Unit II

Assignments:

1. Listen to the text and give the gist of the text in writing.

2. Read and translate the text. The Importance of Philosophy

Philosophic thought is an inescapable part of human existence. Almost everyone has been puzzled from time to time by such essentially philosophic questions as "What does life mean?" "Did I have any existence before I was born?" and "Is there life after death?" Most people also have some kind of philosophy in the sense of a personal outlook on life. Even a person who claims that considering philosophic questions is a waste of time is expressing what is important, worthwhile, or valuable.

A rejection of all philosophy is in itself philosophy.

By studying philosophy, people can clarify what they believe, and they can be stimulated to think about ultimate questions. A person can study philosophers of the past to discover why they thought as they did and what value their thoughts may have in one's own life. There are people who simply enjoy reading the great philosophers, especially those who were also great writers.

Philosophy has had enormous influence on our everyday lives. The very language we speak uses classifications derived from philosophy. For example, the classifications of noun and verb involve the philosophic idea that there is a difference between things and actions. If we ask what the difference is, we are starting a philosophic inquiry.

Every institution of society is based on philosophic ideas, whether that institution is the law, government, religion, the family, marriage, industry, business, or education. Philosophic differences have led to the overthrow of governments, drastic changes in laws, and the transformation of entire economic systems. Such changes have occurred because the people involved held certain beliefs about what is important, true, real, and significant and about how life should be ordered.

Systems of education follow a society's philosophic ideas about what children should be taught and for what purposes. Democratic societies stress that people learn to think and make choices for themselves. Nondemocratic societies discourage such activities and want their citizens to surrender their own interests to those of the state. The values and skills taught by the educational system of a society thus reflect the society's philosophic ideas of what is important.

3.Interpret the following in English:

1. Inescapable b) to puzzle c) outlook d) purpose e) enormous f) essentially philosophic questions g) the overthrow of government

4.Give Ukrainian equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

a personal outlook; worthwhile; ultimate questions; to clarify; entire ;

to derive from philosophy; the overthrow of governments; institution;

drastic changes in laws; to occur; to stress; the values and skills .

5. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and phrases .Use them in sentences of your own and situations from the text:

1. цінності та навички

2. рішучі (корінні) зміни

3. установа (заклад)

4. притримуватись певних поглядів

5. зважати (не підтримувати)

6. відмовитись від чогось на чиюсь користь

7. корисний (результативний , чогось вартий)

8. стверджувати

9. марна трата часу

6. Make up a plan of the text in the form of statements (5 points).

7.Answer the following questions:

1. What philosophic questions are people usually puzzled by ?

b) Do you agree with the point of view that a rejection of all philosophy is in itself philosophy ?

c) For what reasons can a person study philosophers of the past ?

d) Can you give any examples of enormous influence of philosophy on our everyday lives ?

e) What have philosophic differences led to ?

f) Why have such changes occurred ?

g) What approaches to education are there in different societies?

8. Look through the text and write out the key philosophical terms.

Give their definitions .

9. Retell the text : a) in detail b) in brief .

10. Write an annotation of the text.

11. Write 5 questions covering the basic points of the text .