Explain what is meant by philosophy as a practice of rationality or exercise of clear thinking?

DISCUSSION 1 – UNDERSTANDING PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOSOPHIZING

1. What is Philosophy? (Chapter 1 of Payne) — “My favorite answer is that philosophy is all of the rational inquiry except for science.” Why is it that the author said it? What is the limitation of science which philosophy does not have? You may explain your side, what is the role of philosophy in life which science may not be able to answer.
2. After reading chapter 1, you may have learned that CRITICAL THINKING or RATIONALITY is one goal of philosophy. I would like you to read the article by Kessler, What is Philosophy, which I posted in the resources. This is one application of philosophy as critical thinking or as an exercise of rationality (focus on page 6-8 by Kessler Intro to Philosophy). One Philosopher William James was asked to define RATIONALITY; he said: RATIONALITY AS THINKING CLEARLY or TO THINK CLEARLY. Thus, we are called to use our mind to avoid disagreements or contradiction as possible. Can we avoid contradiction or disagreement? Explain what is meant by philosophy as a practice of rationality or exercise of clear thinking?
3. Application: Today people are torn between FOUNDATIONALISM and CONSTRUCTIVISM as two application principles to rationality. Are you a foundationalist? Or alternatively, are you a constructivist? Your ideas about this topic can enlighten others in understanding the role of philosophy today. Studying philosophy is more of doing it, rather than knowing it. A foundationalist tendency of the mind is to focus on the OBJECTIVE basis of our opinion and thoughts. One example of this is using a TECHNICAL DEFINITION of terms, or using a BIBLICAL DEFINITION, or using TRADITION to argue a point. That two plus two is four –by the mathematical standard. Hence, a person can be less and less open to new ideas and can be too critical of the changes available in life or society when the objective basis of truth is shaken. A constructivist tendency, on the other hand, is to focus on any SOCIAL AGREEMENTS, CULTURAL ADAPTATIONS, AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL REFORMS. People emerge as a culture and adopts a new culture or CONSTRUCT NEW KNOWLEDGE based on present situations and need. Thus, constructivism is an anti-foundationalist view. However, it caters to a new mind, critical to the Bible, critical to traditions, critical to old practices of law, science, and morality. The effect is that someone can follow a constructivist view by denying a moral truth because people agreed with it. Hence, a struggle for reason is to understand the two possibilities of rationality–which one is better? Which one is practical? Which one is also moral? Can we take morality out of the discussion of rationality? Ex. Same Sex-marriage? Is this traditional or something new?

Posting: It must cover the required paragraphs based on the guide questions. You are to determine how much substance you need to put that can explain the topic/points for posting.

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