Introducing Philosophy – Freshman Courses

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Chapter One: Introducing Philosophy – Logic and Critical Thinking

🤔 Learning Appetizer

Imagine standing on a seemingly solid floor. A physicist says it’s vibrating energy. A chemist calls it hydrocarbons. Your eyes see wood. Which is real? Philosophy begins where certainty ends—with wonder.

As Socrates declared: “Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.” 😌

1.1. Meaning and Nature of Philosophy

💬 Brainstorming Questions

  • What comes to mind when you hear “philosophy”?
  • Is philosophy abstract, impractical, or deeply relevant?
Etymological Meaning:
Philosophy = “Philo” (love) + “Sophia” (wisdom) → “Love of Wisdom”.

But this isn’t about possessing wisdom—it’s the relentless pursuit of truth through critical inquiry. Unlike encyclopedic knowledge, philosophical wisdom involves:
• Critical habits of mind,
• Eternal vigilance against dogma,
• Reverence for truth in all its forms (Socrates).

What “Questioning the Apparent” Means:
It’s not denying reality. It’s asking:
• Why is the sky blue?
• What makes an action “just”?
• Is time real or a human construct?
Philosophy interrogates the obvious to uncover deeper truths. 🔍

Philosophy is a rational and critical enterprise. It uses:
• Analysis (breaking down concepts),
• Comparison (weighing perspectives),
• Evaluation (judging validity).
Its dual nature: constructive (building worldviews) + critical (testing assumptions).

💡 Reflection

Philosophy isn’t a static body of knowledge—it’s an activity. You don’t “learn philosophy”; you philosophize. Great philosophers aren’t great because of their theories, but because of their process: questioning, analyzing, and imagining alternatives. 🧠

1.2. Basic Features of Philosophy

Philosophy is unique among disciplines. Its core features:

  1. “Having” vs. “Doing” Philosophy:
    • Having: Personal life attitudes (“My philosophy is to be kind”).
    • Doing: Rigorous critical reflection. Without “having,” you can’t “do”—but “having” alone isn’t philosophy.
  2. Holistic Worldview:
    Philosophy integrates science, art, ethics, and experience into a coherent big picture. While a physicist sees atoms, a philosopher asks: “What does this tell us about reality itself?” 🌍
  3. Logical Analysis of Language:
    Philosophers clarify ambiguous terms (e.g., “freedom,” “justice”). As Wittgenstein noted: “Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by language.” 🗣️
  4. Perennial Problems:
    Philosophy tackles timeless questions:
    • What is truth?
    • Do we have free will?
    • What is a just society?
    These problems persist because evidence is incomplete, perspectives vary, and reality evolves. ⏳
Why Philosophers Disagree:
1. Different viewpoints (cultural/historical contexts),
2. A changing universe (new scientific discoveries),
3. Incomplete evidence (e.g., consciousness remains unexplained).

1.3. Core Fields of Philosophy

Philosophy’s four pillars address humanity’s deepest questions:

1. Metaphysics: The Study of Ultimate Reality
Explores existence, God, free will, mind-body duality, and time.

Key Questions:
• What is real?
• Is the universe orderly or chaotic?
• Do we have souls?
Subfields:

  • Cosmology: Origin/purpose of the universe.
  • Theology: Nature of God and evil.
  • Anthropology: Human nature and free will.
  • Ontology: Nature of existence (spirit vs. matter).
2. Epistemology: The Study of Knowledge
Asks: “What is knowledge? How do we acquire it? Can we trust our senses or reason?”

Sources of Knowledge:

  1. Empiricism: Knowledge from senses (e.g., “I know it’s spring because I see flowers”).
    ⚠️ But senses deceive (e.g., bent stick in water).
  2. Rationalism: Knowledge from reason (e.g., math, logic).
    “Sensations are raw data; reason gives them meaning.”
  3. Intuition: Immediate insight (e.g., scientific “aha!” moments).
    ⚠️ Must be tested—intuition can mislead.
  4. Revelation: Divine truth (e.g., religious texts).
    Requires faith; not empirically verifiable.
  5. Authority: Expert consensus (e.g., textbooks).
    Efficient but risks error if authorities are wrong.
3. Axiology: The Study of Values
Examines ethics, aesthetics, and political ideals.

Branches:

  • Ethics: What is good/right? (e.g., “Is lying ever justified?”)
  • Aesthetics: What is beauty? (e.g., “Is art objective or subjective?”)
  • Social/Political Philosophy: What is justice? (e.g., “What makes a government legitimate?”)
4. Logic: The Study of Reasoning
Tools to construct and evaluate arguments (covered in detail in later units).

