Decision-Making Philosophy on Health Education
Bryan K. Hooper Jr.
Principles of Behavioral Science and Health Education
2/20/2013

In attempts to discern what Health Education Philosophy an individual subscribes to, it is imperative to first address the preliminary question, what is philosophy? There are two parts to the word philosophy as it comes to us from the Greek, “Philo” meaning brother or lover and “Sophia” meaning wisdom or wise. Thus, a philosopher is called a “lover of wisdom. ”
The true origin of “Sophia” rests in Mdu Ntr, the language of ancient Egypt, where the word “Seba,” meaning “the wise” appears first in 2052 BC in the tomb of Antef I, long before the existence of Greece or Greek. The word became “Sebo” in Coptic and “Sophia” in Greek. As to the philosopher, the lover of wisdom, precisely what is meant by “Seba,” the Wise (Longo, 2011). For the purposes of this paper, the true origin of Philosophy will be referenced.
The Ancient Egyptians, serving as predecessors and pedagogues to the “Greek” school of thought, defined philosophy as the centrifugal force of life, around which all steps are to be patterned. Philosophy is further described as a civilized system of behavior, self-control and kindness. Much emphasis was placed on the value and significance of Enlightenment , or education, and how knowledge and understanding led one out of the darkness of ignorance into one’s own being (Obenga, 2009).
Philosophy, as defined in modern terms; is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. A philosophical approach is generally a critical and systematic, exercising reason and logic in attempt to gain understanding (Russell, 2012). The sum of the definitions presented, combined with my experiences, knowledge, and values have led me to subscribe to