TERMS FOR LECTURE ONE

Philosophy

Love of Knowledge; Philosopher – one who lives in a way appropriate for knowing and sharing a
love of knowledge. The word “philosophy” may refer to the collective ideas one has about philosophical
issues.

Metaphysics

What is real? Literally “beyond physics”, metaphysics poses questions that can not be
answered by experiment.

Cosmology How did the Universe come to be?

Theology What is true regarding God? Does He exist? What is His nature?
Anthropology What is true regarding man? What is His nature?
Ontology What is existence? Is there a non-physical existence? Does ‘spirit’ exist?

Epistemology

How do we know what is real and true? Can we be sure? Is truth relative or absolute?
subjective, or objective?

To the first question, people posit a variety of answers:

Empiricism The senses, by experiment

Revelation Inspired utterances or writings
Authority From those that know, those that are right, those in authority
Rationalism Reason, by thinking it through
Intuition Gut reaction, 6th sense, enlightenment

To the second, several tests have been suggested

Correspondence Does it agree with the facts?

Coherence Does it makes sense internally? Is it consistent?
Pragmatism Does it work? Is it useful? Does

Axiology

What has value?

Morris and Morris Conceived vs. Operative Values, Tactical and Strategic Values

Ethics What is morally upright? What should one do? What is the “good life”?
Aesthetics What is beautiful? What is attractive?

Education and Philosophy

Our views regarding metaphysics and epistemology may be described in terms of presuppositions.
This is because we can not really know “how” to find truth without having truth to tell us “how.” And we can
not be sure that the “truth” that tell us “how” is true without having an idea of “how” to know what is truth.
This dilemma, known as the epistemological-metaphysical dilemma, leaves man hanging.

Faith is how we start answering philosophical questions. Dead or alive, faith alone is the only basis by which
even the absolute atheist can arrive at his metaphysics and epistemology.

Faith: Living by a set of philosophical presuppositions. Living faith has Christian presuppositions.