What Is Philosophy?
Robert Howard Kroepel
Copyright © 2005
Lakeside Studios
20 South Shore Road
New Durham, New Hampshire USA 03855-2107
What Is Philosophy?
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What Is The Master Set
Of Concepts, Principles and Techniques?
The master set of
philosophical concepts, principles and techniques
includes ...
1. Operational Definitions (OpDefs)
Operational Definitions = Definitions of terms and
phrases by descriptions of the people,
objects and events who/which are comprised of m/e (matter-energy),
who/which are observable and/or measurable and who/which are relevant
to the terms/phrases being defined.
Operational definitions enable individuals to create
concrete, real-world definitions of abstract terms as well as
definitions, specifications, of grey, unfocused ideas.
Concept = Mental Representation (idea)
of a person, an object or an event.
Object = An entity comprised of m/e
(matter-energy) who/which retains his/her/its identity for a longer
period of time than a relevant event.
Note: People are objects despite the fact that many if not most if not
all people do not like being considered to be objects.
Event = Causal or coincidental relationship(s) between or among people,
objects or/and events.
Principle = Mental representation
(idea) of an event, of a causal or coincidental relationship between or
among people, objects or/and events.
Technique = The application of a principle for the purpose of solving a
problem.
Problem = Learning how to achieve a
desire or avoid a fear.
Desire = Wanting a person, an object, or/and an event.
Proof a Person Has a Desire = The
person's approach behavior towards a desired person, object or/and
event.
Fear = Not-wanting a person, an object, or/and an event.
Proof a Person has a Fear = The
person's avoidance behavior away from a feared person, object or/and
event.
Operational definitions are required for the
sciences; they should be required for all disciplines.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of Operational
Definitions (OpDefs):
(1) OpDefs enable individuals to create
precise, specific definitions of terms and phrases including abstract
terms and phrases.
(2) OpDefs can prompt an individual to discover new concepts,
principles and techniques.
(3) OpDefs enable people to communicate more effectively by the use of
precise, specific definitions of terms and phrases.
(4) OpDefs are easy to create: because OpDefs are definitions by
descriptions of people, objects and/or events, ro create an OpDef of a
term or phrase an individual provides a description of the people,
objects and/or events who/which are relevant to the term/phrase beiing
defined.
2. The Laws of Logic (LoL)
The Laws of Logic = Axioms which are the foundations of logic/logical
thinking.
2.1. A = A. If a proposition is true it
is true.
2.2. A ≠ B. If a proposition is true it cannot be
false.
2.3. A ≠ A + B. A proposition cannot be both true
and false at the same time and in the same way.
The Laws of Logic are de facto philosophical laws
because they have been, are, and will continue to be confirmed by the
observations that observers have never observed, do not now observe,
and will never observe disconfirming cases.
The fact that to date no one has ever observed a
case in which the LoLs did not apply is an example of another axiom:
Absence of evidence is evidence of abscence, e.g. the fact that no one
has ever observed a case in which the LoLs were disconfirmed and no one
has any justification for thinking that disconfirming cases will ever
be found is proof that the LoLs are true.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Laws of Logic
(LoL):
(1) When propositions are true (A = A), individuals can prove they
cannot be claimed to be false (A ≠ B) or to be both true and false (A
≠ A + B) by the simple fact that no one has ever observed a case
wherein a true proposition was false or a true proposition was both
true and false.
(2) Individuals can prove that people who try to claim that a true
proposition is false (A = B) and a proposition can be both be true and
false (A = A + B) are not making true statements.
3. The Theory of Logical Arguments (ToLA)
Logical Argument (LA) = A set of premises (P) or Ps) and a Conclusion
(Q, sometimes Qs).
3.1. If P, Then Q Logical Arguments (IPTQLA).
3.1.1. P =
Premises = Condition(s)/Cause(s) = People, Objects and Events who/which
are comprised of m/e (matter-energy) and who/which as causes cause as
effects (A) changes in the physical states including inertial states of
pre-existing people, objects or/and events or (B) new people, objects
or/and events from pre-existing m/e.
3.1.2. Q =
Conclusion = Consequence(s)/Effect(s).
If P, Then Q logical arguments are descriptions,
specifications and predictions of causalities and coincidentialities.
Ex: If P, Then Q ...
Premise #1: If P, then Q.
Premise #2: P.
Conclusion: Q.
Sound Logical Argument (SLA) = Logical Argument whose premises are
verifiable, falsifiable, and verified (by physical evidence) and
relevant to the conclusion and whose conclusion is true if it is
relevant to the premises and the premises are verified to be true (by
physical evidence).
When Not-Qs are discovered, then one of these conditions,
(Ps) is in effect:
(1) A P is absent (not present);
(2) Two or more Ps are absent;
(3) An additional P is present;
(4) Two or more additional Ps are present;
(5) A P is absent and an additional P is present;
(6) Two or more Ps are absent and two or more additional Ps are present.
