User talk:Kervin jeff pedros

Kervin Jeff A. Pedros                                                                                                                    St. Mark Philosophy 1                                                                                                                      October 7, 2009 For The Love Of Wisdom (Book Review) I. Introduction(foreword) “An explanation of the meaning and purpose of philosophy.” This statement is the subtitle of the book I have chosen to make a review or a critique because it triggered my rationality. Being a beginner in philosophy, indeed it is vital for me to know the explanation of the true meaning and purpose of philosophy. Upon reading the title of some philosophical books, both required and recommended by our professor to be critique or reviewed and those that were not, the book “for the Love of Wisdom” by Chris John-Terry caught up my attention, not because of its beautiful cover but because of its title- “for the Love of Wisdom”- explains the Greek meaning of philosophy invented by Pythagoras. It somehow expose the simpleness of the book and moreover the basic yet profound meaning and purpose of philosophy. Another reason why I chose this book was the insight of the author in his foreword of the book, that “the purpose of this book is to preserve a treasure,” the pursuit of wisdom in our day and age. After presenting my reasons of why I chose this book, I would like to present my purpose of reviewing this book. In this paper I would like to present my compliments and disagreements on the writings on the book,on how it helps me introduced the subject matter philosophy, love of wisdom, to a newly born philosopher like me. I would like also to extend my greatest apology to the author of the book and the great philosophical minds of the past if I may commit errors and philosophical heresies in critiquing this book for the words that I have written in this paper were directly fruits of my rationality in reviewing this book. II. Structural Overview The first chapter of the book started with a question that asked “what is philosophy?” Indeed in writing philosophical books the author must first introduced the meaning of what philosophy is, for the readers/learners to know what it is gradually. In this chapter philosophy's meaning is explained from its beginning, its invention by Pythagoras. He invented the word “philosophy” through its Greek combination of words, “philia” means love and “sophias” means wisdom, so philosophy literally means “the love of wisdom.” Most comprehensive and profound knowledge of things is called wisdom, concern of philosophy. This concern of philosophy is explained further by the insights of the great minds of the past philosopher like Heraclitus, Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas, etcetera. In relation to wisdom, philosophy then is defined as the science of things by their first causes, to the extent that it is attainable by the natural light of reason. Speaking of philosophy as a science, in this chapter philosophy is defined as a science in a sense that it is a branch of knowledge. Unlike experimental sciences, philosophy investigates the first causes of things. As a science of things, philosophy is a science of things, of real beings, both contingent and necessary beings, and not on mere abstractions. As a science of real beings including necessary being, God, in this case the relation of philosophy and theology enters. God as being is not beyond the scope of philosophy. Reason is enlightened by faith through the help of natural and supernatural theology. In this sense Christian philosophy finds its way. The second chapter is entitled “Challenges to Philosophy.” After giving its definition of philosophy on the preceding chapter, the author on this chapter confronted philosophy by challenges and criticisms of many thinkers. The first criticism arises from the lack of agreement among philosopher. Disagreement of thoughts among “lovers of wisdom”(philosopher) is often happening because, of all sciences ,philosophy is more difficult and more complicated to handle and the fact that each individual has its own will and reason to follow. The second criticism arises from a dispute regarding the object of philosophy. This objection comes from Ludwig Wittgenstein and the other linguistic philosophers. They insist that philosophy should be concerned with things but with only the clarification of thought and language, not the investigation of reality, and it should only be engaged in the pursuit of meaning rather than in wisdom. The third criticism comes from David Hume and other empiricists who wanted to restrict philosophy to the investigation of sensible reality for the reason that our knowledge comes from sense experience. The next criticism comes from logical positivists like A.J. Ayer who base their arguments on verifiable things and ultimate realities like “God” or “soul” is not included in their philosophies. The last objection is against the Christian philosopher and their philosophy. It is the mistaken view of Bertrand Russell to those Christian philosophers that are influenced by religious beliefs. He said that it is inconsistent with the nature of philosophy. These are the challenges of philosophy to counter and to be corrected by its own unified way and goal. Chapter three of the book speaks about “the goal of philosophy.” Through metaphysical perspective that unites the branches of philosophy, philosophers philosophize for their highest goal, the attainment of the ultimate truth and the contemplation of wisdom. Philosopers study for the love of learning, which culminates in wisdom. “The marks of an authentic philosophy” is the main concern of chapter four. Marks of an authentic philosophy should be exposed to show the difference between it and its counterfeits. There are five marks of true philosophy. First, philosophy begins in wonder, not in doubt. Second, philosophy is dialectical, not mathematical. Third, philosophy is clear, not esoteric. Fourth, philosophy is perennial, and last it must be open to the influence of divine revelation. As a Christian philosopher, the author talks about “Saint Thomas and philosophy” in his fifth chapter. Because of St. Thomas' perennial philosophy, the author thought of presenting it to the new era be useful. St. Thomas philosophy is very difficult yet it is clear. His philosophy concerns about the whole contingent reality. As a medieval philosopher who has a perennial philosophy, knowledge of Saint Thomas' life and work is useful for the future of philosophy. The final chapter of the book indeed talks about “the future of philosophy.” the future of philosophy, its existence depends not only to philosophers but to all human being who thinks and the call for becoming a philosopher to preserve the precious inheritance are the concerns highlighted by the author in this last chapter. III. Critique -Disagreements- As a beginner in philosophy, I am not worthy to give my oppositions to the book but as a person who has my own way of thinking, I would like to give some but not in the sense that I will correct the book for it is already corrected by the author and some editors, in a sense that I will give some critiques on the presentations of philosophy by the author. In the structure of the book, philosophy is throughly defined by the author, yet on the second chapter he presented some challenges and criticism in philosophy. As a newly “lover of wisdom,” in analogy I am just like a little crab reaching for the sea, but the big waves are keeping me still in the seashore. For some it is just okay, but it is quite a threat for me entering a world where wonder and certainties collide each other, the world of philosophy. I have noticed that there are some philosophical words and thoughts are not explained throughly, although there are some explanations but it is not thorough. There are also some philosophical words and insights that are deeply explained. I cannot grasp the meaning fully well. Knowing some of philosophers of the past is a gratitude for me, a new philosopher. In the book there are some great philosophers that are mentioned, yet the author did not explain well their life and works. -Appreciations- Chris John-Terry, the author of the book I critique, “for the Love of Wisdom”, is a good philosopher. It is evident in his writings that he is a Christian philosopher and is presenting a writing in a Christian way of rationalizing. His illustration of the book achieved its purpose “to preserve a treasure”(long tradition of intellectual pursuit) and to introduce it to new philosophers. The content of the book presents philosophy gradually for the sake of its desired readers. Indeed the purpose and meaning of philosophy are well explained as it aim to do so. Footnotes are used by the author for further explanation and research. For me, the use of it is very useful for students who begin to love wisdom. I appreciate the effort of Chris John-Terry of writing this book and the aim to pass it to new generations, to preserve the precious inheritance. IV. Conclusion As a seminarian, philosophy as a part of my formation is very important. A good background in philosophy is vital, not only for eruditions and intellectual pursuit but for my life in my future ministry. The book indeed helped me in entering the realm of thinking. It introduced me to philosophy in a simple yet profound manner.