1.4. Importance of Learning Philosophy

🌟 Brainstorming Question

Why study philosophy if it doesn’t teach “practical” skills?

As Socrates proclaimed: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Philosophy cultivates:

  1. Intellectual Independence: Form your own worldview—not just absorb others’ beliefs.
  2. Reflective Self-Awareness: Understand your assumptions and biases.
  3. Open-Mindedness: Tolerate ambiguity; consider opposing views fairly.
  4. Critical & Creative Thinking: Analyze arguments; imagine novel solutions.
  5. Meaningful Value Systems: Build ethical, aesthetic, and political principles thoughtfully.
Bertrand Russell on Uncertainty:
“Philosophy, though unable to tell us with certainty what is the true answer to the doubts which it raises, is able to suggest many possibilities which enlarge our thoughts and free them from the tyranny of custom.”
→ Philosophy liberates us from dogma! 🕊️

🌌 Final Reflection

Philosophy doesn’t give answers—it teaches you to ask better questions. In a world of misinformation and polarization, these skills are not just academic—they’re essential for democracy, ethics, and human flourishing. 🌱

50 Complex Questions – Chapter One: Introducing Philosophy

Deeply Detailed Explanations for Freshman University Students | Based on Logic and Critical Thinking Unit 1

1. Etymologically, the word “philosophy” means:
A) Love of knowledge
B) Love of wisdom
C) Study of the soul
D) Critical reasoning
✅ Explanation:
The word “philosophy” comes from two Greek words: “philo” (love) and “sophia” (wisdom). Thus, it literally means “love of wisdom.” Pythagoras was the first to use the term to describe someone with a marked curiosity about the world.
2. According to Socrates, “Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.” This implies that philosophy:
A) Requires advanced scientific training
B) Arises from curiosity about human experience and the world
C) Is only for intellectuals
D) Rejects everyday questions
✅ Explanation:
Socrates emphasized that philosophy begins not with answers, but with wonder—a deep curiosity about existence, knowledge, and values. This wonder is accessible to all, not just scholars, making philosophy a universal human activity.
3. Why is it difficult to define philosophy by a specific subject matter?
A) Because it is outdated
B) Because it deals with universal issues rather than a fixed domain
C) Because it only studies abstract ideas
D) Because it overlaps with religion
✅ Explanation:
Unlike chemistry or geography, philosophy has no single subject matter. Instead, it addresses universal questions about reality, knowledge, value, and meaning that cut across all disciplines.
4. The wisdom philosophers seek is best described as:
A) Technical expertise in a field
B) Memorization of facts
C) A critical habit, eternal vigilance, and reverence for truth
D) Practical life hacks
✅ Explanation:
Philosophical wisdom is not mere information. According to Socrates, it involves critical thinking, constant questioning, and a reverence for truth—not just knowing, but understanding deeply.
5. “To interrogate the obvious” means to:
A) Deny everyday reality
B) Accept common sense without question
C) Go beyond surface appearances and question taken-for-granted assumptions
D) Reject scientific evidence
✅ Explanation:
Questioning the apparent does not mean denying facts. It means using reason to speculate creatively about why things are as they are—e.g., asking “What is justice?” rather than assuming current laws are just.
6. Philosophy is primarily an:
A) Accumulation of historical theories
B) Activity of critical thinking and reasoning
C) Set of religious doctrines
D) Collection of proverbs
✅ Explanation:
As stated in the text, philosophy is not something you “master” but something you do—an activity of analyzing, comparing, evaluating, and reasoning. Great philosophers are great thinkers, not just great readers.
7. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental feature of philosophy?
A) It is a set of deeply held beliefs (“having a philosophy”)
B) It is a process of critical reflection (“doing philosophy”)
C) It relies solely on empirical data like natural science
D) It seeks a worldview that integrates knowledge from all disciplines
✅ Explanation:
While philosophy uses reason and evidence, it is not limited to empirical data. It also deals with conceptual, ethical, and metaphysical questions that science cannot answer alone (e.g., “What is justice?”).
8. A key reason philosophers disagree is that:
A) They use different languages
B) They view issues from different perspectives, assumptions, and cultural backgrounds
C) Philosophy has no valid methods
D) All philosophical questions have been solved
✅ Explanation:
Philosophers disagree because they have different viewpoints, assumptions, and cultural contexts. Additionally, philosophical evidence is often incomplete, allowing multiple interpretations.
9. The view that philosophy’s main task is the logical analysis of language belongs to:
A) Existentialism
B) Linguistic analysis (20th-century perspective)
