Key Terms
Philosophy comes from Greek
Philia (love/pursuit) + sophia (wisdom). Literally "love of wisdom." It attempts the broadest possible understanding of
INDIA
The Saptarishi (Seven Sages / seven rishis) are central to sanatana dharma. They are credited with composing the Vedas.
CHINA
The sage (sheng) tradition is central to Confucianism. Sages were identified with technological discoveries and virtuous
AFRICA
Scholar Henry Odera Oruka (1990) documented tribal African sages who developed complex philosophical ideas. His criteria
GREECE
Seven sages, best documented by Diogenes Laertius in Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers. Key figures:
Experimental philosophy
Uses empirical scientific methods to test philosophical claims
Logic
The formalization of reasoning
Coherence
A set of beliefs is coherent if it is possible for all of them to be true simultaneously
Conceptual analysis
Breaking apart claims to examine component parts and arrive at clearer definitions
Thought experiments in ethics
A moral theory is supported if applying it to a hypothetical case produces a sensible result. It is undermined if applyi
Biting the bullet
Accepting a negative or uncomfortable implication of your position because you find the overall view more compelling tha
Example
A philosopher committed to full determinism (past events fully determine the future) must accept that free will is an il
Reflective equilibrium
Going back and forth between theory and applied cases to achieve coherence between the two
First principle explained
People always desire what appears good to them. When someone chooses something harmful, they do so because they believe
Second principle explained
The greatest harm to any person is corruption of the soul (character). Harmful choices corrupt the character.