Philosophy for International Business: examination issues / questions

1) Define the difference between philosophy and common sense

Philosophy does not have a lot to do with common sense! Philosophy is based on asking questions. Common sense is a form of evidence that is based on conventional wisdom and tradition. It is an opinion of all ordinary people. Let's define a difference asking the question : " What exists"? - Common sense - everything everything that can be seen or touched or smelled. everything that can be sensually perceived.

Philosophy. "Is it really so? On premises do we assume that what I see is what really exists?"

Common sense.- conservative, lazy, popular. Philosophy - inquiring, critical, ironic, revolutionary.

Common sense - People cannot be trusted (what people? what is it trust?) There is not justice(What is justice? how do we apply justice?) I know , what I see( my knowledge is based on my reasoning)

2) Define the difference between philosophy and humanities/science

The basic and most fundamental difference between philosophy and science is the subject of their resourch:

while the subject of their sciences and humanities as well is limited and restricted, the subject of philosophy goes far beyond their main fields and frames of reference.

Thus philosophy is much more universal. the subject of sciences can not be discussed. For example:

a physicist does not question the idea of causation, physicist simply use this idea for the explanation of phisical phenomenon; philosopher may or may not trust this notion and may even rebut such a presumption. Philosophy and sciences: methodology.

the method of the sciences is and humanities is experimental(empirical).

The method of philosophy is neither simply experimental nor simply deductive. Philosophy questions our way of perceiving the world, it questions the sources of human knowledge and questions the veracity of human experience.

3) Define the difference between philosophy and ideology

Philosophy is not ideology. Philosophy is not ideology. Ideology is a set of doctrines or beliefs that form the basis of a political, economic or other system.

The body of ideas reflecting the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class or culture.

Philosophy and ideology.

Ideology may refer to philosophy but it never simply reflects or copy a given philosophical system, for the simple reason that that philosophers never give us simple answers for life and actions.

Ideology needs simplicity and reduction: it is usually based of few statements : complicated philosophy will be useless.

4) What are the three general branches of philosophy/what are the basic philosophical questions?

Theoretical

• Ontology

• Epistemology

• Pratical

• Axiology

• Ethics

• Aesthetics

• Political Philosophy

Ontology

philosophical inquiry into the nature of being itself, a branch of metaphysics

• Branch of metaphysics concerned with identifying, in the most general terms, the kinds of things that actually exist Thus, the "ontological commitments" of a philosophical position include both its explicit assertions and its implicit presuppositions about the existence of entities, substances or beings of particular kinds.

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• What is nature of the world?

What exists?

Epistemology

• Branch of philosophy that investigates the possibility, origins, nature, and extent of human knowledge

• What are the sources of human knowlege?

• What is the defintion of truth?

• How can I be certain?

Axiology

• axiology - Branch of philosophy that studies judgments about value, including those of both aesthetics and ethics Thinking about value at this general level commonly emphasizes the diversity and incommensurability of the many sorts of things which have value for us.

• Axiology – what is a value? What is the nature of values?

• Ethics - Branch of philosophy concerned with the evaluation of human conduct.