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Jerlito A. Pascual Jr.								Philosophy I 2nd Year St. Mark Rev. Fr. Julius Rodulfa, DCD Book Critique

Introduction

When I read the book entitled Hooked on Philosophy by Robert A. O'Donnell,PhD, I am already challenge in understanding it. I encountered fear and doubt because I chose this book to give a critique and to evaluate it. I know all of us experience this kind of difficulties. For me, it is not easy because first and foremost, I am a beginner to study philosophy and my knowledge and idea about philosophy is just like a young boy who started to examine and differentiate what is real from non-real. But I know simple mind is the beginning to have an excellent knowledge, that is why I chose this book to give a critique because this book is conducive for us beginners. I decided to give a critique on this book chapter by chapter. I am hoping that after reading and give a critique on this book, it will become my foundation to be hooked on philosophy and become one of the greatest philosophers in the world.. Chapter I	In chapter one, the author explained the origin of all our knowledge, which is the sense experience. Based on my experience and observation, all my learning originates through and from my senses. It is true because, in fact, nothing enters into our senses without passing through our senses. Moreover, the book gives us kinds of ideas like for example, universal ideas, idea of being, and quantitative ideas. But I think the author lacks something. If there is a quantitative ideas, then there is a possibility that there is also a qualitative idea. That is only my own perception. I think the book gives us only what is enough. It is better to read first all what the book contains. Chapter II In chapter two, it helps us readers on the “reflection on our idea of Being.”In this chapter, it becomes challenging and interesting for us beginners to take note on how philosophers tried their best to come-up to the reflective answers and definitions that can solve about the issues that philosophers confronted. The book gives us clear definitions about “potency and act,” “essence and existence,” the causes of being,” “the categories of being,” and “the other names of being.” because of these, it is easy for us beginners to catch-up and absorb the terms used. Now, I discovered the reason why there is no qualitative idea in the chapter one, because here in this chapter unity, truth, and goodness have somehow the same essence of the qualitative ideas and can serve as other names for being. Chapter III After reading the chapter three, I discovered that the author on this book made an exact limitation and proper evaluation when he discussed Theodicy, which deals with God as the necessary being. “A being which always exist and which never begins to be nor ever passes out existence,” according to this book Hooked on Philosophy. In supporting the topic, the book gives us the five ways offered to us by St. Thomas Aquinas of proving God's existence. First of it was the “unmoved mover,” where there must be a first mover which is itself unmoved, which is God. Second was the “uncaused cause,” where there should be someone/something that is a cause but not an effect by other being. Third was the existence of a “necessary being,” where there should be a being that is necessary to be, so that other being could exist. The fourth was the “degree of perfection”, we express this degree of perfection by comparing things and God is incomparable. The last was that everything in nature was guided to its goal by “someone with perfect knowledge” where it proves the existence of an intelligent supreme being called “God.” The explanation is very understandable and it is not so hard for us beginners in philosophy to understand it. I am convinced with the reasons and evidence presented by the book and it will help us becoming philosophers to arrive to the truth.

Chapter IV When I began to read chapter four, I am already confused on the sentence,“the more material thing is the less knowable it is.” I don't know what the author mean when I read that sentence. Is it really worth that he added this kind of sentence in this topic? But again I think that it is better to read first the whole chapter before I will give a critique on this chapter. Upon reading the chapter, I discovered that the author washed all my confusions when he stated,“materiality is inversely proportioned to intelligibility.” this means that using only our senses is not enough, we must combine it with the universal ideas so that we can attain complete knowledge of a thing. The author gives an wonderful illustration that not all knowledge that comes from sciences contradict to our faith. In short, faith and science does not and cannot contradict with each other for both are from God as well as both  are for God. Chapter V	Honestly speaking, after I read the chapter five, “The Human Person,” I was in the state of wondering with full of confusion and astonishment. The topic in this chapter is very interesting and essential, but hard to understand because it disscused human person with rational soul and human freedom. The author admits that a person is very mysterious reality and consequently, it is difficult to describe. For me, it is similar to the quotation, “it is easy to describe others than to describe our own selves.” Based on what I had read, it is not easy to the author to give an explanation and discussed the topic. It is not an easy task. Eventhough I experienced confusion and astonishment, I knew all beginners experienced this, but I learned many important things about human person and I am contented on how the author explained and discussed the topic. The author explained the topic fair and clear that makes my mind enlighten to ponder and reflect it more.

Chapter VI The last chapter, the chapter six, which expalins the natural law and human behavior. After reading this chapter, it is somehow provoking that makes my mind have a critical evaluation on what I have read. It needs time to reflect every topic that I encountered because we cannot easily grasp the idea of the author if we only just read it without pondering and reflecting what we have read. I spent much time when I came to this topic because it is somehow more difficult than the other topic. It is not easy to understand this kind of topic if we do not read the first five chapters. I apply all my ideas I learned in the first five chapters in this topic. I had observed that the author started from the simple topic to the hard one. He made us reader to grasp and catch-up this kind of idea he share to us step by step so that we are like babies that step by step learn and know things. In this chapter, I stopped when I encountered the topic entitled “Creationism vs. Evolution,” because I want to know how they defend this kind of issue. Upon reading this kind of topic I found out that there is no bias to the author for he favored neither the Scriptural analysis nor the evolutionist. He only suggested a philosophical consideration that will help us readers to understand this kind of issue. After I read all the chapters, I was amazed when I encountered the word afterthought, another part of the book, that I didn't encounter in the past. I do not know exactly what the author wants to manifest or prove when he put the afterthought. When I find the meaning in the dictionary, it is said that a later thought or something thought of later. When I started to read this part of the book, it seems the book gives us another popular issue, “Realism vs Idealism,”that so prevalent during the modern period in field of philosophy. This topic is very complicated for us beginners especially those who do not know the teachings of Rene Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, because I think it will lead us to another journey or shall I say into the wrong ideas. He defend the “innate ideas” that was so powerful during his time. But we must always remember that our knowledge originated from our sense experience. It is good that this book explained this topic because it refreshes my gained knowledge and applies all my learning that I learned since I read this book. This book I read mentioned and introduced many philosophers that known to controversies and more popular during their time until now and I appreciate them. But the best of all that I appreciate much including their great and helpful contribution, are Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas. They lead us to the right path and truth of philosophy, and the best of all is that they lead us to a Christian philosophy, the combination of faith and reason;wherein, both are not enough to achieve truth.

Conclusion At first, I made this critique just for a mere compliance. Unconsciously, my desire for studying philosophy gradually grows bigger and bigger, I had that desire now because of the help of this critique. By this critique, it will assist and guide me in journeying in this complicated world of philosophy. Truly this book is deserving for its title because as what I have observed, I am now already hooked on philosophy. This book is conducive for all beginners or shall I say neophytes in this complicated world of philosophy. Eventhough there are some philosophical terms that are new for us, but the author didn't make it more complicated that like us readers will make a great examination in pondering it; instead, he gives simple examples in understanding it and also he understand our capacity, especially like us beginners in explaining it. Now, I will try to critique every philosophical book that I read so that I may have the ability to find out and examine the relevance of the book. Recommendation I highly recommend this book to all beginners in studying philosophy as one of their reference because I can give them an assurance that by this book they can realize the importance of studying philosophy and it will give them great ideas to use as a weapon in entering to the battlefield of life.

Andrian F. Hamto				 	    		      Rev. Fr. Julius Rodulfa, DCD II- St. John Philosophy I

A Book Critique About An Introduction to Philosophy of (Mariano Artigas)

Introduction:

The aim of philosophy as what I've understand is to understand the real meaning of life and those things that are accessible through the use of our senses and our intellectual capacities, even the supernatural truths. After knowing this I asked a simple question: What if all the people or majority of us may know and understand the real meaning of life? Maybe many injustices, crimes, abuses, discriminations and all that can destroy life might be vanished, And through this maybe people may live peaceably here on earth. But how? I know that this is so much impossible to happen. Many people now are striving to study and learn things not because they want to satisfy the demand of their intellect and know the meaning of life, but to have a good job and earn money in order to survive in this survival way of life. Studying philosophy is not just for acquiring knowledge but also to know the meaning of life and live for the truth. In my study of philosophy I found out that it is not easy to know and live what you have learned, that one must strive for a deliberate effort to seek and live for the truth. So that's why in this book critique I choose the book of Mariano Artigas “ An Introduction to Philosophy.” For this book is a introductory material which is very helpful for a beginner into the filed of philosophy like me. As an introductory material that states the principal issues concerning the nature of philosophy, devision of philosophy, and philosophy and Christianity. So for me this book really gives a important glimpse of what Philosophy really is. Hoping that this may help me to somehow understand and live what life must be. CRITIQUE Presentation of contents: The contents of the book (An Introduction to Philosophy) were somehow captured my interest since it is systematically arranged and starts from describing what philosophy is, from its origin, background, and the people behind this word from Ancient, medieval and even contemporaries. This is just the first part of this book that talks about the nature of philosophy. This part contains four chapters starting from what is philosophy?, Philosophy as Wisdom, Philosophy as science and The Methods of Philosophy. This so much very good as starting point or a stepping stone to reach the my aim to understand philosophy. Artigas started it by defining or describing what philosophy is in this part. He also compared it to science and finding its relation to wisdom. So this is much very good as a preliminary knowledge of understanding the nature of Philosophy. The second part is the Devision of Philosophy which captures six chapters starting from Metaphysics, Philosophy of nature, Philosophy of living being, Ethics, Logic and the History of Philosophy. The third and the last part speaks about philosophy and Christianity. This part also contains four chapters: The Theology as Science, Philosophy and Theology, Philosophy in Christianity, and the Christian before philosophy. Prior to this book's interesting content there are still somehow negative comments that I've heard from my co-seminarians that I've also observed that is book is somehow biased. Because of the factor that this book's focus is on Christianity. Though this is in favored to us Christians, this is not fair for the non-catholic Philosophers who are giving their very best to attain such truth by studying it. And, it seems that for me their philosophy might be accused as heresy in the side of Christian philosophy which for me Artigas is pointing of. But, I cannot also go to the generalization or into a conclusion that Artigas is making the non-Christian Philosophy as heresy just because I don't know what is his intention. And for me this does not fall into discrimination or contradiction to other philosophies especially to non-Christian philosophies.

Significance of the book: In general this book (An Introduction to Philosophy) is very much helpful for us beginners into the field of Philosophy like me since this book possess two aspects of this book's being compatible. First aspect is that, A reader who uses this book as an introduction to further studies in Philosophy will find introductory principles discussed in a basic manner. The second is that the reader who may be after a general philosophical perspective will find adequate explanations and bibliographical references into the field of Philosophy in preparation for further studies. What is good about the book is that it clearly states the philosophical principles and ideas by vividly explaining them which makes them easily recognizable and to be understood. The book also talks about the basic issues between different philosophies,' periods, and principles. That can really be a effective tool for us beginners. So I can say that this book really stands in its own ground as a foretaste or introduction for beginners. Appreciation: I would like to extend my appreciation to Mariano Artigas for his being a brilliant person. He is one of the fortunate ones who had given this kind of gift imparted by God. Mariano Artigas really became a part of my learning of this broad field of philosophy. Through this book he had a big contribution on this introductory course of building up my foundation in the further studies in philosophy. I highly recommended this book for the beginners like me into the field of philosophy for this can help us to start loving this course and know more about this. Conclusion:

In this last part of my critique I would like to emphasize that though I finished of my study about the book, I know that my capacity of knowing is not enough to understand the whole structure of book and what really the message it brings. I know that this little learning about the introduction to philosophy is not enough to earn the whole structure of philosophy ii arriving for the truth as what Artigas really trying to emphasize that one must strive for a deliberate effort for seeking the truth and even the supernatural ones.