What is Philosophy?

And why are we studying it in TOK?

What is philosophy?

Definitions in 3 Readings

“One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.” –Socrates

So what is philosophy?

Philosophy according to TED: http://www.ted.com/

talks/damon_horowitz_philosophy_in_prison.html

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder

Novel

History of Western Philosophy

Metaphor of the rabbit’s fur

Philosophy as… A “search for truth”

(Gaarden 15) Asking big questions

“A philosopher never quite gets used to the world. To him or her, the world continues to seem a bit unreasonable—bewildering, even enigmatic” (Gaarder 20).

Asking big questions

Who am I?

Where does the world come from?

Is there meaning behind what happens in our lives?

Is there life after death?

How should we live?

Is there a basic substance to life?

What causes change?

How do we know right and wrong?

Are there universal truths?

Do we have free will?

The philosopher’s project

What is the philosopher’s project? “Precisely what it is

that each particular philosopher is especially concerned with finding out” (Gaarder 32)

The “big question” that each philosopher explores

Create-your-own philosopher’s project for TOK! What is the big

question you want to answer this year as you study the theory of knowledge?

Write your question in your TOK journal, along with an explanation of why you chose it.