Related questions
§ Critically discuss at least five conceptions of philosophy with which you are familiar.
§ Evaluate five conceptions of philosophy and state their relevance to society.
Introduction
There are several conceptions of philosophy. These are the personal opinions and discoveries of various philosophers about philosophy, and what it does. This implies that every philosopher has a conception of philosophy. However, in this write-up, only five would be discussed, as well as their specific relevance to society.
What do we mean by “conception?”
Originally, philosophy has a controversial nature, as all philosophers never agree on a one, specific paradigm for philosophy as a discipline. Hence, various ideas about philosophy, in the form of definitions, conceptions, schools of thought and so on have emerged. However, for the sake of emphasis, conceptions of philosophy are not the same as the definitions of philosophy. They simply are the general ideas and opinions of philosophers, regarding what philosophy is, or what it is capable of doing. Infact, any definition of philosophy by a philosopher, which is not among the “consensus” definitions of philosophy, can be thereby regarded as a conception. Now that the idea of a “conception” has been clarified, we now progress to evaluating some;
Conceptions of Philosophy
The following would be considered;
i. The pre-socratics conception
ii. Socrates’ conception
iii. Aristotle’s conception
iv. Bertrand Russel’s conception
v. Cicero’s conception
vi. Seneca’s conception
vii. Marx, Engels and Lenin’s conception
i. The pre-socratics conception
The early Greek thinkers, the pre-Socratics, who were the pioneers of the philosophical enterprise conceived philosophy as, “a speculative cosmology whose focus is the search for the primary stuff or organizing principle of the universe”. The cosmological endeavor of philosophy would aid man in his systematic study of his environment, and the unlocking of the principles of his existential universe.
ii. Socrates’ Conception
For Socrates; philosophy is, “a reflective attitude, which elevates all human activity to though and to universal valid knowledge”. Socrates also says that philosophical knowledge is virtue. Socrates’ maxim is that, in any society, critically reflective thinking must precede any action. In order words, a man that acts without thinking is like a beast. In addition, a man of knowledge is a man of virtue; and virtue makes a society peaceful and habitable.
iii. Aristotle’s conception
Aristotle says; philosophy is a reflective, critical, and theoretical attitude which permeates and embraces all the sciences. Aristotle’s maxim is that, philosophy is the key to transforming the world, as it is the knowledge of everything and the basis of every human activity.
iv. Bertrand Russell’s Conception
For Russell; philosophy should be concerned mainly with the analysis of language, in order to avoid the problems of ambiguities and vagueness, due to bad grammar usage. Russell’s maxim would impact the use of language in a more objective and positive way, such that grammatical blunders will be easily avoided, and communication will become clearer.
v. Cicero’s Conception
For Cicero; philosophy is, “the teacher of life, the discoverer of laws and the guide to every virtue. As the teacher of life, philosophy as “a reflection on human experience” informs one’s ideology of living and existence. Likewise, as the discoverer of laws and the guide to every virtue, philosophy as “the search for value and the best forms of life” helps to make society a just place to be and to live in.
vi. Seneca’s Conception
Seneca says, philosophy is, “the theory and art of the correct conduct of life”. Seneca’s maxim is strongly ethical. It asserts the scientific and artistic dimensions of Ethics (moral philosophy) which is the evaluation of moral principles and the guiding of human society alongside the ideas of morality.
vii. Marx, Engels and Lenin’s Conception
According to Marx, Engels and Lenin, Philosophy is, “the science of the general laws of being (nature and society)”. This maxim asserts the relationship of consciousness (thinking) to matter (being), which explains how philosophy is concerned with the problems of human existence, in order to proffer solutions and in the process change the world.
Conclusion
Even though the conceptions of philosophy are many, and seem to be different from one another, they help us to understand philosophy better. Since, philosophy has a universal scope; it permeates all branches of life, which is why it has several conceptions. However, they all border on being and man in society.
