The word philosophy means “the love of wisdom.” Philosophy is the combination of two Greek terms: phileo and sophos. Phileo is a Greek term for “love.” Sophos is the Greek term for “wisdom.”
Socrates (469 – 399 BC) lived in ancient Greece and is considered to be the father of Western philosophy. Eastern sages like Gotama the Buddha (563 – 483 BC) and Confucius (551 – 479 BC) lived and taught before Socrates, and prominent Greek pre-Socratics like Pythagoras (580 – 500 BC) and Xenophanes (570 – 480 BC) did the same. Nevertheless, Socrates produced Plato (427 – 347 BC) and Plato produced Aristotle (384 – 322 BC). The rest is philosophical history.
The history of Western philosophy itself is divided into four chronological periods. They are 1) Ancient & Classical Philosophy, 2) Medieval Philosophy, 3) Early Modern & Modern Philosophy, and 4) Contemporary Philosophy. Additionally, philosophy continues to ask four important questions while attempting to provide reasonable answers.
- What can I know? (Epistemology – the philosophy of knowing)
- What is real? (Metaphysics – the philosophy of being)
- What am I? (Philosophical Anthropology – the philosophy of human nature)
- What should I do? (Ethics – the philosophy of the good, both individually and socially)
Socrates’ Children, Volumes I-IV by Peter Kreeft introduces the history of philosophy. There is no better place for catechists to start their journey toward better understanding the role of philosophy in teaching theology than with PF3 Ministries’ homepage resources on the history of philosophy. From there, an overview of philosophy prepares catechists to engage philosophy for theology. Catechists are then invited to continue the journey with resources found on the support pages. While moving from smaller steps to larger steps toward greater understanding, the support pages offer topics that are categorically listed in alphabetical order.
~ Boethius ~
For additional steps in our journey, you may want to view the 12-part video series Socrates’ Children: The Great Debates of Philosophy by Peter Kreeft.