The love of wisdom begins with the first questions.
First Page
Philosophy is a mystery. The question before us is what kind of mystery is it? There are two paths. Is it a detective mystery where, through study, the basic things become clear? Or is it a terror mystery where you are ever seeking the truth without finding it, ending in skepticism and despair? Which path will you choose? Self-examination will help you know what path you are on. We will begin with wisdom. Philosophy is the love of wisdom. But what is wisdom, and how do we know if we have it? This map helps you explore the foundational questions of philosophy: what we can know, what is real, and what we ought to do. Start on this page by clicking on the button to discover what philosophy is and next learn about wisdom. From there, enter the philospohy maze by using the buttons for self-examination that take you into the three branches of philosophy.
Begin by asking what philosophy is and whether you are wise.
First Question
What Is Philosophy?
Philosophy is the first discipline of the Academy. It is first because it asks the questions that all other disciplines assume.
How is knowledge possible?
What is real?
What is good?
Physics assumes the material world exists. Psychology assumes the self exists. History assumes something about time. Activist programs assume ideas about justice. Philosophy steps back and asks the deeper questions beneath those assumptions.
What is material existence? Is there an immaterial soul? Is time linear, or is everything eternal? What is justice? What is a just society?
The Love of Wisdom
The word philosophy means “the love of wisdom.” To be wise is to know what is good and how to live a good life. Wisdom begins with knowing what to love and what to fear.
Reason and the Three Acts of the Mind
Philosophy’s method is the use of Reason through the three acts of the mind.
Identity A is A. God is God.
Non-Contradiction Something cannot both be A and non-A in the same way at the same time. God is not both eternal and not eternal.
Excluded Middle Something is either A or non-A. Everything is either God or not God.
We use these laws of thought to perform the three acts of the mind: concepts, judgments, and arguments.
Concepts Understanding what something is. Example: God is God.
Judgments Affirming what is true about something. Example: God is eternal.
Arguments Giving reasons to show why something is true. Example: arguments for the existence of God.
The goal of the three acts of the mind is to understand meaning and then truth. When there is contradiction, meaning is lost. When there is meaning, Reason is being used.
The Examined Life
The student of philosophy applies this method by living the examined life. Socrates said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” This means that an unexamined life is less than fully human. Minerals, plants, and animals live unexamined lives. Human beings are distinct because they can examine their presuppositions and use their minds to seek meaning and truth.
The student of philosophy must first examine himself before applying philosophical examination to others.
Philosophical Systems
Philosophers also build systems. A philosophical system attempts to explain all areas of human life. These systems are ordered presuppositionally, beginning with the most basic beliefs as foundational.
Systems are first compared by asking what they say about knowledge, reality, and the good.
Philosophy of law
Philosophy of education
Philosophy of art
Philosophy of politics
Philosophy of family
Philosophy of business
Philosophy of society
And other “philosophy of” disciplines
Philosophy, then, is the disciplined love of wisdom through Reason to study authority, reality, and value. It examines the foundations of knowledge, reality, and goodness so that human beings may understand meaning, know truth, and live well.
Self-Examination
Am I Wise?
To be wise you must know the highest authority, you must know what is eternal — the highest being — and you must know the highest good.