An Introduction to Philosophy

An Introduction to Philosophy: The Great Courses
by Daniel N. Robinson, Ph.D

I got bits and pieces of what Dr. Daniel Robinson said in the video presentation below, and I'll try to explain them briefly in my own understanding. :)

"Intellectual history presents us with a set of ideas that building on precedents, on past mistakes, past understandings, lead us, maybe, toward the light in progress."
This can be simply put as "We learn from our mistakes". Yes, we sure do. For example, if you tripped on a certain part of a street, you would be cautious enough next time to watch out for that part of the street. You learned to be cautious, to observe. And in some cases, mistakes and past understandings serve as motivations, for us to do better next time around which therefore leads us toward the light in progress.

"The developments in Philosophy are chiefly in the form of greater clarity, an ever more refined sense of just what makes the problem, problematic. If ignorance is not thereby overcome, at least it's exposed."
I totally agree that philosophy makes everything complicated. It's what makes the problem, problematic. But Philosophy makes people understand the problem, not just solve it. As what Seneca said, "What use is knowledge if there is no understanding?"

“Ordinary people seem not to realize that those 
who really apply themselves in the right way to 
philosophy are directly and of their own accord 
preparing themselves for dying and death. If this 
is true, and they have actually been looking 
forward to death all their lives, it would of course 
be absurd to be troubled when the thing comes 
for which they have so long been preparing and 
looking forward.”

—	SOCRATES, PHAEDO

"No worries"

We were asked to create a blog for our Humanities subject, blah blah blah.

The blog title should be a Philosophical/Ethical Motto.

I think "Hakuna Matata" is Philosophical/Ethical enough. It means, "No worries". I believe that having to worry about things is sad enough. And according to TED, the bear who smokes pot,  You shouldn't worry about things that doesn't worry about you. There's also this saying "Don't worry about the future for it is yet to come." or something like that, and I agree with those, yet I still worry. How ironic.

Anyway, I've come across a bunch of mottoes and I find most of 'em as inspiring and confusing. There's this one motto that's been stuck in my head from the moment I read it: "A stumble prevents a fall"  It's such a nice motto, quote that very well suits me. But I'm not going to explain why. Lol. =))