Researchers know that a specific Q has a precise
cause (P) or several precise causes (Ps, or P1 + P2 + ... + Pn, etc.)
and therefore they have the responsibility to discover the precise Ps
which cause a specific Q, and when a Not-Q is discovered, then they
know they must continue to look for the precise Ps that will reliably
cause a specific Q.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Theory of Logical
Arguments (ToLA):
(1) An SLA can show an individual what is a phenomenon, P - Q,
including a causality, what is the cause of the phenmenon, P - Q, if or
when a phenomenon will occur, or/and how to cause a phenomenon, how to
organize the precise Ps that will cause a specific Q.
(2) SLAs are descriptions, specifications and predictions of natural
causal and coincidental relationships (NCCRs) that are essential to
inductive and deductive thinking and The Scientific Method.
4. The Theory of Inductive Thinking (ToIT)
Inductive Thinking = Reasoning from the specific to
the general = Observing a number of cases of a phenomenon and deriving
a causal hypothesis, an
hypothesis describing/predicting the causality inre a phenomenon, and
observing
additional cases of the phenomenon to confirm the causal hypothesis.
The ToIT is the basis of the Scientific Method.
5. The Theory of Deductive Thinking (ToDT)
Deductive Thinking = Intuiting new conclusions inre
natural causal relationships (NCRs) from previous conclusions inre the
NCRs.
The ToDT enables the use of previously confirmed
conclusions to be used as facts, as physical evidence as proof, for
verified premises in sound logical arguments whose conclusions will be
relevant to the premises and true because the premises are verified by
physical evidence.
6. The Theory of Decision-Making (ToDM)
The Decision-Making Process (DMP):
6.1. Evaluate the proposed solutions to
a problem.
6.1.1. Determine the benefits of
each solution.
Benefit = Imagined or observed
positive consequence/effect.
6.1.2. Determine the detriments
of each solution.
Detriment = Imagined or observed
negative consequence/effect.
6.2. Decision: Choose the better/best solution.
The solution with the better/best ratio of benefits
to detriments will be the better/best solution to the problem.
The Decision-Making Process is found in the
Problem-Solving Process.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Decision-Making
process (DSP):
(1) Individuals now have a method or technique for evaluating solutions
to a problem by the ratio of the imagined or proven benefits to the
imagined or proven detriments of each solution compared to the ratios
of the benefits and detriments of other solutions.
(2) Individuals now have a method or technique for choosing the better
or best solution from between or among several solutions to a problem.
7. The Theory of Problem-Solving (ToPS)
Problem-Solving = Learning how to achieve a desire or avoid a fear.
The Problem-Solving Process (PSP):
7.1. Specify the problem.
Problem = Learning or determining
how to achieve a desire or/and avoid a fear.
7.2. Observe or intuit
potential solutions to the problem.
7.3. Evaluate the proposed
solutions.
7.3.1.
Determine the benefits of each solution.
Benefit =
Imagined or observed positive consequence/effect.
7.3.2.
Determine the detriments of each solution.
Detriment =
Imagined or observed negative conequence/effect.
Note: The
Decision-Making Process is Steps 7.3.1. and 7.3.2. of the
Problem-Solving Process.
7.4. Decision: Choose the
solution with the better/best ratio of benefits to detriments.
7.5. Implement the better/best
solution.
7.6. Evaluate the actual
benefits and detriments that are the consequences/effects of the
better/best solution.
7.6.1. If
the actual benefit/detriment ratio is equal to or
better than the imagined benefit/detriment ratio, then the implemented
solution is acceptable.
7.6.2. If
the actual benefit/detriment ratio is not eequal to or is less than
the imagined benefit/detriment ratio, then the implemented solution is
not
acceptable and either the
decision-making process or the problem-solving process is to be
restarted.
The Problem-Solving Process enables an individual to
determine and evaluate potential solutions and to evaluate an
implemented solution.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Theory of
Problem-Solving (ToPS):
(1) The Problem-Solving Process (PSP) gives an individual a method or
technique by which he can reliably specify and solve problems (or
determine that problems cannot be solved).
(2) The(PSP incorporates the Decision-Making Process (DMP) to enable
the individual to evaluate the imagined benefits and detriments
(consequences) of the proposed solutions and thereby make a sound
decision inre which is the better/best solution.
(3) The PSP requires the evaluation of the actual benefit and
detriments, the consequences, of the chosen better/best solution to
determine if/not the chosen solution is actually the better/best
solution.
8. The Scientific Method
The Scientific Method = The process by which scientists are required to
conduct their research and report their research findings.
8.1. Study a phenomenon.
8.2. Create a causal hypothesis describing the
Ps/Conditions/Causes that cause the Q(s)/Consequence(s)/Effect(s).
8.3. Conduct additional observations/measurements
inre the phenomenon to determine if/not the hypothesis accurately
describes the
causality inre the phenomenon.
8.4. If the hypothesis describes the causality inre
the phenomenon, then publish the findings so other reseachers can
replicate the
observations/measurements and reconfirm the hypothesis; if the
hypothesis does not describe accurately the
causality inre the phenomenon, then either create and test another
hypothesis or
abandon the research inre the causality of the phenomenon.
