Lesson 1.1: Background of Philosophy NOTABLE PHILOSOPHERS:
PYTHAGORAS
Have you ever struggled with the One of the wisest men and philosopher of
question, “Who am I”? or thought about who ancient Greece who coined the word
you might become in the future? These “Philosophia” or “Philosophy” because of
questions have been discussed throughout his love of wisdom. He’s also the famous
history particularly by many philosophers in Greek mathematician who laid down the
the search for knowledge about the nature of foundation of the Pythagorean theorem.
being human. Such questions as, “What does
it mean to be a person?”, “Do I matter?”, “Is it Three Kind of Men:
the truth?”, that we still grapple with today. 1. Those that love PLEASURE
2. Those that love ACTIVITY/ SUCCESS
Philosophy is a discipline of questioning, both 3.Those that love WISDOM
dynamic and personal. Dynamic in a sense
that the act of questioning is an unending
SOCRATES
process; and personal because the human He was credited in history as one of the
person as a thinking being. forefathers of Western philosophy, a Greek
philosopher who was the primary moral
The word philosophy comes from two philosopher of the western ethical tradition of
Greek words: philos (love) and sophia thought.
(wisdom). The ancient Greeks used this term
PLATO
to refer to “love of wisdom” and they soon
He was considered the most pivotal figure in
applied it to the study or discipline that uses the development of philosophy especially the
human reason to investigate the ultimate Western tradition. Also, the founder of the
causes, reasons, and principles which govern Academy in Athens—the first institution of
all things. higher learning in the Western world.
ARISTOTLE
Philosophy is the science of the first causes
He was a Greek philosopher. According to
because it seeks to know and clarify the very
him, “all men seek wisdom”, meaning all men
source of which all the chain of causes are philosophers
ultimately all goes back to. A person acquired
science when he or she knows the reason for THREE KINDS OF LOVE
the fact. Science, therefore, is about clarified 1. EROS “Passionate love”- Love of Desire.
A kind of love that is passionate.
facts which can only be attained through
2. PHILIA “Brotherly love”- Involves a
intellectual inquiry. fondness and appreciation of the qualities of
the beloved.
Philosophy involves thinking, evaluating and 2.1 STORGE “Parental love”- A deep and
engaging in arguments. It is not just caring bond that develops naturally between
accepting everything as is. Man is a rational parent and children. Storge love is a
being. We can always agree to disagree on protective love that can withstand hardships
and trials.
almost anything and everything. Philosophy is 3. AGAPE “Unconditional love”- Represents
working out and justifying reasons the best the absolute and unconditional love of God
way we know how to deal with life. Therefore, for us.
philosophy is about wisdom in relation to our
search for truth.
Philosophy: The Quest for Truth
Questions that may be asked in philosophy
had no limits. One can ask anything and
PYTHAGORAS
Have you ever struggled with the One of the wisest men and philosopher of
question, “Who am I”? or thought about who ancient Greece who coined the word
you might become in the future? These “Philosophia” or “Philosophy” because of
questions have been discussed throughout his love of wisdom. He’s also the famous
history particularly by many philosophers in Greek mathematician who laid down the
the search for knowledge about the nature of foundation of the Pythagorean theorem.
being human. Such questions as, “What does
it mean to be a person?”, “Do I matter?”, “Is it Three Kind of Men:
the truth?”, that we still grapple with today. 1. Those that love PLEASURE
2. Those that love ACTIVITY/ SUCCESS
Philosophy is a discipline of questioning, both 3.Those that love WISDOM
dynamic and personal. Dynamic in a sense
that the act of questioning is an unending
SOCRATES
process; and personal because the human He was credited in history as one of the
person as a thinking being. forefathers of Western philosophy, a Greek
philosopher who was the primary moral
The word philosophy comes from two philosopher of the western ethical tradition of
Greek words: philos (love) and sophia thought.
(wisdom). The ancient Greeks used this term
PLATO
to refer to “love of wisdom” and they soon
He was considered the most pivotal figure in
applied it to the study or discipline that uses the development of philosophy especially the
human reason to investigate the ultimate Western tradition. Also, the founder of the
causes, reasons, and principles which govern Academy in Athens—the first institution of
all things. higher learning in the Western world.
ARISTOTLE
Philosophy is the science of the first causes
He was a Greek philosopher. According to
because it seeks to know and clarify the very
him, “all men seek wisdom”, meaning all men
source of which all the chain of causes are philosophers
ultimately all goes back to. A person acquired
science when he or she knows the reason for THREE KINDS OF LOVE
the fact. Science, therefore, is about clarified 1. EROS “Passionate love”- Love of Desire.
A kind of love that is passionate.
facts which can only be attained through
2. PHILIA “Brotherly love”- Involves a
intellectual inquiry. fondness and appreciation of the qualities of
the beloved.
Philosophy involves thinking, evaluating and 2.1 STORGE “Parental love”- A deep and
engaging in arguments. It is not just caring bond that develops naturally between
accepting everything as is. Man is a rational parent and children. Storge love is a
being. We can always agree to disagree on protective love that can withstand hardships
and trials.
almost anything and everything. Philosophy is 3. AGAPE “Unconditional love”- Represents
working out and justifying reasons the best the absolute and unconditional love of God
way we know how to deal with life. Therefore, for us.
philosophy is about wisdom in relation to our
search for truth.
Philosophy: The Quest for Truth
Questions that may be asked in philosophy
had no limits. One can ask anything and
