Origins and Role of Philosophy: From Myth to Reason
Origins of Philosophy
From the sixth century, a properly philosophical thought existed. Prior to that, mythical explanations, stories, or legends were used to understand and master the world. Myths and magical forces resorted to arbitrary explanations, a result of the gods’ will.
Myths
The term “myth” comes from the Greek word mythos, meaning immediate narration. Myths have an explanatory and exemplary function, involving stories and beliefs. They aim to appease or promote human action, stimulate creative imagination, and address life, death, hate, rain, war, and fertility, personifying and deifying them. Through worship, rituals, and prayers, people sought the gods’ intervention to remedy catastrophes.
- Events in the world depend on the capricious will of the gods.
- Objects acquire different properties in nature.
Logos
The term logos has different meanings in Greek. It corresponds to reasoning, argumentation, or speech. Logos is knowledge acquired through reason, not from beliefs. Early thinkers used this term to denote a rational attitude. The main reasons are:
- Appearance contrasts with the essence or ultimate nature of things—unchanging reality or logos.
- Against distress and ignorance towards the circumstances surrounding human beings, myth offers confidence in the explanatory power of reason.
- Against myth, logos or reason represents critical capacity.
Philosophical and Other Knowledge
Philosophical knowledge is a second-degree knowledge that presupposes a certain degree of political, socioeconomic, and cultural development.
Vulgar or Common Sense Knowledge
Every human being possesses ordinary knowledge through the spontaneous exercise of reason and common sense. It is shared to the point that no one can do without it when reasoning.
Scientific Knowledge
Scientific knowledge explores and expresses the immediate causes of things that fall under our observation and experimentation. It is deeper knowledge: science is descriptive and tells us how things are.
Philosophical Knowledge
Philosophical knowledge brings us closer to the ultimate causes of reality. It does not study reality partially but goes back to first principles.
Characteristics of Philosophical Knowledge
- Reflexive: Seeks solutions to problems concerning humans.
- Open: Many of its proposals are not final and remain open to the truth. This characteristic differs from myth or religion.
- Global and Inclusive: Unitary versus science, which is partial, sectoral, and specialized knowledge.
- Radical: Addresses difficult issues such as the meaning of human existence and freedom.
- Practical: Manifests in human action, ethical philosophy individually, and political philosophy.
- Systematic: Philosophical knowledge is ordered and critical of reality. It represents an attitude of rejecting dogmas and beliefs that are not supported by reason.
Role of Philosophy
Philosophy responds to citizens’ needs, providing philosophical and moral notions. It addresses universal problems of life and human existence, fostering independent thinking. Philosophical activity allows everyone to learn to think for themselves. Philosophical education contributes to peace and prepares everyone to assume their responsibilities and the training of citizens.
Need
Primary needs are those our bodies demand for survival. Secondary needs arise from society, fashion, etc. Philosophy responds to other needs, expressing and critically analyzing problems and assumptions in science and human existence. It analyzes our existence and the world we live in.
Psychological Origin and Means
The psychological origin of philosophy lies in our innate capacity to be amazed by the unknown, which can disorient us. Enthusiasm and consciousness awaken in an attempt to know oneself. Any person possesses the natural ability to observe, think, and wonder about existence, foundations, and mystery. Furthermore, humans can question the circumstances surrounding the individual.