8.5. If other researchers replicate the
observations/measurements and thereby confirm the hypothesis, then the
hypothesis is to be
considered to be a fact, a law of nature, a scientific law, etc., until
disconfirmed by
additional observations/measurements.
The Scientific Method is the method which is most
likely to produce explanations that are both descriptions and
predictions inre the causality of
phenomena because it requires observation and measurement of phenomena.
The purpose of the Scientific Method is the
determine the natural causal relationships (NCRs) that are the laws of
nature or scientific laws between/among people,
objects and events.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers ...
(1) The scientific method requires the revelation of the observations
that prompted the initial hypothesis and the subsequent observations
that confirm the hypothesis to be a law of nature or natural causal
relationship (NCR).
(2) Individuals can demand that those people who make claims of fact
(claims inre NCRs) provide the scientists and the scientific
observations that confirm the claim of fact.
9. The Truth Source Theory (TST)
The Truth Source Theory (TST) specifies that every
claim of Truth (claim of fact or belief)
must have a Source.
Every claim of fact or belief that is supposed to be
True and thereby contain Truth
should have a Source that provides the physical evidence that confirms
the claim of fact or belief.
The TST is relevant to the Theory of Proof and The
Scientific Method.
Inre car salesmen, the Truth Source inre any of
their claims of fact has to be reports
from humans inre the design or testing (observation/measurement) inre a
phenomenon
relevant to the performance or/and reliability of a car, service
department, finance department, etc..
Inre politicians, the Truth Source inre any of their
claims of fact has to be reports
from humans inre the practical or historical realities or/and physical
evidence that are relevant
to the politicians' claims of fact.
Inre religion, wherein a religion is a philosophy
which includes a belief in the existence
of proof of the existence of gods, goddesses, etc., for
statements inre the creation
of the universe and man to be statements of fact, because humans were
not present
when the universe was created nor when they were created, then the only
Truth Source
inre that facts inre the creation of the universe and of mankind are
the creator(s) themselves
who would have had to have communicated with humans by direct
revelations
including the inspiration and supervision of the writing and copying of
holy books; the problems
inre determining the Truth Source inre the creation of the universe and
man include proving
gods exist and how they communicated with humans the precise info inre
acts of creation.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Truth Soource
Theory (TST) ...
(1) Requiring individuals who make claims of truth (facts) to prove
their claims are true by revealing their truth sources.
(2) By requiring the revelation of thruth sources, individuals can
check on the truth sources' authorities, competencies and credibilities.
10. The Theory of Proof (ToP) or Proof Theory (PT)
10.1. Physical Evidence: Directly or indirectly observable people,
objecs or/and events who/which are comprised of m/e (matter-energy) in
contrast to being the content of ideas.
10.2. Eyewitness Reports: Reports of physical evidence from credible
individuals not known to lie or deceive; must be corroborated by
additional reports of physical evidence from credible contemporaneus
corroborators.
10.3. Conclusions of Sound Logical
Arguments: The conclusions of logical arguments whose premises are
verifiable (can be proven to be true), falsifiable (can be proven to be
false), and verified by physical evidence and relevant to the
conclusions and the conclusions are relevant to the premises and true
if the premises are verified to be true by physical evidence.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of The Theory of Proof
(ToP) or Proof Theory (PT) ...
(1) The three fundamental types of proof are now identifiable but all
are based upon the first: Physical Evidence.
(2) Individuals who demand proof inre a claim of fact now know what is
proof, howitiz that proof is based upon observations and measurements
of physical evidence
11. The Theory of Causality (ToC) or Causality Theory (CT)
Causality = People, objects or/and events who/which are comprised of
m/e (matter-energy), in contrast to being the content of an idea, and
who/which as causes cause as effects (A) changes of the physical states
of pre-existing people, objects or/and events or (B) new people,
objects or/and events from pre-existing m/e.
Causality requires physical contact between or among
people, objects or/and events.
Coincidentiality = People, objects or/and events who/which are
comprised of m/e, in contrast to being the content of ideas, and
who/which have proximity to, are nearby to, other people, objects
or/and events but no physical/causal contact with those other people,
objects or/and events.
People, objects and events who/which are
coincidental, or proximal, do not interact and therefore have no
physical contact and therefore cannot be and are not causal inre each
other.
The Sequence of Causality: 1. P/Condition(s)/Cause(s) - 2.
Q/Consequence(s)/Effect(s).
