- Analyse the notion of philosophy as a worldview.
(YOUR INTRODUCTION)
THE DISCIPLINE OF PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy entails an endless logical and rational search for answers to questions. Philosophy is extremely wide because it entails several branches and sub-branches and so it cannot actually have one conception as various classes of philosophers define philosophy based on their area of specialization. Some basic qualities of philosophy are;
· It entails endless and infinite searches for answers to questions. · It is purely rational and logical i.e. not having any race trace of the supernatural.
· Questions in philosophy are concerned only with the general or universal” and not of the “particular or specific”.
· Philosophy happens when “man” starts to reflect on their experiences both “inner” i.e. inside their personal world and “outer” i.e. the reality that happens around him.
THE CONCEPT OF A WORLDVIEW
Philosophy has played a major part in the history of man’s intellectual development due to the fact that it is an “inquiry” and a “form of social consciousness”. This makes philosophy a dual form as a “science” and a “worldview”. A worldview means the basic, general and global human beliefs as regards nature (objectivity) and all-round personal human life (subjectivity) and how they affect life style and the scheme of things. A worldview is a cognitive (mental) framework consisting of the ideals on what one thinks existential life is or should be based on one’s daily experiences. Simply put, a worldview is how one conceptualises nature.
TYPES OF WORLDVIEW
There are various types of world view; and although they are different; they are also interconnected in a way. This emphasizes the nature of diversity but unity in philosophy. What differentiate the world-views are their features and the role they play. However, considering the three fundamental platforms of reality, we have three basic worldviews and these are; Religious worldview, Philosophical worldview and Scientific worldview.
i. Religious worldview
This is a worldview which is intrinsically connected to the belief in a supreme being or God presupposed as the basis and determinant of reality. In this regard, religions play a very major role. They express a perception and understanding of reality but in connection with a supreme being. The religious worldview is very idealistic in outlook concerning reality. Example of a religious worldview is the story of creation in the Christian bible; the worldview that the universe was created by a supreme being (God).
ii. Scientific worldview
This worldview is intrinsically empirical. It takes its root in the sciences which uses the tool of technology to express this worldview. A scientific worldview holds that the existential universe is determined and controlled by natural laws which are mathematical in nature. The scientific worldview has a strictly materialistic outlook of reality. Regarding the same issue of the creation of the world, a scientific worldview detests the idea of creationism; instead they postulate the concept of evolutionism (all reality developed from lower life forms) as the foundation of reality.
iii. Philosophical worldview
This is the most dynamic of all worldviews. This is intrinsically connected to the fact that philosophy as a discipline is universal in character. A philosophical worldview is a combination of views for all that exists universally. A philosophical worldview encompasses all areas of existence; be it metaphysics, epistemology or ethics. This implies that all the other worldviews, as many as they may be are all encapsulated in the philosophical worldview. A philosophical worldview entails both idealistic and materialistic aspects of reality, and this makes it the most fundamental of all worldviews.
CHARACTERICTICS OF PHILOSOPHICAL WORLDVIEW
Some of the basic characteristics are outlined below;
PLATFORMS OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL WORLDVIEW
By platforms, we mean the starting points or the elements that trigger the creation of a philosophical worldview. These are;
i. Objectivity – the world existing outside the human person whom though changes has a strong basic continuity and is eternal and infinite.
ii. Subjectivity – the human person existing in the world as part of the world but separate from it; because the human person is mortal and finite. Although, the human person also has basic continuity via procreation of individuals.
Philosophy has played a major part in the history of man’s intellectual development due to the fact that it is an “inquiry” and a “form of social consciousness”. This makes philosophy a dual form as a “science” and a “worldview”. A worldview means the basic, general and global human beliefs as regards nature (objectivity) and all-round personal human life (subjectivity) and how they affect life style and the scheme of things. A worldview is a cognitive (mental) framework consisting of the ideals on what one thinks existential life is or should be based on one’s daily experiences. Simply put, a worldview is how one conceptualises nature.
TYPES OF WORLDVIEW
There are various types of world view; and although they are different; they are also interconnected in a way. This emphasizes the nature of diversity but unity in philosophy. What differentiate the world-views are their features and the role they play. However, considering the three fundamental platforms of reality, we have three basic worldviews and these are; Religious worldview, Philosophical worldview and Scientific worldview.
i. Religious worldview
This is a worldview which is intrinsically connected to the belief in a supreme being or God presupposed as the basis and determinant of reality. In this regard, religions play a very major role. They express a perception and understanding of reality but in connection with a supreme being. The religious worldview is very idealistic in outlook concerning reality. Example of a religious worldview is the story of creation in the Christian bible; the worldview that the universe was created by a supreme being (God).
ii. Scientific worldview
This worldview is intrinsically empirical. It takes its root in the sciences which uses the tool of technology to express this worldview. A scientific worldview holds that the existential universe is determined and controlled by natural laws which are mathematical in nature. The scientific worldview has a strictly materialistic outlook of reality. Regarding the same issue of the creation of the world, a scientific worldview detests the idea of creationism; instead they postulate the concept of evolutionism (all reality developed from lower life forms) as the foundation of reality.
iii. Philosophical worldview
This is the most dynamic of all worldviews. This is intrinsically connected to the fact that philosophy as a discipline is universal in character. A philosophical worldview is a combination of views for all that exists universally. A philosophical worldview encompasses all areas of existence; be it metaphysics, epistemology or ethics. This implies that all the other worldviews, as many as they may be are all encapsulated in the philosophical worldview. A philosophical worldview entails both idealistic and materialistic aspects of reality, and this makes it the most fundamental of all worldviews.
CHARACTERICTICS OF PHILOSOPHICAL WORLDVIEW
Some of the basic characteristics are outlined below;
i. It encompasses all areas of existence; it has an all encompassing nature.
ii. It has the quality of “appraisal” as its proponents, which are philosophers hold values and ideals in high esteem. They aim at wanting to discover the core essence of any knowledge.
iii. It has a partisan character. This entails the fact that a philosophical worldview is highly argumentative, as various philosophers have their own views and support their own values about subjectivity (man) and objectivity (nature).
iv. It entails fundamental and perennial problems, as its questions cannot be exhausted at once. Thus, attempts to answer these questions give rise to other basic questions. This shows the infiniteness of the philosophical worldview and the long lasting significance of its questions.
ii. It has the quality of “appraisal” as its proponents, which are philosophers hold values and ideals in high esteem. They aim at wanting to discover the core essence of any knowledge.
iii. It has a partisan character. This entails the fact that a philosophical worldview is highly argumentative, as various philosophers have their own views and support their own values about subjectivity (man) and objectivity (nature).
iv. It entails fundamental and perennial problems, as its questions cannot be exhausted at once. Thus, attempts to answer these questions give rise to other basic questions. This shows the infiniteness of the philosophical worldview and the long lasting significance of its questions.
PLATFORMS OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL WORLDVIEW
By platforms, we mean the starting points or the elements that trigger the creation of a philosophical worldview. These are;
i. Objectivity – the world existing outside the human person whom though changes has a strong basic continuity and is eternal and infinite.
ii. Subjectivity – the human person existing in the world as part of the world but separate from it; because the human person is mortal and finite. Although, the human person also has basic continuity via procreation of individuals.
(YOUR PERSONAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND CONCLUSION)
