Unit 1 AS1: Origin and Value of Philosophy
The purpose of this assignment is to articulate the value of philosophical inquiry and identify the importance of ancient philosophy in shaping modern scientific thought.
Answer the following questions as thoroughly as you can. Each answer should be approximately 200 words. Make sure you explain your answer in such a way that even a person who does not know anything about philosophy would understand and gain an insight into philosophical concepts. You may use any writing format (MLA, APA, or Chicago).
1. According to Democritus the world is a vacuum containing an infinite number of atoms that can never be created or destroyed. On the basis of what argument did Democritus arrived at this conclusion and in what respect did it contribute to the advancement of scientific discoveries?
2. Besides the obvious contribution to mathematics, explain in what other respects the philosophical ideas of Pythagoras influenced our modern understanding of reality.
3. According to Bertrand Russell, who is the “practical man” and why must we free ourselves from the prejudices of the “practical man”? Give some examples of social aspects generated by practical man’s thinking.
With what type of questions does philosophy deal?
4. Describe the main five branches of philosophy and give examples of the type of questions to which each branch is concerned.
