Related questions:
- Discuss the relevance of philosophy to other disciplines.
(YOUR INTRODUCTION)
THE BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy as the love of wisdom encapsulates the entirety of existence. Thus, philosophy as a universal discipline has branches. The major arms of the philosophical enterprise are five in number, as there are four branches and one speculative tool. They are thus highlighted;
i. Metaphysics
ii. Epistemology
iii. Ethics
iv. Logic (a tool)
v. The infrastructure of disciplines
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF DISCIPLINES
Also known as “philosophy of other disciplines”, it is a special branch of philosophy which represents and expresses the motherly efforts of philosophy to make other disciplines better. Here, philosophy looks into the paradigms, structures, assumptions and pre-suppositions of other disciplines. It does this to check any inherent fault, error or contradiction which may not be obviously accessed on the surface. In a nutshell, it checks to see if any discipline is actually doing that which it is called to do, or if it is in error instead. Hence, every infrastructure of discipline is invariably connected to one of the other major branches of philosophy, based on their underlying principle. For example, the “philosophy of science”- an infrastructure of discipline is connected to epistemology as a sub-branch. Since philosophy seeks to make other disciplines better, it follows that the infrastructure of disciplines are as numerous as the number of disciplines themselves; however, a few would be evaluated next;
i. Philosophy of Science-
This is a severe critique of science and its underlying principles, by philosophy which seeks to make it perform better. The fact that “knowledge quest” forms the core of this discipline, makes it a sub-branch of “epistemology”. A philosopher of science is “Karl popper”. Thus, it is via this infrastructure of discipline that philosophy is relevant to science.
ii. Philosophy of religion-
This is a severe critique of religion and its underlying dogmas, by philosophy who seeks to justify its principles. In this light philosophy is seen as the handmaid (tool) of religion. It evolved in the “medieval period” of philosophy. A philosopher of religion is “Saint Thomas Aquinas”. One of the major issues in this infrastructure of discipline is the priority which should be given to either faith (religion) or rationality (philosophy).
iii. Philosophical psychology-
This is a severe critique of psychology and its underlying principles like cognition, perception and so on, by philosophy, which seeks to make it perform better. A philosophical psychologist is “René Descartes” who theorized extensively on the mind-body theory. Obviously, it is via this infrastructure of discipline that philosophy is relevant to psychology.
iv. Philosophical anthropology-
This is a severe critique of anthropology (the study of man) and its underlying principles, by philosophy which seeks to empower it to do that which it is really meant to. It is said that anthropology as the study of man has actually failed in carrying out that which it professes to. Thus, it is only when philosophy merges with anthropology that it becomes able to study man properly. A philosophical anthropologist is “Immanuel Kant”.
v. Political philosophy-
This is a severe critique of politics and its underlying principles, especially on the “state” and “justice”, by philosophy which seeks to make it perform ideally. The fact that this discipline is essentially prescriptive and normative makes it a sub-branch of “ethics”. Political philosophy (also known as socio-political philosophy) aims at prescribing ways by which man can live better and become happier in society. Thus, it is via this infrastructure of discipline that philosophy is relevant to politics. A political philosopher is “Thomas Hobbes”.
Some other “infrastucture of disciplines” are also listed below;
· Philosophy of mind
· Philosophy of education
· Philosophy of law (natural rights)
· Philosophy of history (historical materialism)
· Philosophy of language
· Philosophy of the social sciences
· African philosophy
· Philosophy of education
· Philosophy of law (natural rights)
· Philosophy of history (historical materialism)
· Philosophy of language
· Philosophy of the social sciences
· African philosophy
(YOUR PERSONAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CONCLUSION)
