1. What are the main branches of Philosophy? Distinguish them from each other.

The main branches of Philosophy include Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, and Logic.

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that is concerned with fundamental questions about the nature of reality (Carroll & Ned, 2010); it is the inquiry into the question of being (Beach, 1998).

Epistemology can be defined as a critical inquiry into the fundamental principles of knowledge, including its possibility, its certainty, and its justification.

Ethics is the philosophical study of morality (Deigh, 2010). It aims to determine what is the proper course of action for man (Landauer & Rowlands, 2001).

Logic is the analysis and appraisal of arguments (Gensler, 2012). It is concerned with the question of adequacy or probative value of different kinds of evidence (Cohen, Nagel, & Corcoran, 1993).

2. Give 3 examples each of metaphysical, epistemological and ethical questions.

Metaphysical
• What is being?
• What is space and time?
• Does the world exist outside of the mind?

Epistemological (The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2001)
• Is it possible to have knowledge at all?
• Does reason provide us with knowledge of the world independently of experience?
• Does our knowledge represent reality as it is?

Ethical
• Is killing a murderer justified?
• Under what conditions should people be kept artificially alive?
• How should we decide who receives organ transplants?

Read The Wager by B. Pascal, Will to Believe by W. James and Ration...