C) Idealism
D) Pragmatism
✅ Explanation:
In the 20th century, some philosophers (e.g., logical positivists) argued that philosophy’s role is to clarify language and eliminate confusion, especially in science and everyday discourse. This is known as linguistic analysis.
10. Which question is explicitly philosophical?
A) What is the capital of Ethiopia?
B) When was Addis Ababa founded?
C) What is the distinction between right and wrong?
D) How many students are enrolled at AAU?
✅ Explanation:
Philosophical questions address fundamental concepts like truth, justice, and morality—“What is right and wrong?” is a core question in ethics. Factual questions (A, B, D) belong to geography, history, or administration.
11. Metaphysics is primarily concerned with:
A) How we acquire knowledge
B) The ultimate nature of reality and existence
C) Moral principles
D) Valid reasoning
✅ Explanation:
Metaphysics studies the fundamental nature of reality—questions like “What is real?”, “Does God exist?”, and “Is the mind separate from the body?” It is the “first philosophy” that underlies all inquiry.
12. The theological aspect of metaphysics deals with:
A) The origin of the universe
B) Conceptions of and about God
C) Human freedom
D) The nature of time
✅ Explanation:
The theological aspect of metaphysics examines questions about God: existence, attributes (e.g., omnipotence, benevolence), and the problem of evil (“If God is all-good and all-powerful, why does evil exist?”).
13. Epistemology is the study of:
A) Moral values
B) The nature, sources, and validity of knowledge
C) Logical arguments
D) The meaning of life
✅ Explanation:
Epistemology (from Greek episteme = knowledge, logos = study) investigates what knowledge is, how we get it (reason, experience, etc.), and whether it’s possible to know truth with certainty.
14. Which source of knowledge emphasizes reasoning over sensory experience?
A) Empiricism
B) Rationalism
C) Intuition
D) Authority
✅ Explanation:
Rationalism holds that reason (not the senses) is the primary source of knowledge. Rationalists believe we can arrive at truths (e.g., mathematical principles) through logic alone, independent of experience.
15. Axiology is the philosophical study of:
A) Reality
B) Knowledge
C) Value (moral, aesthetic, social)
D) Language
✅ Explanation:
Axiology (from Greek axios = worth) examines values—what is good (ethics), beautiful (aesthetics), or just (social/political philosophy). It asks, “What is valuable and why?”
16. Logic, as a branch of philosophy, is concerned with:
A) The meaning of life
B) The principles and methods of right reasoning
C) The nature of God
D) Cultural traditions
✅ Explanation:
Logic is the study of correct reasoning—how to construct valid arguments, identify fallacies, and evaluate the soundness of conclusions. It is the “instrument” philosophers use to analyze arguments.
17. According to the text, learning philosophy helps develop:
A) Memorization skills
B) Intellectual independence, self-awareness, and critical thinking
C) Religious faith
D) Technical writing
✅ Explanation:
Philosophy promotes self-actualization through intellectual independence, reflective self-awareness, open-mindedness, and the ability to think critically—key traits for personal and academic growth.
18. Bertrand Russell argues that the value of philosophy lies largely in its:
A) Certainty
B) Uncertainty
C) Religious insights
D) Practical utility
✅ Explanation:
Russell states that philosophy’s value is in its uncertainty: it frees us from “the tyranny of custom” by showing familiar things in unfamiliar ways, enlarging our thoughts and keeping wonder alive.
19. Which subfield of philosophy deals with questions like “What is justice?” and “What makes a society good?”
A) Metaphysics
B) Epistemology
C) Social/Political Philosophy (part of Axiology)
D) Logic
✅ Explanation:
Questions about justice, government, and societal values belong to Social/Political Philosophy, a branch of axiology that examines the value judgments operating in civil society.
20. The anthropological aspect of metaphysics focuses on:
A) The origin of the cosmos
B) The nature of human beings, mind-body relation, and free will
C) The attributes of God
D) The essence of matter
✅ Explanation:
The anthropological aspect asks: What is a human being? Is the mind more fundamental than the body? Do we have free will? These questions shape our views on education, law, and ethics.
50. Why does the text state that “having a philosophy” is insufficient for “doing philosophy”?
A) Because personal opinions are always wrong
B) Because doing philosophy requires critical examination, not just holding beliefs
C) Because philosophy rejects all personal views
D) Because only experts can do philosophy
✅ Explanation:
“Having a philosophy” means holding informal beliefs. “Doing philosophy” requires critical, reflective engagement—questioning assumptions, analyzing concepts, and evaluating arguments. Without this, beliefs remain unexamined and potentially dogmatic.
Chapter One Exam: Introducing Philosophy

