Philosophical Method(method, wiki, forked, Proteus)
Philosophical Method (or
philosophical methodology) is the study and description of how to do
Philosophy. Philosophy, arguably the "Mother" of all
Arts and
Sciences, is still distinguished by these
methods philosophers follow in addressing distinctly
philosophical questions - however, there is not just a single method, but a multi-pronged approach. The basic feature of the method philosophers follow (and discuss when discussing philosophical method) is a questioning of "given" things.
Method and Motivation
Method in philosophy is in some sense rooted in
motivation, only by understanding why people take up Philosophy can one properly understand what Philosophy is. People often find themselves believing things that they do not understand. For example, about
God, themselves, the natural world, human
society,
morality and human productions. Often, people fail to understand
what it is they believe, and fail to understand the reasons they believe in what they do.
Some people have questions about the
meaning of their beliefs and questions about the
justification (or
rationality) of their beliefs. A lack of these things shows a lack of understanding, and some
dislike not having this understanding. These questions about are only the tip of the philosophical iceberg. There are many other things about this universe about which people are also fundamentally ignorant. Philosophers are in the business of investigating all sorts of those areas of our collective ignorance and discovery:
- What does it mean to say that one thing causes another?
- What is Rationality? What are Space and Time?
- What is Beauty, and how is it "in the eye of the beholder"?
The number of these most
basic questions is endless. Our lives are deeply informed with many basic assumptions about these kinds of questions, and different assumptions lead to different ways of
living in the world.
Doubt and the Sense of Wonder
As Aristotle wrote in the
Metaphysics, philosophy depends greatly upon
wonder. Philosophizing may begin with some simple
doubts about accepted beliefs. The initial impulse to philosophize may arise from
suspicion, for example that we do not fully understand, and have not fully justified, even our most basic beliefs about the world.
Formulate Questions and Problems
Another element of philosophical method is to
formulate questions to be answered or problems to be solved. The working assumption is that
the more clearly the question or problem is stated, the easier it is to identify critical issues. A relatively small number of major philosophers prefer not to be quick, but to spend
more time trying to get
extremely clear on what the problem is about.
Enunciate a Clear Solution
Another approach is to enunciate a
theory, or to offer a
definition or
analysis, which constitutes an attempt to solve a philosophical problem. Sometimes a philosophical theory by itself can be stated quite briefly. All the supporting philosophical text is offered by way of hedging, explanation, and argument.
Not all proposed solutions to philosophical problems consist of definitions or generalizations. Sometimes what is called for is a certain sort of
explanation — not a
causal explanation, but an explanation for example of how two different views, which seem to be contrary to one another, can be held at the same time, consistently. One can call this a
philosophical explanation.
Support the Solution
An
argument is a set of statements, one of which (the
conclusion), it is said or implied, follows from the others (the
premises). One might think of arguments as bundles of reasons — often not just a list, but logically interconnected statements — followed by the claim they are reasons for. The reasons are the premises, the claim they support is the conclusion; together they make an argument.
Philosophical arguments and justifications are another important part of philosophical method. It is rare to find a philosopher, particularly in the
Western philosophical tradition, who lacks arguments. Philosophers are, or at least are expected to be, very good at making and dismantling arguments. They constantly demand and offer arguments for different claims they make. Philosophy is often a "
quest for arguments''.
A good argument - a clear, organized, and sound statement of
reasons - may ultimately cure the original doubts which motivated one take up Philosophy. If one is willing to be satisfied without any good supporting reasons, then a Western philosophical approach may not be what one actually requires.
Philosophical Criticism
In Philosophy, which concerns the
most fundamental aspects of the universe, the experts all disagree. It follows that another element of philosophical method, common in the work of nearly all philosophers, is
philosophical criticism. It is this that makes much philosophizing a social endeavor.
Philosophers offer definitions and explanations in solution to problems; they argue for those solutions; and then other philosophers provide counter arguments, expecting to eventually come up with better solutions. This exchange and resulting revision of views is called
dialectic. Dialectic (in one sense of this historically-rich word) is simply philosophical conversation amongst people who do not always agree with each other about everything. One can do this sort of harsh criticism on one's own, but others can help greatly, if important assumptions are shared with the person offering the criticisms. Others are able to think of criticisms from another perspective.
Some philosophers and ordinary people dive right in and start trying to solve the problem. They immediately start giving arguments, pro and con, on different sides of the issue. "Doing Philosophy" is different from this. It is about questioning assumptions, digging for deeper understanding. Doing Philosophy is about the journey, the process, as much as it is about the destination, the conclusion. Its method differs from other disciplines, in which the experts can agree about most of the fundamentals.
Some content adapted from the Wikipedia article "Philosophical_method" under the GNU Free Documentation License.
(last updated by Proteus, 5:17pm CDT - Wed, Apr 11 2007)