The Sequence of Causality (SoC) can be determined by
the use of sychronized timepieces (clocks, watches, etc.) which are
designed to have identical time-intervals, timerates (rates of
ticking), timepoints (timemarks on a timeline), timelines (records of
timepoints, histories), and timecounts (read-outs, displays of time,
created by accumulative addition from a chosen origin of time which
creates the arrow of time, the direction of time, from the past through
the present into the future). When synchronized timepieces are used to
mark the timepoints at which or during which people or/and objects are
present or at which or during which events occur, then the
people, objects and events who/which are the Ps of a causality and
either the changes of the physical states of pre-existing people,
objects or/and events or the creation of new people, objects and events
from pre-existing m/e who/which are the Qs of a causality can be
determined and thereby the sequence of causality (the causal sequence)
can be determined: those people, objects or/and events who/which have
earlier timepoints are the Ps and those people, objects or/and events
who/which have later timepoints are the Qs.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Theory of
Causality (ToC) or Causality Theory (CT) ...
(1)
(2)
12. The Theory of Knowledge (ToK) or Knowledge Theory (KT)
12.1. Knowledge = Concepts, principles
and techniques based upon conclusive proof.
12.1.1. True Knowledge = Accurate
concepts and
principles and effective techniques based upon proof.
12.1.2. False Knowledge =
Inaccurate concepts and principles and
ineffective techniques not based upon conclusive proof.
12.2. Faith/Belief/Opinion = Concepts,
principles and techniques not based upon conclusive proof.
Benefits to Philosophers and Non-Philosophers of the Theory of
Kbnowledge (ToK) or Knowledge Theory (KT) ...
(1)
(2)
13. The Theory of Conflict (ToCon) or Conflict Theory (ConT)
13.1. Conflict = A difference of desires. One person wants X and
another person wants Y.
14. The Theory of Communication (ToCom) or Communication Theory (ComT)
Communication = The exchange of concepts, principles and techniques
(the exchange of ideas) between two or more individuals who alternate
between being a speaker and a listener.
Effective communication requires a speaker (1) to be
specific and (2) to ask for feedback from a listener.
Feedback = Request from a speaker for a listener to paraphrase (say in
one's own words) what the speaker has said.
Feedback provides the listener an opportunity to
confirm that the speaker's message was heard as intended and provides
the speaker with an opportunity to confirm that the listener heard the
message as intended or to clarify a miscommunication.
15. The Theory of Mind (ToM) or Mind Theory (MT)
15.1. Mind = An individual's personal
set of desires, fears and priorities.
15.1.1. Desire = Wanting a
person, an object or an event.
15.1.2. Fear = Not-wanting a
person/object/event.
15.1.3. Priority = The importance
of each desire or fear compared to
the importance of all other
desires and fears.
15.2. Feelings = Reactions to
realizations of desires or/and fears according to priorities.
15.2.1. Affective Reaction (AR) =
Emotional reaction.
15.2.2. Impulsive Reaction (IR) =
Action (response) linked to an
emotional reaction.
15.3. Behavior = An individual's
proactions and reactions as motivated/caused by his mind.
15.3.1. Proaction = An
individual's action taken to achieve a desire or
avoid a fear according to his/her priorities.
15.3.2. Reaction = An
individual's response to a realization of a
desire or fear.
15.4. Personality = An individual's
consistent proactions and reactions in similar situations.
15.5. Mental Problems = An individual's
unrealistic and/or inappropriate desires/fears/priorities.
15.5.1. Unrealistic
Desires/Fears/Priorities = Unachievable
desires/fears/priorities.
15.5.2. Inappropriate
Desires/Fears/Priorities = Achievable desires,
avoidable fears and effective priorities which do
not achieve other
desires and avoid other fears.
15.6. Mental Solutions/Mental Health =
An individual's realistic and appropriate desires/fears/priorities.
15.6.1. Realistic
Desires/Fears/Priorities = Achievable
desires/fears/priorities.
15.6.2. Appropriate
Desires/Fears/Priorities = Achievable desires,
avoidable fears and effective priorities which
achieve other desires
and avoid other fears.
16. Natural Morality (NM). [The Code of Natural Laws]
16.1. The Essence of the Law (EotL).
The Essence of the Law is that no
individual should be allowed to threaten to cause or actually cause to
another innocent individual, an
individual who does not intend to injure another likewise innocent
individual, a
loss of life, limb, liberty, family, property, business, honor, or
peace-of-mind; all the
rest of the law is commentary.
[Paraphrase of Thomas Jefferson, US Framer/Founder,
Third US President, from a book not bought and not remembered.]
16.2. The Twin Survival Standards (TSS). [The
reasons why people follow Natural Morality]
16.2.1. The survival of the
individual and his family.
16.2.2. The survival of human
species.
If individuals
do not follow Natural Morality, then the survival of individuals and
their families will be threatened and ultimately
the survival of the human species will be threatened.
Absent gods
and goddesses and their threats of punishment or promises of rewards
inre their actions and reactions,
humans would follow Natural Morality for the purpose of the survival of
their families
and themselves and the survival of the human species.
16.3. The Natural Progression of Selfishness: S - PS
- SS.
16.3.1. Selfishness/S: All
indivduals are born naturally selfish — concerned only with their own
desires and feelings,
which is a necessary condition for their survival, but they are not
aware of the
desires and feelings of other people.
