Philosohpy - from Greek philein, sophia is the love of wisdom
Goal of philosophy is truth
Also finding clear meanings for truth, justice, wisdom, knowldge, happiness
Socrates: seeking of wisdom is the essence of philosphy
Earliest philosophy in the East in the Vedas
800 to 200 BCE the Axial Period with philosophical developments in many places around the world
Greek logos (reason) logic and eternal truth
Chinese concept of Dao oriented towards change, movement and process
West - good vs evil, reality vs appearance, sacred vs secular
East - yin / yang, interelatedness of seeming opposites
From Descartes on, ultimate authority in man's own thinking and experience
Two most important challenges for philosophers: sketicism and paradox
Classic paradox: all Cretans are liars