Methods of philosophical enquiry vary according to the style of the writer. Some philosophers talk about their subject as if it were a world apart from human thinking, almost to the extent of denying to recognise that philosophy and science are one. Others, while admitting the existence of some facts about the world, deny the possibility of understanding these facts, or the methods by which we get knowledge. Still others, although sympathetic to the cause of philosophy, maintain that the methods of philosophical discussion can never succeed.
Philosophical enquiry, in the history of western philosophy, developed out of the development of methodologies, such as natural science. These developed students of philosophy to be better acquainted with nature and also to know how to discover its secrets. The history of philosophy therefore begins with the quest of scientific knowledge, the endeavour to understand the natural world. In this process, though the thinker is at times frustrated, the process of philosophical study develops students’ ability to think scientifically and at the same time develop philosophical ideas. This makes it possible for the philosopher to know the secrets of nature and at the same time to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.
Philosophy involves a systematic approach to philosophy, because the methods of philosophical enquiry require a detailed analysis of the world around us and of the particular philosophical ideas that motivate that particular subject. Philosophy involves an ongoing project of understanding, an attempt to make sense of the world in general and also of specific subject matters such as ethics, law, politics and technology. This project in turn develops certain key attributes of a university, such as objectivity, the acceptance of the humanities as the fundamental part of learning, the careful evaluation of literature and the openness to new and different ways of learning and thinking. Other important characteristics of learning philosophy include the ability to develop and articulateively address issues, the ability to work creatively and the ability to communicate effectively through the written word.
The methods of philosophical enquiry vary with the subject of the inquiry. One of the most common methods of philosophical investigation is the argumentative essay. Essays are written to argue a particular point, often on the basis of an extended argument, that is based upon a number of premises, and is supported by a set of supposed facts. For example, if I am writing about the relationship between human beings and animals, I will base my argument on the fact that animals do share basic traits of the intelligence that human beings possess. That is, that they can reason and that they have the ability to communicate with one another.
Another common method of philosophical enquiry is the doctrine of the self. It is the view that everything that exists is a part of a bigger whole, that our personal reality is inseparable from the reality of the universe. This is the theory of the identity of the self, and it has the potential to appeal to those who are committed to a materialistic approach to life. Some philosophers who subscribe to the doctrine of the self, such as Immanuel Kant, are attracted to the idea of a personal connection to the world. As they say, ‘We cannot be satisfied with our own existence, without knowing the existence of others.’
Other philosophers who subscribe to a materialistic approach to life are those of the late James Hughes and Leo Tolstoy. These philosophers all support the doctrine of the self, and they all argue that there are certain fundamental differences between the way in which we think as adults, and the way in which we think as children. By taking philosophy courses which focus on the methods of philosophical inquiry, and developing reading and writing skills in terms of philosophical enquiry, students may well be able to develop philosophical skills that they are able to use in a variety of different contexts.
Methods of philosophical enquiry vary according to the topic. One of the more common methods of philosophical research is to carry out research using p4c methods. P4c, as it is popularly known, is the practise of conducting research by means of targeted marketing strategies. This means that the study of philosophy can be done by philosophers who have a background in marketing, for example. The methods of philosophical inquiry are likely to include the following.
In addition to the methods of philosophical inquiry, the process of philosophical thinking also requires certain interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen carefully to another person’s ideas. There is no point in carrying out philosophical thinking if one does not feel that the ideas of the other person are good and worth listening to. There are a number of different facilitation methods that can be used to improve the reception and understanding of philosophical ideas. If philosophers are able to learn how to promote the growth of philosophical thinking, then perhaps the whole subject of philosophy itself would benefit from the facilitation.
Good article. Most of the inquiries are basically material in nature. The western philosophers mainly focused on observable nature of physical objects mainly within the purview of five sense organs. They were not so inclined in observing the universe beyond the senses.