A Discussion of Philosophy
Areas Basic Questions Idealism (Hegelian)
Metaphysics Study of what is real.
Nature of reality:
e.g., What can we know?
Do we have free will? How
are the mind and body
related to each other? Is
there a supernatural,
immaterial level of
existence? Is personal
immortality possible?
What is the nature of
reality?
Epistemology The study of knowledge.
Nature of truth:
e.g., What is the nature
and possibly of knowledge?
What is the relationship of
faith to reason? What is
the difference between
knowing that we know and
believing that we know?
Does all knowledge come
from the sense? What are
the roles of reason and
experience in determining
truth? What are the
characteristics of
Rationalism
Absolute Mind, absolute
spirit, independent of
individual. World is whole
and complete, our inability
to see it means we are
insufficient to see its
entirety. One reality.
Ideas are real: “chair-
ness.”
All knowledge exists; we will
know it when we are allowed
to know it. One truth.
Absolute truth self
actualizing into perfection.
E.g., cure for cancer is
there, it exists, but we are
not ready to know it. E.g.,
Plato’s “Cave.” We
experience the world as
shadow puppet on the wall.
Pragmatism
Reality can be measured,
experienced and
acknowledged by others
through rational
(“scientific”) means.
All ideas come to us through
experience. Experience is
real.
“Chair”
Deductive reasoning;
knowledge is systematic.
Careful & measurable
observation of environment.
Reason is the source of
knowledge and justification.
Failure to know is the result
of flawed reason.
Using basic principles, one
could deductively derive the
rest of knowledge. All
knowledge is derived from
experience.
Existentialism
There are multiple realities.
Stool, Bean Bag, Bench, etc.
Knowledge is contextually
bound. What we can know and
how we interpret is bound by
the society within which we
live. Knowledge is what we
should believe.
Real and true only function in
inquiry—outside of inquiry,
they cannot be understood.
“Existence precedes essence.”
No metaphysical principles—
doesn’t matter. All that
matters is existence; the here
and now.
The only reality is that which I
construe. My life project;
meaning & choice. There is no
predefined purpose or
meaning; humans are defined
by who they become in
response to the challenges
posed by an existential world.
Where I choose sit.
Camus’ “Myth of Sisyphus.”
Life project is to get free;
break from the constraints of
society. Sartre, “Hell is other
people.” Dostoevsky, “The
Grand Inquisitor.”
Not bound by ascribed
meaning of what “being human”
means.
The world is absurd. No
rational order. Can never
really know anything.
 artificial intelligence?
What is the nature of
truth?
Axiology The study of values: Time, concurrence. Lots of Delineate the subjective Contextually bound. Based on meaning and choice
people have agreed over from the objective. Mind- rather than reason.
e.g., What is the good life? time; persistent; “classic.” body separation.
Are value judgments more Agreed upon by many and
than matters of opinion? held over time
What is the relation
between facts and values?
To what extent, if any, can
values be objective?
Ethics The study of morality: One moral code; applies to Dependent on environment, Good values are those for Always trying to get free. Act
all regardless of time or but still one based on which we have good reasons, authentically.
e.g., What is moral? Is place; all must follow, e.g., reason. e.g., weighing of e.g., defenses to crimes,
capital punishment Commandments, Hammurabi, facts to determine political correctness, based
justifiable? Is suicide the Golden Rule, 4 Noble innocence or guilt, science on culture. Values are
always wrong? Is it ever Truths behind “stopping at the red hypotheses for what is good
right to lie? Are moral light.” in action.
values universal? Under
what conditions, if any, can “Thou shall not kill.”
we discriminate in our “Women & children first.”
treatment of people?
What are the Kant’s “Categorical
characteristics of the Imperative,” act in a way
good life? Do moral values you would want others to
depend on God? act.”
Aesthetics The study of art: Common principles, Beauty can be measured. Complex and difficult to “Beauty in the eye of the
symmetry, e.g., “David,” Symmetry, use of color, etc. fathom as the potential beholder.”
e.g., What is beauty? “Schools of Athens.” Think “School of Athens.” interpretations seem
What is the nature of exhaustive.
beauty? What are the
proper uses of art? Is the
artist’s opinion of her
artwork always correct?
Logic Form reasoning takes. The Must be reproducible; All knowledge can be Look at entirety. Consider Logic is whatever I say it is,
study of the rules of universal, across time and achieved through reason. context. Others concur, but however I create it for
correct reasoning: culture. Validity, reliability Others should be able to use within that moment at that myself. Whatever I choose to
key. it to arrive at the same time for that group of people. believe.
e.g., What are the merits understanding despite
of different kinds of context.
evidence? How reliable
are analogies and
comparisons? What are
the conditions of validity?
How can we distinguish
fallacious reasoning from
sound reasoning?
Other associations, movements
of a similar vein
Associated persons
Major religions; Sophists;
Socrates, Plato, Hegel, Kant,
Buddha, Jesus
Darwinism; Marxism;
structuralism;
Descartes; Spinoza; Piaget,
Skinner, Freud,
Analytic philosophy; Phenomenology; hermeneutics;
Feminism; Empiricism heuristics; post structuralism;
(experience) critical theory
J.S. Mill, Pierce, James, Sartre, Camus, Dostoyevsky,
Dewey, Rorty, Emerson Derrida, Merleau-Ponty,
Bahktin, Bourdieu, Husserl,
Foucault, Heidegger,
Kierkegaard,