017.
5. Kiernan-Lewis, Del. Learning to Philosophize: A Primer. Belmont:
Wadsworth, 2000. 
6. Titus, H., Smith M. & Nolan, R. Living Issues in Philosophy. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1994.  

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The End

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