Branches of

Philosophy
 7 Branches of Philosophy
1. Theology
(Living) (Non-Living)
2. Rational Psychology 6. Cosmology
3. Logic 7. Metaphysics
4. Epistemology
5. Ethics/ Moral
Philosophy
1. Theology
Study of God
this branch is also called
RELIGION
deals with why people
believe in a higher power and
an afterlife
tackles about rituals and
how people should act.
Examples of religion:
Dualism
Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Monotheism
Polytheism
Buddhism
Hinduism
2. Rational Psychology
studies man as having body and soul
”Rational” here indicates
psychological investigations based on
reason alone, rather than on
experiment
The method of rational psychology is
to describe and study mental
organizations and phenomena by the
most fit mathematical concepts.
3. Logic
(from the Greek logos: 'a
meaningful word')
Studies man as having
intellect
The method is by using
reasoning
Critical thinking and problem
solving
Example of Logic:
•Mathematics:
•5 + X = 9
•X = 4
•Syllogism:
•Girls have long hair.
•Ariel has long hair
•Ariel is a girl.
 4. Epistemology
Validity of human knowledge
Studies man as having
intellect (like Logic)
is the study of
the nature and scope of know
ledge and justified belief
Epistemology Subdivisions:

Agnosticism
Skepticism
A posteriori
A priori
•Agnosticism- the doctrine that conclusive knowledge
of ultimate reality is an outright impossibility
•Skepticism- the doctrine that any true knowledge is
impossible or that all knowledge is uncertain.
•A posteriori- the reasoning that experience comes first
and knowledge afterwards. Latin “from behind-hand”
•A priori- the reasoning that knowledge can be
acquired through pure reason alone, independently
and perhaps, before experience. Latin “from
beforehand”
5. Ethics/ Moral Philosophy
Studies man as having will
This branch deals mainly with morality
Questions:
Is there a right and wrong?
Is right and wrong the same for
everyone?
It helps people determine what is right
and wrong and how we can achieve the
“good life”
The good life
This is where a
person has balance
between happiness
and virtue.
6. Cosmology
• Cosmology is the study of the
Universe and its components,
how it formed, how its has
evolved and what is its future.
• To religious studies, cosmology is
about a theistically created world
ruled by supernatural forces
7. Metaphysics
‘meta’ means beyond = outside universe
Metaphysics is the study of origins
Asks why we are here and what is our
purpose in life.
Metaphysics is the foundation of
philosophy. Without an explanation or an
interpretation of the world around us, we
would be helpless to deal with reality.
Source:

ohttp://groups.csail.mit.edu/medg/people/doyle/publications/wirp83/
ohttp://www.roangelo.net/logwitt/philosophy-origin.html
ohttp://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_epistemology.html
ohttp://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast123/lectures/lec01.html
Thank you!