In this class we will ask ‘what is philosophy?’ in the hopes of defending the importance of this discipline for the individual and society. In this endeavor we shall trek through the history of philosophy while unpacking some of the major issues and problems in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, logic and politics. Furthermore we will address the perennial problems of the good life, personal identity, authenticity and social responsibility.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
You're Unable to Be Good if You Can't Define 'Good'?
We discussed earlier in the course how the field of philosophy--and the definition of philosophy--is a philosophical question in and of itself. Since philosophical questions have no concrete, definite answers, can it be assumed that philosophy, as a philosophical question, has no one concrete definition? If we cannot define philosophy, how can we know what philosophy is? How can we be philosophers? Socrates' criteria for the Good, and his requirement that practice and definition must coincide, is difficult for me to understand and accept. There are many examples such as the one above that would complicate this concept. Can one not understand simply through experience versus articulation? What of uneducated people, who lack the vocabulary to adequately express and ennumerate the subject which is at hand? Can it be said that they don't have any grasp on the Good; they aren't 'good' people; they aren't virtuous?
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Maddy Fox
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