§ Critically discuss at least five conceptions of philosophy with which you are familiar.
§ Evaluate five conceptions of philosophy and state their relevance to society.
Introduction
There are several conceptions of philosophy. These are the personal opinions and discoveries of various philosophers about philosophy, and what it does. This implies that every philosopher has a conception of philosophy. However, in this write-up, only five would be discussed, as well as their specific relevance to society.
What do we mean by “conception?”
Originally, philosophy has a controversial nature, as all philosophers never agree on a one, specific paradigm for philosophy as a discipline. Hence, various ideas about philosophy, in the form of definitions, conceptions, schools of thought and so on have emerged. However, for the sake of emphasis, conceptions of philosophy are not the same as the definitions of philosophy. They simply are the general ideas and opinions of philosophers, regarding what philosophy is, or what it is capable of doing. Infact, any definition of philosophy by a philosopher, which is not among the “consensus” definitions of philosophy, can be thereby regarded as a conception. Now that the idea of a “conception” has been clarified, we now progress to evaluating some;
Conceptions of Philosophy
The following would be considered;
i. The pre-socratics conception
ii. Socrates’ conception
iii. Aristotle’s conception
iv. Bertrand Russel’s conception
v. Cicero’s conception
vi. Seneca’s conception
vii. Marx, Engels and Lenin’s conception
i. The pre-socratics conception
The early Greek thinkers, the pre-Socratics, who were the pioneers of the philosophical enterprise conceived philosophy as, “a speculative cosmology whose focus is the search for the primary stuff or organizing principle of the universe”. The cosmological endeavor of philosophy would aid man in his systematic study of his environment, and the unlocking of the principles of his existential universe.
ii. Socrates’ Conception
For Socrates; philosophy is, “a reflective attitude, which elevates all human activity to though and to universal valid knowledge”. Socrates also says that philosophical knowledge is virtue. Socrates’ maxim is that, in any society, critically reflective thinking must precede any action. In order words, a man that acts without thinking is like a beast. In addition, a man of knowledge is a man of virtue; and virtue makes a society peaceful and habitable.
iii. Aristotle’s conception
Aristotle says; philosophy is a reflective, critical, and theoretical attitude which permeates and embraces all the sciences. Aristotle’s maxim is that, philosophy is the key to transforming the world, as it is the knowledge of everything and the basis of every human activity.
iv. Bertrand Russell’s Conception
For Russell; philosophy should be concerned mainly with the analysis of language, in order to avoid the problems of ambiguities and vagueness, due to bad grammar usage. Russell’s maxim would impact the use of language in a more objective and positive way, such that grammatical blunders will be easily avoided, and communication will become clearer.
v. Cicero’s Conception
For Cicero; philosophy is, “the teacher of life, the discoverer of laws and the guide to every virtue. As the teacher of life, philosophy as “a reflection on human experience” informs one’s ideology of living and existence. Likewise, as the discoverer of laws and the guide to every virtue, philosophy as “the search for value and the best forms of life” helps to make society a just place to be and to live in.
vi. Seneca’s Conception
Seneca says, philosophy is, “the theory and art of the correct conduct of life”. Seneca’s maxim is strongly ethical. It asserts the scientific and artistic dimensions of Ethics (moral philosophy) which is the evaluation of moral principles and the guiding of human society alongside the ideas of morality.
vii. Marx, Engels and Lenin’s Conception
According to Marx, Engels and Lenin, Philosophy is, “the science of the general laws of being (nature and society)”. This maxim asserts the relationship of consciousness (thinking) to matter (being), which explains how philosophy is concerned with the problems of human existence, in order to proffer solutions and in the process change the world.
Conclusion
Even though the conceptions of philosophy are many, and seem to be different from one another, they help us to understand philosophy better. Since, philosophy has a universal scope; it permeates all branches of life, which is why it has several conceptions. However, they all border on being and man in society.