50 Complex Questions | Based on Logic and Critical Thinking Unit 1 | For Freshman University Students

1. (Multiple Choice)
Etymologically, the word “philosophy” means:
A) Study of the soul
B) Love of wisdom
C) Science of reasoning
D) Art of debating
✅ Explanation:
The word “philosophy” comes from two Greek words: “philo” (love) and “sophia” (wisdom). Thus, it literally means “love of wisdom”. This was first used by Pythagoras to describe someone with deep curiosity about the world. While philosophy involves reasoning and debate, its root meaning is specifically about the pursuit of wisdom.
2. (True/False)
Philosophy can be easily defined by a specific subject matter like chemistry or physics.
True / False
✅ Explanation:
False. Unlike sciences such as chemistry (which studies matter) or biology (which studies life), philosophy deals with universal issues—not a fixed subject matter. It addresses questions about existence, knowledge, value, and meaning, which cut across all domains. This is why defining philosophy is challenging.
3. (Define/Explain)
Define “philosophy” as a pursuit of wisdom according to Socratic understanding.
[Write your answer]
✅ Explanation:
According to Socrates, wisdom consists of: (1) a critical habit of examining all assumptions, (2) eternal vigilance about all things, and (3) a reverence for truth in all its forms. Thus, philosophy as the love of wisdom is not about accumulating facts, but about developing these intellectual and moral dispositions.
4. (List and Explain)
List and briefly explain THREE fundamental features of philosophy as an academic discipline.
[Write your answer]
✅ Explanation:

Any three of the following:

  1. It is a process of critical reflection: Philosophy involves questioning deeply held beliefs through reason and analysis.
  2. It seeks a rational worldview: Philosophy attempts to integrate scientific, religious, and humanistic knowledge into a coherent whole.
  3. It analyzes language and clarifies concepts: A core task is eliminating confusion by defining terms precisely (e.g., “What is justice?”).
  4. It addresses perennial problems: Philosophy tackles timeless questions about existence, knowledge, and value.
  5. It is an activity, not just a body of knowledge: To “do philosophy” is to engage in active reasoning, not just memorize ideas.
5. (Fill-in-the-Blank)
According to Socrates, “__________ is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in __________.”
Answer: _________________________
✅ Explanation:
Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder. This reflects the idea that philosophy starts when we move beyond passive acceptance of the world and begin to ask fundamental questions about why things are as they are.
6. (Multiple Choice)
Which of the following best describes the “critical” side of philosophy?
A) Constructing new theories about reality
B) Memorizing the works of great philosophers
C) Critically evaluating answers to fundamental questions
D) Promoting religious doctrines
✅ Explanation:
Philosophy has two sides: constructive (formulating answers) and critical (analyzing, clarifying, and evaluating those answers). The critical side uses reason to assess the logic, evidence, and coherence of claims about reality, knowledge, or ethics.
7. (True/False)
Philosophy as an activity is something that can be mastered by learning facts about famous philosophers.
True / False
✅ Explanation:
False. Philosophy is not primarily about knowing what philosophers said, but about doing what they did: philosophizing. This means actively questioning, analyzing, and reasoning. A great philosopher is great because of their ability to think—not because they memorized theories.
8. (Define/Explain)
Explain what it means to “question the apparent” in philosophy.
[Write your answer]
✅ Explanation:
To “question the apparent” means to go beyond surface-level understanding and common assumptions. It involves creatively engaging with the world, speculating about hidden realities, and challenging what “everyone knows.” For example, questioning “What is real?” when looking at a floor (is it solid or mostly empty space?) demonstrates this attitude.
9. (Fill-in-the-Blank)
The branch of philosophy that studies the nature, scope, and validity of knowledge is called __________.
Answer: _________________________
✅ Explanation:
Epistemology. Derived from Greek episteme (knowledge) and logos (study), epistemology asks questions like “What is knowledge?”, “How do we know?”, and “What makes knowledge different from belief?”
10. (Multiple Choice)
Which core field of philosophy deals with questions like “What is the nature of reality?” and “Does God exist?”
A) Axiology
B) Logic
C) Metaphysics
D) Ethics
✅ Explanation:
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the ultimate nature of reality. It includes questions about existence, God, freedom, time, and the mind-body relationship. The term literally means “after physics,” from Aristotle’s works that came after his physics treatises.
50. (True/False)
According to Bertrand Russell, the value of philosophy lies partly in its ability to free us from the “tyranny of custom” by showing familiar things in an unfamiliar aspect.
True / False
✅ Explanation:
True. In The Problems of Philosophy, Russell argues that philosophy’s uncertainty is valuable because it enlarges our thoughts, removes dogmatism, and keeps alive our sense of wonder by revealing new possibilities and unfamiliar perspectives on ordinary things.

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