PHILO-120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Critical Thinking, Examined Life, Socratic Method
24 Aug 2020
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Metaphysics: the study of reality, an inquiry into the fundamental nature of the universe and the things in it. Axiology: the study of value, including both aesthetic value and moral value. Socrates is usually considered the father of western philosophy. He was preceded by a group of earlier greek philosophers, the pre-socratics. Socrates was put to death for persistently examining the unquestioned assumptions of his fellow athenians. The views of socrates were preserved by his disciple, plato, in his dialogues, including euthyphro, the republic, the apology, and crito. The unexamined life is a tragedy because it results in grievous harm to the soul. The soul is harmed by lack of knowledge. To get to the truth, we must go around the false certitudes of custom, tradition, and superstition and let reason be our guide. The myth of the cave is one of the best-known passages in the republic, a work of the greek philosopher plato.
