PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY
METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING
Philosophy is concerned with determining the truth since it lies at the heart of every inquiry. The
discussion on truth is part of philosophical studies on knowledge and the ways of knowing. As
we know from out previous lesson, facts are statements that are observed to be real or truthful
and claims are statements that require further examinations or test to determine their
truthfulness.
There are various philosophical views regarding truth. Philosophers consider something as
truthful if it corresponds with an observable fact or reality. Something is also true if it can be
justified through experience and the use of one’s senses. Another view believes that truth is a
product of agreement or consensus. And last, there is perspective that considers a claim as
truthful if it can be tested or verified.
A belief is true if it can be justified or proven through the use of one’s senses.
A belief or statement is true if it is based on facts.
Getting consensus or having people agree in a common belief
Determining truth in this case requires a person to prove a statement through an action
Claims and beliefs should be subjected to tests to determine the truth.
Arguments - are series of statements that provide reasons to convince reader or listener that a
claim or opinion is truthful. There are also numbers of arguments based on faulty reasoning.
These kinds of arguments are called fallacies. We must be aware of the various kinds of
fallacies as these affect the validity of the arguments.
Logic – branch of philosophy that focuses on the analysis of arguments. It studies and
elaborates on good argumentation. Study of correct thinking and reasoning.
Fallacy are group of statement that appear to be arguments, but fail to support the conclusion.
Cause and Post Hoc, Ergo, Assuming a cause and effect “Ever since you
Effect Propter Hoc relationship between unrelated bought that sweater,
Fallacy events everything has been
going wrong in your
life. Get rid of it.”
Fallacy of (MODO HOC Assuming that what is true a “You are a doctor,
Composition FALLACY) part is true for the whole therefore you came
from a family of
Individual to all. Infers that something is true of doctors.”
a part, is true of a whole.
“These cases of
robbery in this
district have
convinced me that
the city has become
a den of thieves and
criminals.
Fallacy of All to individual Assuming that what is true for “Your family is
Division the whole is true for its parts smart, therefore you
are smart."
Infers that something is true of
the whole. Must also be true “You come from a
on its parts. family of doctors
and intellectuals.
Surely you can do
better in this course.
Biases – these are tendencies or influences that affect the views of people.
Confirmation Bias Tendency to look for or readily “How can I accept his view
accept information which fits that there is no God? I am a
one’s own beliefs or views that Christian.”
go against it
Framing Focusing on a certain aspect Preliminary evidence has still
of a problem while ignoring not pointed out the actual
other aspects cause of the plane crash, but
investigators are currently
focusing on the possibility of
pilot error.