MODULE: LESSON 1: What is Philosophy

MEANING OF PHILOSOPHY

The word philosophy comes from

the two Greek words: philos (love)
and Sophia (wisdom). And means
“the love of wisdom”.

Pythagoras was said to have been

the first man to call himself a
Philosopher.

Before that time wise men called

themselves a sage, which was
interpreted to mean those who
know. Pythagoras was more
modest. He coined the word Philosopher, which he defined as one
who is attempting to find out. According to him, men and women of
the world could be classified into 3 groups: 1. Those love pleasure 2.
Those that love activity 3. Those that love wisdom.
  Meaning of philosophy

Philosophy is a study of general and fundamental problems, such as

those connected in existence, knowledge, reason, mind, and language.

Philosophy is the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and

answer fundamentals questions.

 Why is there a need to philosophize?

Philosophers have often wondered and argued about the role of

philosophy in man’s life. One view is that each one of us is a
philosopher, whether or not we have studied philosophy. We all have
the potential to philosophize since we have the tendency to wonder
and doubt. We possess the capacity to reflect on our experiences, and
we have a never ending need to learn and discover.

The Greek philosopher Plato traced man’s need to philosophize to his

sense of wonder.

The 15th century French philosopher Rene Descartes traced the need to
philosophize to doubt.

The 20th century Swiss-German philosopher Karl Jaspers saw the need
to philosophize because of experience. Jaspers called these
experiences limit situations, and these are often accompanied by
feelings of helplessness, anxiety, or dread.

The need to philosophize is driven by the love for wisdom. To love

wisdom is to have an insatiable desire for truth.

 How do we characterize the study of philosophy?

Philosophers have employed varied means of looking into the

fundamental questions regarding the human condition.
One way of looking at philosophy is to consider it as a away of
analyzing frameworks. Framework is defined as a way of
thinking about the world and is composed of the views and
beliefs of a person.
Questions dealing with our own correctness and values are
considered internal questions which can be addressed using our
own personal framework.
External Questions that seek to question the very frameworks
upon which people base their own beliefs and views.
Philosophy can also be thought of as an examination of a
particular area of knowledge. The central principle in
philosophy is examination and questioning, and this is often
applied in the analysis of the frameworks of other areas or
sciences.
Philosophy itself is a distinct area of knowledge with its own
goals, concerns and ways of doing things.
The philosophy which deals with beauty and what makes things
“beautiful” is called Aesthetics. Logic is the branch of
philosophy which deals with correct reasoning, while
Epistemology discusses the nature of knowledge and knowing.
Ethics is the branch which deals with moral questions and
dilemmas, while Political Philosophy studies governments and
deals with questions of justice, power and the rights and
obligations of citizens. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy
which deals with questions regarding reality and existence.
Although not a branch itself, Philosophy of the Human Person
is an area in philosophy that understands the human person
from a philosophical perspective – integrating and synthesizing
the different branches of philosophy and other fields of study to
know the truth about the human person. They suggest two
important facts about philosophizing: philosophy is a reflective
and meditative activity, and it has no designated subject matter
of its own. It is also a method of mental exercise on any type of
experience. When confronting human experience, philosophers
 often employ tools that engage the mind in analyzing problems
and situations.

 What is the difference between holistic thinking and partial

thinking?

Holistic thinking refers to a perspective that considers large-scale

patterns in systems. A holistic perspective requires an individual to
have an open mindset and an ability to get the general sense or
impression regarding a situation. Partial thinking, on the other hand,
focuses on specific aspects of a situation. Though partial thinking is
useful, philosophy utilizes holistic thinking in making sense of
problems and issues related to the human experience.

 How does one engage in reflection?

Reflection requires a person to be willing to examine one’s thoughts,

feelings, and actions and to learn more about one’s life and
experiences. One can reflect on almost any subject. For instance, the
moment you wake up you can already reflect upon the things that
you plan to do for the day.
  What are the practical uses of philosophy in our lives?

Philosophy has an important place in our daily lives. Engaging in

philosophical reflection leads to the development of beneficial skills
that individuals can apply in everyday situations.

Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and

interpretation of concepts, definitions, arguments and problems. It
also trains us to be critical of our own ideas as well as of others-
meaning, we don’t simply accept or reject whatever is presented to us.
Critical thinking skills can help us avoid being tricked by false claims
or manipulative schemes.

Philosophy also improves problem-solving and decision making.

The ability ato analyze a problem or dilemma, identify its significant
aspects, and come up with alternative solutions is an important skill
learned through philosophy.

A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and

adequately present his or her ideas. Discussion and debate require
skills in prenting and communicating ideas.

Wisdom is one intended product of philosophizing, and this refers to

a person’s ability to apply knowledge to daily life particularly in
making sound choices and judgment.
Finally, knowledge of philosophy can contribute to self-
development. One can be a better student, scientist, artist,
professional, and citizen if he or she has the capacity for inquiry,
critical thinking, and reflection. In addition, philosophy encourages a
person to know oneself, his or her strength and weaknesses, establish
an identity, and determine his or her purpose in life.
 LESSON 2: METHODS OF
PHILOSOPHIZING

Philosophers often grapple with the concept of truth. Truth lies

at the heart of any inquiry. Knowledge must be truthful to gain
validity and acceptance. Statements about the world or reality
are called propositions and these propositions may or may not
carry truth.

 What is truth and why is it important?

Before we discuss truth, it is important to clarify knowledge, since it is

through knowing that we are able to determine what is true.
Knowledge is the clear awareness and understanding of something.
This simply means that what we know is what is observable or
evident in the real world. For example, we say that “I know that fish
live in water” because fish do live in water. Propositions or statements
which are observed to be real or truthful are considered facts. There
are statements, however, that are not evidently or immediately known
to be true. For example, we can say that “I know that my school is the
best school in the city.” This statement is an claim, and further
examination is required to establish whether it is true or false.
 How do we know if something is true
There are several views regarding truth. Philosophers emphasize
the importance of belief as a basis for determining truth.
Ancient Greek philosophers approached the problem of truth by
looking at the nature of knowledge and how we know what we
know.
This is one of perspective of truth – that a belief is true if it can
be justified or proven through the use of one’s senses.
this is another basis for determining truth: a belief or statement
is true if it is based on facts. We applied this perspective when
we looked up the meaning of the word “Filipino” in a
dictionary. We assumed that what is stated in the definition is
the actual meaning of the word.
When you survey your family regarding your question, all of
them may answer with a resounding “Yes!” Getting a consensus
or having people agree on a common belief is another way of
determining what is true.
Determining truth in this case requires a person to prove a
statement through an action. The statements, therefore, are only
true if they can be applied in real life. The final statement also
requires proof through action. Philosophers also believe that
claims and beliefs should also be subjected to tests to
determine truth.
  How can philosophy guide us in distinguishing truth from
opinion?

Now that you have an idea of how philosophizing recognizes truth,

let us try and apply it in various situations in your life.

A conclusion is a judgment based on certain facts. The facts that form

the bases of a conclusion may not be disputed but the conclusion itself
could still be contested or questioned. Meanwhile, beliefs are a
statements that express convictions that are not easily and clearly
explained by facts. Explanations are statements that assume the claim
to be true and provide reasons why the statement is true. Arguments,
meanwhile, are a series of statements that provide reasons to convince
the reader or listener that a claim or opinion is truthful.

 What should we consider when looking at arguments or

opinions?

Arguments often take the form of statements that are either claims of
facts and are phrased in such a way that they seem reasonable. These
kinds of arguments are called fallacies. Some of these fallacies may be
intentional, as the person making the claim is desperate to convince
you to accept his or her argument.
When looking at an opinion, be aware of bias or the personal views of
the person presenting it. Biases are not necessarily errors in reasoning,
but refer to tendencies or influences which affect the views of people.
Bias cannot be avoided in any discussion or debate. What is important
is that the people engaging in the discussion are aware of their
personal biases and have an open but critical attitude toward other
views which conflict with their own.
  How can an understanding of the difference between truth and
opinion lead us to wisdom?

An understanding of opinions and facts and the means to distinguish

one from the other can further improve our understanding and
appreciation of varied views and ideas. The ability to determine truth
goes hand in hand with the holistic perspective and enables us to
make wiser decisions, especially in choosing the ideas and views
which we find acceptable.