16.3.2. Personal Selfishness/PS:
Individuals become aware of the desires and feelings of other people
but remain
personally selfish (PS) — concerned only with their own desires and
feelings with no regard for
the desires and feelings of other people.
16.3.3. Social Selfishness/SS:
Individuals progress to be aware that to achieve many if not most if
not all of their desires and
to maximize their feelings of happiness they need the cooperation of
other people for which they
must cooperate with those other people by creating and seeking to
achieve common desires.
Natural Morality is a code of natural causal relationships (NCRs) that
are justifications for actions between/among people, objects and events
which if followed would cause peace among people.
A right is a justification for an action—a reason
for conducting an action (or a reaction). Among these rights are life,
limb, liberty, family, property, business, honor, and peace-of-mind.
[The Essence of the Law.]
Rights are either seized or granted. Rights are
seized by people if their group or organization or government does not
either provide or recognize and honor those rights; rights are granted
by monarchs, tyrants, governments, authorities, etc., in recognition of
the fact that if certain rights are not granted some people will be
lost and the people who remain in a culture or nation or organization
in cluding monarchs and tyrants will suffer from that loss of people.
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What Are The Philosophers'
Tools?
The philosophers' tools are
the concepts, principles and techniques
that are included in the master set of concepts, principles and
techniques and that have been discovered or created and revised and
refined by
philosophers in all ages.
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Who/What
Is A Philosopher?
A philosopher is an individual
who discovers, creates, develops, revises, and refines the master set of concepts, principles and techniques which are the philosophers' tools
that practitioners in other disciplines can use to create accurate and
useful concepts, principles and techniques which are relevant to the
subjects of study of their discipline.
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What
Is A Philosophy?
A philosophy is a set of concepts and principles and techniques
for dealing with reality and solving problems.
A concept is a mental representation of an object, a unity
which retains its identity for a longer time period than a related
event.
An object is a configuration
of atoms and molecules (a configuration of matter/energy), e.g. a thing or an entity comprised of m/e which
retains its identity for a longer period of time than a relevant event.
Examples: A woman named Jane, a ball, and a man named Dick.
An event is a causal or
coincidental relationship between or among objects.
A causal relationship
between/among objects is a relationship wherein people/objects
who/which as causes cause as effects changes in pre-existing
people/objects or new people/objects.
A coincidental relationship
between/among people/objects is a non-causal relationship wherein
people/objects are in proximity to each other by occupying different
spatial coordinates at the same timepoint without being causally
linked to each other, without one being the cause of the other.
A true concept is a concept which accurately describes a
person/object/event; a false concept is a concept which
inaccurately describes a person/object/event.
A principle is a mental representation of an event, a
relationship between or among objects.
Example: Jane throws the ball to Dick. Jane is the cause of the effect
of the ball traveling through the air (space and time) to Dick.
A true principle is a principle which accurately describes the
relationship of a person/object/event to other persons/objects/events;
a false principle is a principle which inaccurately describes
the relationship of a person/object/event to other
persons/objects/events.
A technique is an application of a concept or/and a principle.
Example: To get the ball to Dick, Jane uses the technique of throwing
the ball to Dick. She could have used the technique of giving the ball
to her dog, Spot, and commanding him to carry the ball to Dick, but if
Spot is unreliable, and/or if Jane wants to get the ball to Dick
quickly and over a space of several yards, she can use the technique of
throwing the ball to Dick.
A practical technique (true technique) is a useful
application of a concept/principle; an impractical technique (false
technique) is a useless application of a concept/principle.
A fact is a true concept/true principle/practical technique
derived directly from practical experience or from proof derived by the
application of the code of science; an opinion or belief
is an expectation derived indirectly from practical experience or from
proof derived by the application of the code of science that a concept
or principle is true, or that a technique is practical--an opinion is
an hypothesis requiring proof.
True knowledge consists of a set of true concepts, true
principles, and practical techniques (true techniques); false
knowledge consists of a set of false concepts, false principles,
and impractical techniques (false techniques).
In the discipline of philosophy, concepts/principles/techniques are
created (A) for creating operational definitions of terms or phrases
used in a discipline or a science, (B) for developing standards of
proof, (C) for inductive thinking
and for deductive thinking, (E) for making decisions, and (F) for
solving problems (how to achieve a
desire and/or avoid a fear) for achieving desires and
avoiding fears.
This definition of philosophy
...
Philosophy is
the discipline whose practitioners—philosophers—discover,
create, develop,
and refine the master set of concepts, principles and techniques which are the philosophers' tools
that practitioners in other
disciplines can use to create accurate and useful concepts, principles
and techniques which are relevant to the subjects of study of their
discipline
... is narrow, as in limited.
It is narrow, limited, because what many if not most if not all philosophers have done throughout
the history of philosophy has been uniformly, and narrowly limited to creating the philosophers' tools to be used by
non-philosophers for studying the specific subjects of disciplines
other than philosophy. Many if not most if not all philosophers have
contributed to the master set of concepts, principles and techniques
that we can now identify as the philosophers' tools.
