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GNS 204
Nature, Meaning, Sources
and Origin of Philosophy Prof. Felix Olatunji Nature and Meaning Philosophy is a critical and rigorous approach to man and man’s place in the universe. That is, it is a why-study of reality and a philosopher is called a why-man.
The Greek word philo is translated as “love” while sophia is
ordinarily translated as “wisdom”; and philosophia from which philosophy derived from is translated as “love of wisdom.
But it should be known that Sophia has a much wider range of
application than the modern English word “wisdom” wherever intelligence could be exercised.
In practical affairs, mechanical arts, business, there is room for
Sophia. Homer refers to philosophy as the skill of a carpenter. Nature and Meaning
Furthermore, whereas modern English draws a fairly sharp distinction
between the search for wisdom and their attempt to satisfy intellectual curiosity, Herodotus used the verb “philosophising” in a context in which it means nothing more than the desire to find out.
Briefly then, philosophia etymologically connotes the love of exercising
one’s curiosity and intelligence for more than just the love of wisdom.
Although, philosophers have sought to confine the word “philosophy”
within narrower boundaries; in popular usage, it has never entirely lost its original breadth/length of meaning. Nature and Meaning
Pythagoras says that there are three distinct classes of peoples who attend games, namely: those who seek fame by taking part in the game, those who seek gain by plying their trade and those who are contented with being spectators. To him, the last group is the best group because they are there to see what is happening.
Philosophers resemble the third class because they do not look for fame and gain; rather, they seek to arrive at the truth of contemplation.
Pythagoras distinguishes the Sophia being sought by philosophers (knowledge
based on contemplation) from the practical shrewdness of the business man and trained skill of the athlete. Origin and Source of Philosophy
Philosophy is derived and originated in man, that is, man is the origin of philosophy.
People from the West used to think that they were the source and origin of philosophy but it should be known that all human beings do think and reason, no matter the race, colour, language and tongue, among others, either in the West or elsewhere.
The main source of philosophy is man as it simply arose out of man’s innate tendency and curiosity to ask questions and inquire about himself and nature of the world in which he finds himself.
Man rationally wants to understand and thereby adapts himself to the
world so as to live more conveniently in it; this is what one might call the origin of philosophizing. Origin and Source of Philosophy
There are philosophers who contend that philosophy actually developed from two broad factors, namely: (i) inherited religious and ethical conception (ii) a process of scientific inquiry – using the word “science” in a more general sense.
What is clear, however, is that without man, philosophy will never have come into being at all.
There are philosophers who also are of the opinion that philosophy is something inter- mediate between theology and science.
Ever since man became capable of free speculation, the actions in many respects have largely depended upon their theories as to the world and human life, what is good and what is evil.
This is true of every age: to understand an age, a nation or even a group of people, we must understand its philosophy and so we ourselves in some degree must be philosophers (loose sense). Senses in the Understanding of Philosophy
There are basically two senses in the study of philosophy, namely from the loose sense and strict sense. Rather, what we refer to as first order and second order in the study of philosophy.
From the loose sense, which is the first order understanding, philosophy is taken as a general discussion where everyone could lay claim to and of being a philosopher.
Whereas from the strict sense (second order), we are talking of philosophy from the academic sense and understanding where rigours are applied in the comprehension by trained scholars in philosophy as distinct from other disciplines.
In all, we have three or four branches of philosophy, namely: ethics, metaphysics,
epistemology and logic. There are also sub-branches in the study of philosophy with abundant theories, traditions, ideologies and schools of thought. All these would be examined in this work as we move ahead.
In the same vein, there are epochs/ages/periods in philosophy, ancient, medieval,
modern (early and late) and contemporary. Value of Philosophy to Man
Philosophy helps man morally, socially, politically and economically, among
others, since it is the duty of philosophy to sharpen man’s mental ability to act out of deep convictions with the good of humanity in man.
According to Socrates, “an unexamined life is not worth-living”, and following
from this line of reasoning, then, philosophy helps man to examine how to act in particular way. In this way and manner, philosophy is a discipline that goes beyond just useless controversies and distinctions. Meaning that it has a practical relevance to human life.
Philosophy, like other studies, aims primarily at knowledge. The knowledge it
aims at is one, which gives unity and system to the body of sciences that results from a critical examination of ground of man’s convictions, prejudices and beliefs. Value of Philosophy to Man
Philosophy is able to suggest many possibilities that enlarge man’s thoughts
and free them from a tyranny of customs. It greatly increases man’s knowledge as to what they may be. This is because it removes some-what arrogant dogmatism on those who have never travelled into the region of liberating doubts and keeps alive man’s sense of wonder by showing familiar things in an unfamiliar way
Philosophic contemplation helps man to divide the world into hostile camps, friends and foes, good and bad people. It also frees man’s intellect and helps him to see life without fears, trammels of customary beliefs and traditional prejudices. Thus, philosophers have passion and desire for truths, which helps them to appraise issues more objectively. Thank you
