Philosophical Reflection Essay
Part I: Philosophical Thinking
Philosophy is defined based on various perspectives (MacIntyre, 2006). The first perspective is that philosophy is a set of beliefs or views about the universe and life that are usually held without criticism. This meaning is mostly considered in an informal setting. The second perspective is that philosophy is a process of criticizing and reflecting on our most deeply held beliefs and conceptions. This perspective includes two senses of philosophy, which are the willingness to look at all angles of an issue without bias and a genuine philosophical attitude characterized by criticism and searching, and being tolerant and open-minded. The third perspective views philosophy as a rational attempt to view the world as a whole. It posits that philosophy focuses on combining the conclusions of different sciences and human experience into some form of consistent viewpoint (MacIntyre, 2006). The fourth perspective views philosophy as the logical analysis of language and seeking clarification of the meaning of concepts and words. The fifth perspective views philosophy as a group of perennial problems that draw people’s attention and for which philosophers always have ready answers. The viewpoint also posits that philosophy presses its questions into the deepest problems in the existence of human beings.
The three main branches of philosophy are epistemology, axiology, and metaphysics. Epistemology focuses on knowledge by asking: What and how can we know? This branch considers empiricism and rationalism. Rationalism argues that true knowledge is already present in people’s souls as innate knowledge. Plato defines knowledge by taking a radical position on the issue of the existence of knowledge in people’s souls, while Aristotle compromises between empiricism and rationalism (Refet Ramiz, 2016). Empiricism views the source of knowledge as the five human senses and experience. Axiology is also referred to as the theory of value, and it considers the philosophy of aesthetics and arts, ethics, and political and social philosophy. Ethics focuses on the value for individuals and ass the question; What should I do as an individual? The philosophy of aesthetics and art focuses on the value of natural beauty and fine arts, while political and social philosophy focuses on the value of society. Metaphysics is also known as the theory of reality. It focuses on explaining the nature of the world and being. It is divided into ontology and cosmology (Refet Ramiz, 2016). Ontology investigates different types of things in existence and their relationship with one another, while cosmology focuses on understanding the source, evolution, and fate of the universe, which incorporates laws observed to keep the universe in order.
The question associated with epistemology is: What is knowledge? Metaphysics is associated with the question: What is reality made of? Axeology is associated with the question: What is the good life, and how am I supposed to live it? Socrates would define knowledge as a truth or concept that has a universal appeal based on how it exists worldwide, while Plato would define it as what exists when there is a true proposition, the proposition is believable, and the proposition is supported by good reasons. Epictetus would define a good life as a life where an individual does not live an unhappy life because someone they loved died, while Aristotle would define the good life as the life where an individual exercises and improves their rational faculties.
Part II: Reflection
Thinking philosophically is avoiding personal bias when solving a problem or approaching a challenging situation in a level-headed manner. For instance, someone may be considered to have thought philosophically if they let things work out naturally if something g s beyond their control. Such instances may occur in friendships where one partner may decide to leave and can now be convinced to stay because they have already made their decision. Thinking philosophically can help me in my own life by enabling me to accept different outcomes, especially in situations where I have already done my best. For instance, philosophical thinking can help me accept the decision of potential employers after a job interview and move on to apply for another job if I am not hired.
The ideas of Ancient Greek philosophers have changed my own opinions and views on most things around me. For instance, the ideas on value have enlightened me on my role in creating societal and individual value. I now understand that ethics plays a vital role in creating value by ensuring that people value each other and treat one another well. I have expanded my ideas on social value by understanding that social value can only be successful if society members work together. The different interpretations of reality by various Ancient Greek philosophers have changed my views and opinions on what reality is and made me develop an interest in understanding the meaning of reality and its impact on human lives. I will, therefore, focus on the question: What is reality? My main focus will be on how different philosophers have answered this question and how their answers vary from my opinion. I will also compare different interpretations to provide a sound conclusion on the most reasonable one.
References
MacIntyre, A. (2006). The tasks of philosophy: Volume 1: Selected essays.
Refet Ramiz. (2016). New perspective for the philosophy: Re-construction & definition of the new branches of philosophy. Philosophy Study, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.17265/2159-5313/2016.06.001
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Question 
In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.
Philosophical Reflection Essay
A. Assignment Guidelines
DIRECTIONS: As reported in Plato’s account The Apology, Socrates famously claimed at his trial that “The unexamined life is not worth living.” In this course, you have had the opportunity to examine your own life and reality through the thoughts of the Ancient Greek philosophers. The purpose of this touchstone assignment is for you (1) to engage with the philosophical ideas presented in this course and (2) to reflect on how these philosophical ideas have impacted your own life.
Part I: Philosophical Thinking
In the first part of the touchstone, you will be distinguishing between the three primary branches of philosophy.
Consider the three following questions:
What is knowledge?
What is reality made of?
What is the good life, and how ought I to live it?
These are the basic questions that were considered in different forms by the major figures in Ancient Greek philosophy. But they are also critical questions for our own lives today, whether we are philosophers or not.
Part I of this assignment should be approximately 1-2 pages (300-600 words) and cover each of the following steps:
First, you should define philosophy and then distinguish and define each of the three main branches of philosophy covered in this class.
Then, identify which of the above questions is associated with each branch of philosophy.
You should illustrate the differences between the three branches of philosophy using examples from the course. For example, explain how Socrates would answer the question “What is knowledge?” or how Epictetus would answer the question “What is the good life?”
Part II: Reflection
For the second part of the touchstone, now that you’ve distinguished between the three main branches of philosophy, you will focus on one of those three questions from Part I and use that as a starting point and guide for your personal philosophical reflection.
The purpose of Part II is for you to reflect on the philosophical mindset and some of the ideas presented in this course and apply them to your own life. This reflection is more open-ended than Part I but should include reflections on the following questions:
What does it mean to think philosophically? How can thinking philosophically help me in my own life?
What impact do the ideas of the Ancient Greek philosophers have on my own views and opinions?
Then, based on these reflections, you should give your own answer to whichever of the three questions from Part I you chose to focus on. (“What is knowledge?”; “What is reality?”; “What is the good life?”)
Part II of this assignment should be approximately 1-2 pages (300-600 words). You should write at least one paragraph for each of the three prompts listed above.
In answering these reflection questions, you are free to draw from your own experiences as well as bring in the ideas of different Ancient Greek philosophers. Please note: Some philosophers will be more suited to particular questions than others. For example, Epictetus has a lot to say about “What is the good life and how ought I to live it?” while not saying much about knowledge or reality. Plato and Aristotle wrote a great deal about all three questions.
B. Completion Guidelines
Refer to the checklist below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.
Part I: Philosophical Thinking
❒ Have you defined philosophy and the three main branches of philosophy?
❒ Have you identified which branch of philosophy each of the three basic philosophical questions (“What is knowledge?”; “What is reality?”; “What is the good life?”) corresponds to?
❒ Have you used examples of Ancient Greek philosophers covered in this course to illustrate the three branches of philosophy?
Part II: Reflection
❒ Have you selected one of the three basic philosophical questions from Part I to focus on?
❒ Have you reflected on what philosophical thinking means to you?
❒ Have you reflected on how the ideas of the Ancient Greek philosophers can impact your own views and opinions?
❒ Have you given your own answer to whichever of the three questions from Part I you chose to focus on in Part II?
Conventions
❒ Have you checked your essay for grammatical and mechanical errors?
❒ Have you used spell check or another method to check spelling?
Before you Submit
❒ Have you included your name, date, and course at the top left of the page?
❒ Is your essay between 3-4 pages (approximately 700-1000 words)?