In olden times, (A) when a philosopher studied the causality of
physical phenomena, then that philosopher became a
philosopher-of-causality (or a philosopher-of-physical phenomena), i.e.
a physicist; (B) when a
philosopher studied the mind,
specifically the human mind,
or behavior, specifically human behavior, then that
philosopher became a philosopher-of-the-mind or a
philosopher-of-behavior, i.e. a psychologist;
and (C) when a philosopher studied the causality of the human body,
then that philosopher became a philosopher-of-the-body, i.e. a medical doctor. These studies
became separated from philosophy as physics, psychology, and medicine.
Therefore, in olden days, the term philosopher
referred to an individual who had knowledge of, and talent for using,
the philosophers' tools for studying different subjects other than the
philosophers' tools.
Therefore, whereas philosophy
was initially the master discipline whose subject was the study of all
aspects of human life including the universe, the mind, behavior, the
body, etc., it is from
philosophy that all contemporary disciplines, the different fields of
study, have been derived.
Nevertheless, the term philosophy
continues to be used to refer to the original master discipline.
In contemporary times, the abbreviation Ph.D. means Philosophy Doctor
or Doctor of Philosophy and is applied to individuals who have mastered
the concepts, principles and techniques of a specific field of study,
including a Ph.D. Physics, or a Ph.D. Psychology, although there are
exceptions, including dentistry, in which case an individual may be
awarded a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), veterinary medicine, in
which case the individual may be awarded a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine) or VMD (Veterinary Medicine Degree), or a related degree,
depending on his specialty, and medicine, in which case the individual
is awarded an M.D. (Medical Doctor, or Doctor of Medicine).
Nevertheless, again, philosophy
continues to be the master discipline because philosophers continue to
discover, create, develop, and refine the master set of concepts, principles and
techniques which are the philosophers'
tools which practitioners in other disciplines can use for the
study of the specific subject of their discipline.
A definition of philosophy
which includes the study of every aspect of human life becomes so
non-specific it becomes vague and basically useless.
When asked ...
What
does a philosopher do?
... the answer could become ...
A philosopher
studies all aspects of human life!
... which is an answer that so vague that the individual asking the
question might wonder, and possibly inquire, ...
What
are the aspects of human life that philosophers study?
... to which a correct but vague and therefore useless answer could be
...
All
aspects!
By these facts and considerations the operational definitions of philosophy and philosopher can be referenced to ...
Philosophy is the discipline
whose practitioners—philosophers—discover,
create, develop,
and refine the master set of concepts, principles and techniques which are the philosophers' tools
that practitioners in other
disciplines can use to create accurate and useful concepts, principles
and techniques which are relevant to the subjects of study of their
discipline.
... or a similar but not radically different operational definition.
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What
Is
The Value Of Philosophy?
The value of philosophy to an individual or an organization is
the benefit of the development of the master set of philosophical
concepts/principles/techniques individuals in other disciplines and the
sciences as well as organizations can use for the development of
accurate concepts/principles
including techniques for inductive and deductive thinking within their
discipline or science or organization. When people are engaged in
business, politics,
economics,
and the sciences, they need guidelines for the inductive and deductive
thinking they must use for the development of the operational
definitions
of the terms and phrases they will use within their discipline. They
need
to learn how to think, and philosophy provides tools for the inductive
and deductive thinking needed to develop the operational definitions
they
will use within their discipline or organization and for communicating
with people who
wish to learn those operational definitions and the premises and
conclusions
of their discipline or organization.
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What
Is The Philosophy Of Philosophy?
The philosophy of philosophy is the master set of philosophical
concepts/principles/techniques useful for developing
concepts/principles/techniques in other disciplines including the
sciences as well as in organizations.
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What
Do
People Do When They Philosophize?
[What Do People Do When They Do Philosophy?]
To philosophize is to develop and use the master set of
concepts,
principles and techniques of philosophy (A) to develop a set of
accurate concepts
and principles which describe the people, objects and events of reality
and (B) to develop a set of practical techniques for applying the
concepts and principles which describe the people, objects and events
of
reality to make decisions and to solve problems and to
achieve desires and avoid fears and to experience good feelings of
happiness and to avoid experiencing bad feelings of unhappiness.
When people philosophize, they develop and use philosophy's master set
of concepts,
principles and techniques (A) to develop a set of accurate concepts
and principles which describe the people, objects and events of reality
and (B) to develop a set of practical techniques for applying the
concepts
and principles to make decisions and to solve their problems and to
achieve their desires and avoid their fears and to experience good
feelings of happiness and to avoid experiencing bad feelings of
unhappiness.
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Personal
Philosophy v Organizational Philosophy
An individual may develop his personal philosophy as his/her
own
set of concepts/principles/techniques which he/she uses for dealing
with
the people/objects/events in his/her personal life and for achieving
his/her
desires/goals and thereby making decisions among alternative solutions
and solving his/her problems and avoiding his/her fears; a group of
people may
develop an organizational philosophy which consists of the
concepts/principles/techniques the organization's members will use to
define/specify/achieve the organization's desires/goals and thereby
make decisions among alternative solutions to solve its problems and
avoid its fears.
