Core Philosophical Concepts: Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics

Metaphysics and Spirituality

Metaphysics: The first branch of philosophy, which studies the most radical foundations of reality. Its etymology means "beyond physics," referring to the non-physical world that cannot be grasped by our senses.

Spirituality: A philosophical doctrine that recognizes the existence of immaterial beings and defends the reality of the spirit in contrast to materialism.

Materialism

Materialism: A philosophical doctrine that grants reality only to the material world. It posits that life, as well as psychological and mental activity, can be reduced to neurophysiological processes.

Epistemology: The Theory of Knowledge

Epistemology: Derived from the Greek concepts episteme (knowledge) and logos (study), this is the branch of philosophy that deals with the problems surrounding the theory of knowledge.

Core Epistemological Doctrines

• Rationalism: An epistemological doctrine holding that the main source of knowledge lies in thought or reason. It claims that knowledge is only valid when it possesses universal necessity and logical consistency.
• Empiricism: Contrary to rationalism, empiricism (from the Greek empeiria, meaning experience) posits that the sole source of human knowledge is experience.
• Apriorism: The belief that both reason and experience are sources of knowledge. It argues that our knowledge contains elements that are a priori—independent of experience—alongside knowledge derived from the senses.

The Possibility of Knowledge

• Dogmatism: The belief that knowledge of reality is possible, particularly through our rational capacity.
• Skepticism: The position maintaining that there is no absolute truth that can be captured by humans.
• Subjectivism and Relativism: Subjectivism limits the validity of truth to the individual subject who knows and judges. Relativism claims there is no universal truth, only particular truths.

Ethics and Moral Development

Moral: A set of ethical norms within a society. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that surveys different systems of morality.

Levels of Moral Development

Level 1: Pre-conventional

• 1.1: Reasoning to avoid punishment.
• 1.2: Doing good for personal convenience.

Level 2: Conventional

• 2.1: Doing the right thing to be perceived as good.
• 2.2: Doing the right thing to maintain social order.

Level 3: Post-conventional

• 3.1: Freely accepting the laws of society based on respect.