Philosophers use these terms. To understand philosophy, we must first understand its basics.
Physics and Metaphysics
Physics was part of philosophical studies until a few centuries ago, when it became a separate discipline. Physics mainly studies matter, from the smallest particles to the biggest stars. Metaphysics, on the other hand, is the study of what exists beyond the physical world, such as ideas, forms, and the soul, which is closer to religious ideas of god and spirits. A scientist might assert that matter is the foundation of human consciousness and that brain cells are necessary for its existence. A metaphysician, on the other hand, might say that consciousness is independent of matter; it either comes from a higher power or the universe itself is conscious. So physics is the study of physical matter, while metaphysics is the study of non-physical entities.
Logic is Math
Logic has its origins in mathematics. For example, 2+2=4 is logical because it follows a very rigid rule that gives you one answer. Philosophers also use logic as a language to communicate their ideas. So logic is like a foundation on which philosophical debates take place. Without logic, it is very hard to talk to others because, in order for a discussion to take place, there has to be some ground, some basic rules on which all philosophers agree. Thus, logic is a method of communication for philosophical arguments. A good example is Ludwig Wittgenstein, who wanted to make communication as precise as possible. Bertrand Russell, too, applied mathematics to philosophy.
Reason and Logic
Reason and logic often go hand in hand. Some argue that because logic is rigid, like a computer or a game of chess, it limits humans’ ability to express things that go beyond logic, like human emotions and passion. So reason, or rationality, is somewhat more subjective and less scientifically rigorous than logic. People often use reason to persuade, whereas logic does not depend on the outcome. . In other words, if someone uses logic, the outcome might not benefit the argument, whereas people use reason, which is more selective, to support their arguments. We often use rationalization as a negative form of reason to persuade people. Logic is more mathematical, while reason is more linguistic.
The Rationalism
Rationalism is a school of philosophy that believes we understand the world based on our prior ability to reason. It sees human beings as special creatures with the ability to know the world, so it has roots in religions that see humans as an exception to the animal kingdom. To put it another way, reason comes pre-assembled as a tool. A good example of a rationalist is René Descartes, who famously said, I think, therefore I am. In other words, the ability to rationally think was enough to know our existence. Leibniz was another famous rationalist.
 The Empiricism
Empiricism, on the other hand, believes that we know the world through experience. Our thoughts are a result of experience. We understand the properties of fire because we have personally experienced its heat. From birth, babies have no fear of fire inside them. We feel the pain; as a result, we associate fire with pain. Empiricism is more British, while rationalism is more continental European, mainly French and German. Famous empiricists were John Lock and David Hume. Empiricism is also similar to pragmatism, which is mostly associated with northern European cold climates and makes you more practical.
The Views of the Kant
Immanuel Kant combined rationalism with empiricism in his philosophy, saying that experience is not enough to know the world. Our own mental structure imposes categories on the world. In other words, we are not passive, simply receiving knowledge through experiences; we actively give the world structure. He said we cannot know the world as it is, but our knowledge of the world is limited to the limits of the human mental structure. Kant’s philosophy also gave rise to phenomenology, which studies an object relative to our own experience, not the object in and of itself. Kant made a distinction between phenomena, which is how we experience the world, and noumena, which is the world in itself, which we can never know. I will discuss this later. For rationalists, we understand the world through our knowledge, whereas empiricists understand the world through their experiences. (Continuous…..)
This article aims to provide a basic understanding of philosophy for both readers and those who are passionate about understanding it.
Dr. Abid Hussain Nawaz, Post Doc & Ph.D.
Muhammad Mudassir, MPhil Scholar in Social Work
For more reading
Evolution: A Timeline History (Part-1)
https://scienceresearchs.com/evolution-a-timeline-history-part-1/
Thales: Philosopher Statement, Life Started With Water
https://scienceresearchs.com/thales-philosopher-statement-life-started-with-water/
Metaphysic: Human Know About the Reality? Part-2
https://scienceresearchs.com/metaphysic-human-know-about-the-reality-part-2/
Epistemology: In Social Science Historical Perspective
https://scienceresearchs.com/epistemology-in-social-science-historical-perspective/
Metaphysic: The Unseen World Understanding (Part-1)
https://scienceresearchs.com/metaphysic-the-unseen-world-understanding-part-1/