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What Are Operational
Definitions?
Operational definitions are definitions which define terms
and phrases by descriptions including observations and/or measurements
of the people, objects and/or events who/which are relevant to the
terms or phrases
being defined.
An operational definition is
a definition which defines a term or phrase by a description including
observations and/or measurements of the people, objects and/or events
who/which are relevant to the term or phrase.
Operational definitions function as operational answers to operational
questions.
Operational questions are
questions which ask for descriptions including observations and/or
measurements of people, objects and/or events when activities are being
conducted or otherwise are occurring.
Operational answers are the
descriptions including observations and/or measurements of people,
objects and/or events which are answers to operational questions.
Examples:
Operational Question:
What do people do when they do philosophy?
Operational Answer:
When people do philosophy they create concepts and principles
which describe people, objects and events and they develop techniques
for using those concepts and principles to solve problems.
Operational Question:
What is a concept?
Operational Answer: A concept is a mental
representation (idea) of a person, an object, or/and an event.
Operational Question:
What is an object?
Operational Answer: An
object
is an entity which is comprised of matter-energy (m/e) which retains
its identity for a long period of time than an event. Objects include
people.
Operational Question:
What is an event?
Operational Answer: An
event is a causal or
coincidental relationship between or among people, objects and/or
events.
Operational Question:
What is a causal relationship
between or among people, objects and/or events?
Operational Answer: A causal relationship
occurs between or among people, objects and/or events when forces which
are forms of m/e are applied and as causes the forces cause as effects
(A) changes in people, objects and/or events or (B) new people, objects
and/or events from pre-existing m/e.
Operational Question:
What is a coincidental relationship?
Operational Answer: A coincidental relationship
occurs between or among people, objects and/or events when peopple,
objecs and events are in proximity, are nearby, to each other without
being causal to each other without causing (A) changes of people,
objects or events or (B) new people, objects or events.
Operational Question:
What is a principle?
Operational Answer: A principle
is a mental representation (idea) of an event—a mental representation
of a causal or coincidental relationship between or among people,
objects and/or events.
Operational Question:
What is a technique?
Operational Answer: A technique is a practical
application of a principle, particularly a causal principle, for the
purpose of solving a problem.
Operational Question:
What is a problem?
Operational Answer: A problem
is learning how to achieve a desire (wanting a person, an
object or/and an event) or avoid a fear (not-wanting a person, an
object or/and an event) according to an individual's or organization's
priorities (the importance of each desire or fear compared to all other
desires and fears).
Operational Question:
What is a desire?
Operational Answer: A desire is wanting a person, an
object and/or an event.
Operational Question:
What is a fear?
Operational Answer: A fear is not-wanting a person, an
object and/or an event.
Operational Question:
What is a priority?
Operational Answer: A priority is the importance of each
desire or fear compared to all other desires and fears.
Operational Question:
What do people do when they love?
Operational Answer:
When people do love they say they like each other and they do good
deeds for and with each other.
Operational definitions can be created using structured sentences
such as the following:
1. _____ [Term/Phrase being defined operationally] IS _____
[Description of the objects/events relevant to the term/phrase being
defined].
Example: The mind [Term being defined operationally] IS
an individual’s personal system of desires/fears/priorities as
evidenced by his observable actions and reactions, in particular,
as evidenced by his/her approach behavior to
people/objects/events he/she
desires and his/her avoidance behavior from people/objects/events
he/she fears
[Descriptions of the observable/measurable people/objects/events--in
this
case the events of approach/avoidance—relevant to the term being
defined].
2. _____ [Term being defined operationally] IS WHEN _____
[Description of the objects/events relevant to the term being defined].
Example: Love [Term being defined operationally] IS
WHEN someone says they like you and they do nice things for
you and with you [Description of the objects/events relevant to
the term being defined].
3. IF _____ [Description of the objects/events relevant to the
term being defined],
THEN _____ [Term being defined operationally].
Example: IF someone says they like you and does nice
things for you and with you [Description of the objects/events
relevant to the term being defined], THEN that is
love [Term being defined operationally].
4. WHEN _____ [Description of the objects/events relevant
to the term being defined], THEN _____ [Term being defined
operationally].
Example: WHEN someone says they like you and does nice
things for you and with you [Description of the objects/events
relevant to the term being defined], THEN that is
love
[Term being defined operationally].
Most Famous Example of an Operational Definition: Happiness is a
warm puppy. [Charles Schultz, Peanuts]
By operational definitions, abstract concepts/principles can be defined
by the descriptions of real-world objects/events/techniques; thus, by
operational definitions, abstract concepts/principles/techniques can be
made concrete/made into concrete concepts/principles/techniques.
If a person cannot provide a description by means of the
observation(s)/measurement(s) of the people/objects/events related to a
term he/she wishes to define/use in a discussion, then there is an
excellent chance that (A) the people/objects/events he/she is trying to
define/discuss do not exist or (B) he/she does not know what he/she is
talking
about.
