Saballe, Casey Augustine A.

11/12/18

12D Br. Ephraim Gloria

The Nature of Philosophy

Philosophy has two definitions: classical and etymological. Classical, which is also known

as the simple definition of philosophy. While the etymological definition means where the word

originated and how the word Philosophy came to be.

In the classical definition, philosophy seeks to describe the functions, goals, and reasons

for existence. Though there are various interpretations to philosophy, in its core, philosophy tries

to understand and comprehend the world around us. Because of philosophy, science and logical

reasoning emerged. Ancient poets and writers sprung to life because of philosophy, their works

are their interpretations of the world around us.

While philosophy in an etymological perspective is described as the love for wisdom. It

was derived from the Greek word Philosophia—Pholos and Sophia. Pholos, meaning love; while

Sophia, meaning wisdom. In Plato’s famous book “Republic”, he says “He who has a taste for

every sort of knowledge and who is curious to learn and never satisfied may be justly termed a

philosopher.” In this definition, philosophy is the search for truth and wisdom, and the rational

investigation of the nature and structure of reality.

Though philosophy has two distinct definitions, it does evolve and change. Philosophy is

ever-growing and ever-so-changing. It has gone through different stages and eras, which is also

called an epoch. Philosophy has four major epochs: Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and

Contemporary Philosophy.
 Ancient philosophy was developed primarily by Thales, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

This is different from Medieval philosophy, because this encompasses a variety of intellectual

traditions that have no Islamic and Christian influences. Though, it is often deeply rooted with

religious traditions; relating with divinity and immortality of the soul.

Ancient Philosophy is considered the first major epoch of philosophy. It is philosophy in

antiquity. Ancient Philosophy began in Greece approximately around 585 BCE with Thales. Pre-

Socratic philosophers like Thales began to question the inconsistency of the ancient Greek myths,

thus developing their own “systems” to try and better understand the world around them.

Pre-Socratic philosophy, like Thales’, focused more on the nature of things and the

explanation of reality, which would eventually become science. This pre-Socratic philosophy is

characteristically cosmocentric, which tries to explain non-perceptible items (numbers, gods,

deities, cosmos.) Pre-Socratic philosophy became a catalyst for science and logical reasoning. This

type of metaphysical arguments was presented in poetic verses with religious-ethical themes such

as divinity and salvation of man, which developed epistemology.

During this era, well-known philosophers emerged, with the likes of Socrates, Plato,

Aristotle, Pythagoras, and Diogenes. The pinnacle of this epoch is the rising of Socrates, Plato,

and Aristotle. Springing forth new and bold ideas, which still has its’ influences on this very day.

Socrates, also known as the father of Philosophy, lived from 469 – 399 B.C. He is well

known for the development of the Socratic Method. He is the main source for how we perceive

philosophy and the western thought. Socrates believed that philosophy should achieve practical

results for a greater cause. He tried to establish an ethical system that was based on human reason

and not their current theological doctrine and beliefs. For him, his place, Athens was a classroom
filled with new knowledge every day. He pointed out that human choice was drove by their desire

for happiness and pleasure; and the more a person knows, the greater their ability to reason and

make choices that will bring them true happiness. Socrates did not believe in lecturing what he

knows; furthermore, he claimed to be ignorant because he had no ideas, but wise because he

acknowledges his own ignorance. He would, instead, ask questions in dialectic method (now

known as the Socratic method), which compelled people to think through a problem to a logical

conclusion.

Another known philosopher is Plato, who is well known for founding the school of

learning—also known as the Academy. The academy was believed to have operated from 385

B.C.E. to 529 B.C.E., then it was shutdown by Roman Emperor Justinian I, because of he feared

it would be a source of paganism and a threat to Christianity. He started to write his own voice on

the central ideas of justice, courage, wisdom, and moderation of the individual and society. The

Republic, which was written by Plato, explored the idea of a just government ruled by philosopher

kings.

Aristotle, another well-known philosopher during this time, who stayed in Plato’s

Academy until about 347 B.C.E... Though a brilliant student, he did oppose and questioned some of

Aristotle’s teachings. Aristotle saw ultimate reality in physical objects, knowable through experience.

Objects, including organisms, were composed of a potential, their matter, and of a reality, their form.

Aristotle's classification of animals grouped together animals with similar characters into genera (used in a

much broader sense than present-day biologists use the term) and then distinguished the species within the

genera. Aristotle's thoughts on earth sciences can be found in his treatise Meteorology -- the word today

means the study of weather, but Aristotle used the word in a much broader sense, covering, as he put it, "all
the affections we may call common to air and water, and the kinds and parts of the earth and the affections

of its parts."

After the fall of Rome, emerged a new era of philosophy. With influences coming from the

Islamic and Christian nation, came Medieval Philosophy. This began roughly from the fall of the

roman empire in the 5th century to the Renaissance in the 15th century. When Christianity spread

throughout Europe, philosophy came with it. As the catholic church formed, any ideas that opposed

theirs’ were repressed and banned, and much of ancient philosophy came with it.

Much of the focus of medieval philosophy were on the search and proof for God. Medieval

philosophers like Saint Anselm and Saint Augustine, sought for logical proofs for the existence of

God. While philosophers like Thomas Aquinas adapted the philosophy of Aristotle to tailor the

beliefs and teachings of the Church.

With the development of science and the revival of epistemology, which was forgotten

during the middle ages, brought forth a new era of philosophy—Modern philosophy. This

consists of a mix of new approaches to philosophy that was fueled by science and defense of

religion based on new evidences. Modern philosophy corresponds to the 19th and 20th century.

Philosophers like Blaise Pascal and John Locke emerged. Pascal, well known for his

contributing the Pascal’s triangle and probability theory in mathematics, was a writer on theology

to defend Christianity and a pioneer in existentialism. And John Locke, the father of liberalism,

and well known for being a founder of the British Empiricism, defended the philosophical claim

that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God had made all people naturally subject

to a monarch.
 Due to the rapid development of technology, so too did philosophy. Contemporary

philosophy refers to our current era of philosophy, which started from the late 19th century through

the 21st century. The late 19th century sparked a division in the approach of philosophers. In the

United Kingdom and United States, philosophers continued to focus on logic, language, and the

natural sciences; furthermore, this type of philosophy has become prominent and is know known

as analytic philosophy. And those who were not part of the fad were mostly Europe based and

continental philosophy emerged. While analytical philosophy focused on logic and the natural

sciences, continental philosophy dwells with existentialism and phenomenology.

 Reference List

Ancient Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ancient_Philosophy

Aristotle. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.philosophy-index.com/aristotle/

Contemporary Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.philosophy-

index.com/traditions/western/contemporary/

Epistemology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.philosophy-

index.com/philosophy/epistemology.php

History of Modern Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://studiegids.leidenuniv.nl/courses/show/67870/history-of-modern-philosophy

Philippines University- Cavite. (2014, July 20). PHILOSOPHICAL EPOCH Lecture 3 (history of

the past). Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/zaizai27/lecture-3-history-of-the-past

Socrates. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.philosophy-index.com/socrates/

Western Philosophy. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.philosophy-index.com/traditions/western/