Understanding Reality and Knowledge: A Philosophical Approach
What is Happiness?
Contact with reality is the reality of detection. It is established within reality through the transmission of other people, or systematic tradition.
Types of Knowledge
- Common knowledge
- Scientific knowledge
- Technical knowledge
- Philosophical knowledge
- Artistic knowledge
- Religious knowledge
What is the Philosophy of Science?
The philosophy of science was formerly thought to be the fundamental structure of reality that science shows us.
But now, if we use the notions of modern science, philosophy is not a science, because its hypotheses cannot be demonstrated experimentally, as in physics or mathematics.
Mythos and Logos
Western philosophy was founded in Greece in the 6th century BC. The way daily events and changes are related to philosophy is in the transition from mythos to logos.
Before the birth of philosophy, to understand the universe (day and night, storms, etc.), people would use mythology. Thus, the gods, very powerful goddesses, were used to explain the creation of the universe, as well as all phenomena.
To escape this philosophical position of ignorance, another way to find the real truth began to be sought. And for this reason, logos was used; in other words, arguments based on rational explanation.
Philosophy stems from the realization of ignorance and the need to find out, and all of this uncertainty. Today, questions and criticism are the sources of philosophy, and through them, we continue to seek new answers to the endless mystery of the universe.
Philosophical Methods
Empiricist Methods
This method separates the two sources of knowledge: experience and reasoning.
The development of sources of formal scientific reasoning is correct; this is true or false in order to know statements, not to experience.
However, non-formal science (natural and social sciences) cannot check that questions are made only by experience. In this area, feeling cannot be tied together other than by reasoning.
Rationalist Methods
Rationalist methods take into account the information through the senses, but reasoning is essential in order to check something.
In fact, reasoning is paramount. There are two reasons for this statement:
- Information always comes through the senses, than when the mind is not the same.
- Our best ideas, the most relevant and real, come from reasoning.
As a result, we can say that classical rationality is combined with the method of deduction and intuition.
Transcendental Methods
This method, developed by Kant in the 18th century, is not intended as a rationalist and empiricist source of knowledge, but rather to give reasons for knowledge.
To give rational reasons for all knowledge, these three questions must be answered:
- What do I know?
- What should I do?
- What can I expect?
To respond to these three questions, it is necessary to be universal, in time, place, and for every person. This is why Kant would call this a transcendental subject, and not one of these conditions.
According to Kant, through the transcendental subject, man has two sources of knowledge, was aware of, and feelings of mental ability, intelligence, capacity for reasoning and opinion.
Philosophical Knowledge
Philosophical knowledge is divided into two branches:
- Theoretical Philosophy: Deals with the knowledge of reality. It includes metaphysics, gnoseology, and theodicy. Metaphysics is the attempt to understand the structure of reality (nature, philosophy, language, etc.) and the use of ontologies.
- Practical Philosophy: Deals with human activities and driving action. In these areas, we have ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of law. In recent years, practical philosophy has gained importance in economics, medicine, and genetic engineering.