Quite often the requirement that a term be defined by real-world
observations of people/objects/events will eliminate the use of
confusing
terms by either (A) clarifying their definitions or by (B) showing that
the terms are useless because they do not/cannot describe reality.
Example: Here is an operational definition of the ‘I’:
The ‘I’ [Term being defined] IS a person’s
mind, which is his personal system of desires/fears/priorities which
causes his behavior as his actions/reactions including his feelings as
his reactions to his realizations of his desires/fears/priorities, his
personality
as his mind-in -action, as his behavior as caused by his
desires/fears/priorities, his mental problems as his unrealistic
[unachievable or/and inappropriate] desires, and his mental health as
his realistic [achievable and appropriate] desires [Description
of the objects/events relevant to the term being defined].
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What Is
Proof? [The Theory of Proof (ToP) or Proof theory (PT)]
Proof consists of (A) physical evidence, (B) eyewitness reports,
or/and (C) valid logical arguments.
A. Physical evidence consists of people/objects/events who/which
are comprised of matter/energy and who/which are observable/measurable
by the
perceptual senses of sight/hearing/touch/smell/taste directly or
indirectly by their observable/measurable effects upon
people/objects/events
who/which can be observed/measured directly.
B. Eyewitness reports consist of verbal or written descriptions of
physical evidence.
Eyewitness reports must be given by individuals who are
reliable/credible, who have no records of lying or of criminal
activity, the reports must describe the physical evidence, and the
reports must be corroborated by individuals who are also
reliable/credible.
C. Valid logical arguments consist of premises which are
verifiable/falsifiable/verified descriptions of physical evidence and
which lead to relevant conclusions which are true if the premises are
true; a logical argument is valid if the premises lead to relevant
conclusions.
For any logical argument to be both valid and true, the premises
must be verifiable/falsifiable/verified true and lead to a relevant
conclusion.
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Summary
Philosophy is the discipline whose practitioners—philosophers—discover,
create, develop,
revise, and refine the master set
of concepts, principles and techniques which are the philosophers' tools
that philosophers can use for discovering, creating, developing,
revising, and refining the master set of concepts, principles and
techniques and practitioners in other
disciplines can use to create and communicate accurate and useful
concepts, principles
and techniques which are relevant to the subjects of study of their
discipline.
The master set of
philosophical concepts, principles and techniques
includes ...
1. Operational Definitions
[Definitions of terms and phrases by descriptions of the people,
objects and events who/which are comprised of m/e (matter-energy) ,
who/which are observable and/or measurable and who/which are relevant
to the terms/phrases being defined.]
2. The Laws of Logic
2.1. A = A If a proposition is true it is true.
2.2. A ≠ B If a proposition is true it cannot be
false.
2.3. A – A + B A proposition cannot be both true and
false at the same time and in the same way.
3. Logical Arguments
3.1. If P, Then Q Logical Arguments
3.1.2. P =
Condition(s)/Cause(s)
3.1.2. Q =
Consequence(s)/Effect(s)
4. The Theory of Inductive Thinking
5. The Theory of Deductive Thinking
6. The Theory of Decision-Making
7. The Theory of Problem-Solving
8. The Scientific Method
9. The Truth Source Theory (TST)
10. The Theory of Proof (ToP)
10.1. Physical Evidence
10.2. Eyewitness Reports
10.3. Conclusions of Sound Logical
Arguments
11. The Theory of Causality (ToC)
12. The Theory of Knowledge (ToK)
The philosophers' tools are
the concepts, principles and techniques
that are included in the master set of concepts, principles and
techniques and that have been discovered or created and revised and
refined by
philosophers in all ages.
A philosopher is an individual
who discovers, creates, develops, and refines the master set of concepts, principles and techniques which are the philosophers' tools
that practitioners in other disciplines can use to create accurate and
useful concepts, principles and techniques which are relevant to the
subjects of study of their discipline.
A philosophy is a set of concepts and principles and techniques
for dealing with reality and solving problems.
The value of philosophy to an individual or an organization is
the benefit of the development of the master set of philosophical
concepts/principles/techniques individuals in other disciplines and the
sciences as well as organizations can use for the development of
accurate concepts/principles
including techniques for inductive and deductive thinking within their
discipline or science or organization.
The philosophy of philosophy is the master set of philosophical
concepts/principles/techniques which are useful for developing
concepts/principles/techniques in other disciplines including the
sciences as well as in organizations.
To philosophize is to develop and use the master set of
concepts,
principles and techniques of philosophy (A) to develop a set of
accurate concepts
and principles which describe the people, objects and events of reality
and (B) to develop a set of practical techniques for applying the
concepts and principles which describe the people, objects and events
of
reality to make decisions and to solve problems and to
achieve desires and avoid fears and to experience good feelings of
happiness and to avoid experiencing bad feelings of unhappiness.
To PageLinks