May 18: Introduction to an Introduction
(30 min) Introduction
What is philosophy? What can philosophy do for me (help with hard medical decisions, identify good life, make me explicate my basic beliefs, help understand the fundamental principles of various disciplines)? Brainstorming session on what sorts of associations people have with philosophy (Monty Python's Philosopher's song). Hopefully this course will affirm, challenge, and broaden most people's ideas of the scope and purpose of philosophy.
Personal introductions: Name, background (major), home town, reason for taking course
According to Webster's, philosophy is:
Main Entry: phi'los'o'phy
Pronunciation: f&-'lä-s(&-)fE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -phies Etymology: Middle English philosophie, from Old French, from Latin philosophia, from Greek, from philosophos philosopher Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : all learning exclusive of technical precepts and practical arts (2) : the sciences and liberal arts exclusive of medicine, law, and theology <a doctor of philosophy> (3) : the 4-year college course of a major seminary b (1) archaic : PHYSICAL SCIENCE (2) : ETHICS c : a discipline comprising as its core logic, aesthetics, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology
2 a : pursuit of wisdom b : a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly speculative rather than observational means c : an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs
3 a : a system of philosophical concepts b : a theory underlying or regarding a sphere of activity or thought <the philosophy of war> <philosophy of science>
4 a : the most general beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group b : calmness of temper and judgment befitting a philosopher
Many think of 'head in the clouds' sorts - a tradition started by Thales (620-550 BCE) who fell in a ditch, but also played the stock market.
The etymology of the word literally means the love (philein) of wisdom (sophia) in Greek. For some philosophy is the history of ideas (2500 years!); idealism, Marxism, capitalism, categorical imperative, paradigms, knowledge, existence, cosmology, life, intelligence, mind. Most other 'branches' of knowledge (logic, math, psychology, biology, physics, art and literary criticism) come from philosophy 'trunk'. Some think that this has left philosophy with nothing interesting to say, and see it as a fruitless endeavor. Others believe that there is no such thing as 'good' and 'bad' philosophy, and thus that "it is all just a matter of opinion." The most recent twist in the professional philosophy world is a new trend towards 'philosophical counseling' (see here). However, academic philosophy tends to underemphasize the practical and focus on theory. But where would we be without theory (chapter 8 has more to say on this). For me, philosophy provides important tools for understanding the nature of scientific research, progress, and provides, at the very least, starting points for trying to understand minds and brains. It is an activity, not an accumulation of facts. This means discussion is important - like learning hockey... can't mind making mistakes, falling down and being helped out. That doesn't mean the coach is always right (or the play book).
Prologue: This is a 2400 year old text and it's still relevant! Socrates has been accused by Miletus of corrupting the young. Eventually, Socrates is sentenced to death for this crime. His trial is odd as portrayed in Plato's The Apology (claims they should support him for life because of his 'crime' - tenure today?). However, Euthyphro claims to know what is right and wrong (pious and impious) so Socrates challenges him to explain the difference.
Socrates: Questioner, doubter, rational critic- just as we all should be (in this class and elsewhere). Gadfly of Athens. Homely, witty, humble (?), most of all a rebel with a cause. He was so good, we call it the Socratic Method.
Highlights: Humor and Irony - the importance or significance of ideas is not hindered by a humorous presentation. Irony is an effective tool for getting the readers on Socrates' (Plato's) side. Logic is a powerful tool for showing the inconsistencies in people's firmly held beliefs. Sometimes, it's not surprising that Socrates was loathed by those he made look stupid - over and over. Socrates is reputed to have said 'An unexamined life is not worth living' - this dialogue is a good example of the kind of examination he had in mind.
The dialogue helps to introduce a course theme - realism vs. anti-realism which many, perhaps unknowingly, have probably encountered before now. Realism - a realist about something believes that that something exists independently of anyone thinking that it exists. Anti-realism - in contrast, anti-realists about something believe that that something only exists because we think/believe it does. Euthyphro is a realist about the Greek gods and impiety. Socrates is not a realist about the Greek gods (hence his trial). Many of us are probably realists about physical objects, like tables and chairs (and atoms, etc.). If you think this (or any other) table would exist whether or not there were any minds to perceive it, you're a realist about tables. However, many people aren't so sure when it comes to ethical questions about what is good and bad - is something good just because everyone agrees that it is? If you think so, you're an anti-realist about goodness. What are you a realist about? Why? What are you an anti-realist about? Why?
This same division can be found in objectivism/subjectivism, relativism/absolutism. The anti-realist can be spotted from such claims as: "It's all relative." The realist holds: "It's objective." These sorts of positions can be found in philosophical debates about truth, beauty, goodness, ontology (being; what there is), science, knowledge, you name it! Though Socrates seems to be the anti-realist, and he is a champion of Plato, Plato is actually a realist about almost everything. However, there were lots of anti-realists around in Plato's day, including the influential Sophists. In particular, Protagoras (king of the Sophists) made the claim "man is the measure of all things, of the things that are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not." This lead him to claim that everything is true, depending on the circumstances. Gorgias took this idea and flipped around, showing that there is no truth. Thrasymachus perverted these positions into the claim "injustice pays"; and "might is right".
1) Get the text and read chapter 1; 2) Bring a question about philosophy to class that hasn't been answered in the text; 3) Bring a philosophical question to class; 4) What other limits are there of Western philosophy?
Other topics: