| |
Previous
Page
POSITIVISM
Positivism emerging due to failure of speculative philosophy
to explain the philosophic problem. August Comte (1798 -1857)
FATHER positivistic philosophy introduced the Word sociology
means science of humanity in the background of science of
biology.
There are two groups
1. Early group
2. Late neo positivism - 19th century
Comte considered
human being tries to understand through 3 stages
1. Theological: knowledge is acquired from the belief of
religion
2. Metaphysical: Here we study by seeking certain causes and
principles
3. Positive/scientific method: we try to study things by
reasoning, by reference to observation
According to Comte this positive method should be applied in all
the study (scientific)
Neo Positivism (logistic positivism)
Developed by vienna group philosophers.Main principle is
verifiability, criterion of statements provable in mathematics
and logic, are meaningless. These group of philosophers tried to
eliminate the unverifiable facts. In this group, 2 important
persons
1. Rudoff Camftp: he reduced the philosophy to logical
analysis of language of science or he approved (he Idea of
linguistic philosophy which Involve
a. Scrutiny of words: logic of science were regarded as syntax
of language of science
b. Analytic meaning of the word: (semantic study) sense aspect
of the language of sciences becomes the subject matter of study
2.Ludwig Wittgenstein _ problems of philosophy originated
because philosopher ran to name the words Instead of naming
words (they thought that every word is a name), if we use it as
a sentence, then most of the problem in philosophy can be
solved.
Analytical philosophy:
It considered that analysis must replace the vauge,
expression of problem in the language by a formula that would
demonstrate the real essence. His branch is placed on
the*analysis of the terms in which (hey are used. The great
philosophers include- Bertrand Russel. There are three areas of
importance in language Words should be used precisely in talks
and writings a.- language is far away from sense .
Systematic analysis of ordinary language.
4. Realism:
It Is the tendency to Treat the world as it Is. 11 Is due to
the result of the over emphasis given by idealism. They
considered that world itself appear as real.
5. Phenomenology;
The object of phenomenology Is to describe the phenomena as
an object of experience accurately and independently of an
assumptions to derive science. Developed by Edmund Hurseri.
According to him, psychology cannot be accepted. Since it is
studied under different traits
6. Pragmatism:
We can study things only through experience- Knowledge is
subordinate to action) meaning and truth of ideas are determined
in relation to practice. Anything that can be put in practice
alone can be true.
PART TO WHOLE
RELATIONSHIP
George WilheIrn Friedrich Hegel (1770 -1831) - German
Philosopher
If one wants to study anything that should be from the
historical perspective. This historical study has three
perspectives.
1. Follows a course of necessity
2. History implies not only a change but also a progress
3. in any time in history, there tends to be a confrontation and
replacement - which is usually an opposite one,
In other philosophy, it corresponds to
1. Thesis
3. Antithesis
3. Synthesis
Major works of Hegel
1. Phenomenology of spirit
2. Science of logic
Hegel belongs to the absolute Idealistic group- Reality of
universe according to Hegel is that of absolute mind (spirit).
Method of philosophy of Hegel is Dialectic - nonlinear but
implicative- Everything can be studied in relation to others.
This relationship of part and whole in the organism is extended
to all truth and reality. Every truth or fact Is dependant upon
and helps in turn to determine every other truth or fact. This
is called the 'ORGANIC THEORY OF TRUTH AND REALITY* since
everything is internally determined by Its relation to
everything else.
Any organic whole Is more than the mere sum of Hs parts. The
successful work of art Is an organic whole. The meaning of a
painting cannot be understood simply by analysing the nature of
the canvas and different colours used, though they are
essential. Each figure in the painting has an artistic
relationship to the rest. it is a part of the whole and the true
significance of the whole is more than mere addition of parts.
However the whole Is not separate from the part and do not exist
independently. The whole logically determines the character of
each of its parts.
'Reality is an infinite (absolute) whole, consisting of the
finite parts, each of which contributes to the whole and is
determined by it."
Each moment in our conscious experience is an organic part of
our life as a whole. Our as a whole is conditioned by the human
socrely. Society is inter related with the earth and earth is
the organic pan of the universe which is made up of its
constituent parts.Since we are an organic part of the universe,
the laws of our reason are the laws of the universe.
Part to whole relationship is not the same as the sum total,
this concept should have influence Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in
creating (he concept of totality.Concept of organic whole: some
thing more than addition and deletion take place to evolution of
living beings. The concept of organic whole implies the relation
of pan to whole In living and non living organisms, fn non
living organism this is decided by laws of physics, but not in
living substances. This living organism is more than mere sum of
its parts; hence this cannot be considered as a mere union of
individual pans.
ABSTRACT AND CONCRETE VIEW OF THINGS: If we look at everything
by itself apart from Its relationships, we are looking at it
abstractly. IF we consider it to Its organic relationship, then
we view it concretely. Study of a leaf under (he microscope is
abstract,study of the leaf in relationship to the tree is
concrete.
Abstract study: study of a particular phenomena, event or object
in relation ship with the units of the universe. Mind controls
the body.
Principles of negation: for anything there Is an opposite
existence. This concept was further developed by clerke.
METAPHYSICS:
Explained fn 14 books. If deals with 'being* in general
(being and existence). It is the science of' being general means
something like. In so far as they are. Hence metaphysics studies
things which exist, is the study of those attributes which hold
of entities, to virtue of the fact that (hey are entities.
Further Aristotle attributes 'oneness' or 'unity' as such
features. Any object remains as one. Every thing exists in one
thing. The nature of oneness leads to pleurality an and to
otherness like differences and contrariety.
Aristotle considers substances as concrete individual. The
concept of idealism is being intended to explain the nature of
the things. Idealism cannot explain the relation between things
and ideas.
Relation between life principle, existence and material body
completely unavailable. Regarding the essence of being,
Aristotle rejected the atomic theory o f Democritus and the
transcedental concept of Plato and considered the essence of
concrete individual as constituted by its form. By the essential
quality of class to which it belongs.
Aristotle approved pleurality of substances. Every individual
substance is a mixture of matter an d form.
1. Form is the universal aspect of the thing (object). The
essential characteristics are shared by alt things of the same
type. Matter confers, particularity and uniqueness. Matter and
form are inseparable aspects of individual thing. The universal
and particulars are fused into unity of the individual.
Individual subject to changes and moves. Subject to changes.
2.Aristotte also considered the potentiality and actually of (he
stage of development of substances. The potential being an
earlier and the actual being the later stage. The potential is
that lies latent in a substances. Matter is the principles of
potentiality of form and form is the principle of reality.
3. Cause: That Which effect the change
He classified causes Into two types
a) Material cause: it Is the stuff from which the substance in
Question is made of
b) Format cause: the pattern or structure in which the substance
is realized. Particular shape or pattern in which the substance
is made
c) Efficient cause: The active agent which produces (he
substance
d) Final cause: is the purpose for which the substance is made
of
Material and formal causes are called as intrinsic causes since
they enter Into the constitution of the affected. Efficient
cause and final cause are extrinsic causes _since they remain
outside the effect.
Each individual substances was not just one cause but have all
four causes. So also. the discovery of one type of cause does
not preclude the discovery of other types of causes.
Bacons philosophy of humanity considers nature and slate of man
as constituted by body and soul of man respectively. Nature and
state gives two inferences
b) impressions
Indications, physiognomy. Inference of identification of
character of mind by physical constitution of (he body by
physiognomy. Through the dreams state and disposition of the
body can be known
Impression: investigate the effects of humours and temperament
in the body and that of passion and apprehension of mind and
body. This concept has been in cooperated into Homoeopathy.
Doctrine of body : Doctrine of body of man contributes to
(he 'good* of man Le. ethics, medicine, cosmetics (aesthetic
sense). Bacon identified three functions to medicine
1. Cure of disease
2. Preservation of health
3. Prolongation of life
Cosmetics deals
with
1. Hygiene
2. Art
Doctrine of soul
Divided info two a) rational - divine soul b) Irrational
Rational soul Is inspired by God and has six functions
1. Understanding
2. Reasoning
3. Appetite
4. Will
5. Imagination
6. Memory
To this he added two other functions
a) Divination : making a predication by argument (divine)
b) Fascination: power of imagination resulting on another body
Bacon's method of science:
Bacon's epistemology rests upon a single method in
induction. Very simple in principles but intricate in
application. According to Bacon knowledge starts from sensible
experience, rests upon natural existory which presents sense
data in an ordlnate distribution, rises up from lower
proposition to a more general one. tries to reach the more
fundamental laws of nature and from there by a practical
deduction derives new experiments or works.
Induction aims at the purpose of answer to the question of
invention, induction shouldn't be a) blind (prejudiced) b)
imperative
It should help to find out the truth. Induction postulates that
the world is an organic unity, that a is a cosmos and not chaos,
a universe and not a multi verse. The things that constitute the
true world are not an aggregate.
Core of induction:
Formation of axioms - general proposition of experiencing
the cause of phenomena i.e. correction of data.
Arrangement of tables which presents the understanding of all
known instances to some nature in the object of investigation
collected without premature speculation and followed by
Going to affirmatives through negatives
Reason for prejudices
1. Idola tribus: idol of tribes. Every tribe has its own
inherent characters, this resulting in certain prejudices
2.Idole species: idol of dens, related to the peculiarities of
individual due to education, mental attitudes social
circumstances
3. Idola Fori: Idol of market, due to association of words and
names, often these need not represent reality
4. Idole theatre: Idol of theatre, due to result of false
theories and philosophies.
Previous
Page |
|