WEEK 1- Lesson 1

PARADIGM SHIFT
Lesson 1 differentiates between the Holistic and Partial point of view:
First, there is the difference between science and philosophy.
http://www.differencebetween.net/language/words-language/difference-between-philosophy-and-
science/ (Links to an external site.)

Second, the two Marcelian reflection: PRIMARY and SECONDARY

REFLECTION
http://tamawogadfly.blogspot.com/2005/07/primary-and-secondary-reflections.html (Links to an external
site.)
Third, the difference between shadows and reality from Plato’s allegory
of the cave.
https://mayooshin.com/plato-allegory-of-the-cave/ (Links to an external site.)
 WEEK 1-Lesson 2
HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND PHILOSOPHY
Lesson 2 differentiates between the WHAT and HOW of Philosophy.
https://michaeluzuegbunam.wordpress.com/2016/08/18/what-does-it-mean-to-philosophize/ (Links to an
external site.)
 WEEK 2-Lesson 3
THE VALUE OF PHILOSOPHY
It discusses the real value of philosophy that starts with the act of
asking questions. The act of questioning is the starting point of
philosophy.
https://www.philosophersmag.com/essays/186-what-is-a-question (Links to an external site.)

WEEK 2-Lesson 4
THE PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION
It discusses about the THE MARCELIAN PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION
and HUSSERLIAN METHOD
https://mangingihod.weebly.com/sir-j-eslabra/a-phenomenological-reflection-husserlstranscendental-
epoch (Links to an external site.)
Difference Between Philosophy and Science

Philosophy vs Science

Without a doubt, there is a definite distinction between philosophy and science. The
problem is – because of their interrelatedness, the two may be somewhat confusing for
many, most especially that there are many arguments between them. There’s absolutely no
philosophy-proof science because many sciences depend on philosophy and vice versa.

Figuratively speaking, science is best likened to the human mind while philosophy is to the
human heart. Science, in general, seeks to understand natural phenomena. It is more
concerned on empirical evidences and testable hypotheses. By “empirical,” it means “that
which can be observed or experimented on.” By contrast, philosophy is vaguer. Defining it
in one concrete sentence may not define it entirely. However, broadly speaking,
philosophy is a school of thought that utilizes reasoning to uncover issues concerning
metaphysics, logic, epistemology, language, ethics, aesthetics, and other disciplines.
So how can philosophy help clarify or explain the issues at hand? As such, philosophy
helps address inquiries that couldn’t be answered simply by experimentation and
observation. It bases its explanations from the argument of principles. Science, using
its scientificmethodology, is able to acquire more knowledge because of experimentation
and observation. It bases its explanation from facts that have been observed.
Philosophy uses questioning and a series of analyses through logical arguments and
dialectics. Thus, philosophy works by using reason-based logical analysis. Science is
different because it makes use of hypothesis testing that is empirically based. This
difference in process enables both to work interdependently thereby updating each other
of their individual progresses.

Philosophy improves, abandons, or objects to certain notions or philosophical positions

such as present-day concepts (i.e. utilitarianism) as no longer 100% identical compared to
their original sense when they were first conceptualized. It demonstrates principles that
must be correct. These principles are not really entirely correct or true but it MUST be
true. It even shows people how to act. Similarly, science has theories that seem to have no
clear end in terms of improvisation or argumentation. A good example is the ever-growing
arguments surrounding Charles Darwin’s “Theory of Evolution.”

Summary:

1.Science seeks to understand based on natural phenomena.

2.Philosophy is vaguer than science.
3.Philosophy uses logical arguments and dialectics while science uses hypothesis testing
(empirical-based).
4.Philosophy improves, abandons, or objects to philosophical positions while science
improves, abandons, or objects to scientific theories.
5.Science bases its explanations from experimentation and observation while philosophy
bases its explanation on an argument of principles.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: Life Lessons on How to Think for Yourself.
 by Mayo Oshin | Mental Models, Philosophy

“In a time of universal deceit – telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

—George Orwell

What is reality? Does your reality really exist?

Over 2,000 years ago, Plato, one of history’s most famous thinkers, explored these questions in his famous
“Allegory of the Cave”(audiobook)—Book VII of the Republic.

The “Allegory of the Cave” begins with a scene painted of a group of prisoners who have lived chained to the
wall of a dark cave their entire lives.

In Plato’s, The Republic (book), he writes:

“See human beings as though they were in an underground cave-like dwelling with its entrance, a long one,
open to the light across the whole width of the cave. They are in it from childhood with their legs and necks in
bonds so that they are fixed, seeing only in front of them, unable because of the bond to turn their head all the
way around.”

Every day, these people in the caves watched shadows projected on a blank wall. For them, these shadows are
real and they shape their entire reality.

Now imagine that one of the prisoner’s leaves the cave and walks outside into the sunshine.
 For the first time in his life, he is exposed to sunshine and light. He can now finally see the “true” forms,
shapes and reality of the shadows he thought were real.

In this Allegory, Socrates asks, what would he think of his companions back in the cave? He’d probably feel
sorry for them and their limited reality.

Now, if he returned back to the cave and told them about what he saw, they’d probably laugh at him and
think he was crazy.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave explores the tension between the imagined reality that we think is “real”
(shadows) versus the reality that is the “truth” (outside the cave).

This is a basic explanation of the Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, but this TED video explains it better…

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Summary

How Does this Apply to Your Life?

The best way to learn from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, is to think of the people trapped in the cave as
majority of people in the world.

The cave people believed that the shadows they saw were the “truth,” just like majority of the world who
believe in and pursue shadows based on money, education, fame, love and so on.

These are generally the ideas and social norms that we’ve been told to stick to from childhood because of the
majority consensus.

Unfortunately, thinking like this often leads to a life of missed opportunities and mediocrity because you’d
never realise how much more of reality actually existed outside the “cave.”

What about the person who escaped the cave?

This represents the small handful of people who dare to think and act in a different way from the crowd.

They don’t have an imagined “shadow” reality because they’ve stepped outside their comfort zone into the
“sunshine” to uncover the true reality of life.

These people live a life with limitless possibilities and often change the course of history (think Martin Luther
King, Steve Jobs, Isaac Newton and so on).

It’s not because they’re better than everyone else that they’ve “escaped the cave”. It’s simply because they’ve
made a decision to consistently step outside their comfort zone, face their fears and think in a unique way.

So, how can you escape this “cave”?

The key life lesson from Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is to question every assumption you have about the
reality you call “real.”
This is a powerful way to develop the skill of thinking for yourself and discovering yourown unique solutions to
any problem.

I’ve covered one method of doing this based on Elon musk’s First principles way of thinking.

The more assumptions you question, the less likely you’ll make bad decisions and errors that could
significantly cost you.

It takes courage to step outside of your comfort zone and think differently than you’ve previously done. But,
the rewards are always worth it (see my testimonial on experimenting with intermittent fasting).

Finally, remember that it’s not enough to leave the cave. It’s much more important that you stay outside of
the cave.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is a reminder that not everyone will understand or be happy for you, when you
decide to change your habits and outlook on life.

Just like how the people in the cave responded to the escaped prisoner who returned—you can expect friends
and family to laugh at your “stupid” ideas.

It’s normal to face criticism once you leave the cave.

In the end, if you can’t convince them through your words, convince them through your actions—because
actions speak louder than words.

Food for thought:

What beliefs and assumptions (shadows) currently shape your reality?

How did you come to the conclusion that these assumptions were true?

Are you willing to question and adjust these assumptions? If so, what can you do on a daily basis to build this
habit?