LESSON 3: THE HUMAN PERSON AS AN

EMBODIED SPIRIT

The human person is an important subject in philosophy and

an understanding of the nature and condition of the person is
one of the foremost goals of the discipline.

Man is the general term commonly used to refer to the entire

human race. Human refers to man as a species – Homo
sapiens sapiens or modern human beings. The term human
being is also used to distinguish man from other animals.

Person is a much more complex term which generally refers

to a human being granted recognition of certain rights,
protection, responsibilities, and dignity, above all.

Personhood refers to the state of being person. Human nature

refers to the characteristics that distinguish humans from all
other creatures.

 What is the human person?

The most basic definition of a human being relates to the

nature of humans as animals. These special traits make a
human a distinct individual person.

The first trait that defines a person is self – awareness. Self- awareness
refers to the person having a clear perception of oneself, including his
or her thoughts, emotions, identity, and actions. Human awareness
goes beyond perception and reaction to the environment.
Lost in our thoughts, imagine, fantasize, and reflect shows that we are
able to reach within ourselves and experience interiority, which is the
quality of being focused on one’s inner life and identity. Another
trait that defines a person is self-determination. This refers to the
capability of persons to make choices and decisions based on their
own preferences, monitor and regulate their actions, and be goal –
oriented and self-directed. Our free will enables us to do actions
whenever we want to and makes self –determination possible. A
discussion on self –determination and free will eventually leads to a
discussion of consequence. Consequence is the result or effect of an
action or condition. This brings us to another element of human
action, which is morality or the goodness or badness of an act.
Another important trait that defines a human person is externality or
the capability to reach out and interact with others and the world. The
final trait that distinguishes the human person is dignity or the innate
right to be valued and respected. Philosophers consider all humans as
having an inherent worth or value. The value of a human person is
also proven by the fact that no person is dispensable or
interchangeable. Human dignity is rooted in the nature of human
being. Human dignity also drives us to seek what is good.

 What is in our human nature that enables us to become persons?

So far we have focused on traits and behavior that define human
persons. They tried to identify the substanatial elements that give rise
to the characteristics that enable us to become persons. This intangible
element is the spirit which enables us to exercise thought, possess
awareness, interiority, and the capacity to reach out to the outside
world and other persons.

 How are the body and the spirit related?

Philosophers consider the human person as defined by the union of

the body and the spirit. The human person is an embodied spirit. Not
only are the body and spirit united, but they are also integrated with
each other. To understand embodiment better, let us talk about love.
Many believe that the heart is the center of feelings of love and
affection, as love seems to cause the heart flutter or beat faster. Our
experience is also a product of embodiment. The human mind
processes information through the senses, which are experienced
through the body. The human body also stands as the mediator
between the material world and the spiritual world. With human
embodiment, physical acts are no longer purely physical acts, because
body conveys something from a person’s inner world.

 How does my human nature enable me to explore my limits?

Through the nature of the person as an embodied spirit provides

numerous opportunities to explore everything around us and even
within us, our human nature still imposes limitations. The ability to
surpass limits is called transcendence, and it is also one important
trait that distinguishes the human person from other brings in
existence. Our mind is an important tool that allows us to go beyond
many of our physical limits. As persons, we are able to exercise our
imagination and reflection to go beyond our own thoughts and
experiences. It must also be understood that as human persons, we
have natural tendencies or inclinations. Philosophy gives us useful
tools to explore our limitations and possibilities for transcendence.

LESSON 1: QUIZZ

1. The Greek term for philosophy, philosophia, means ___________

2. The Greek philosopher plato traced man’s need to philosophize
to his __________
3. Who is the 15th century, trace the need to philosophize because
of ___________
4. Karl joseph saw the need to philosophize because of __________
 5. What “thinking” perspective that considers large scale patterns
in system.

6 – 10

How can philosophy help you succeed as a student?

LESSON 2:

DISCUSS

1. Find some fallacy, did not mention in the lesson. Then explain it
to the class.

LESSON 3: QUIZZ

1. The first trait that defines a person is ___________

2. Our ___________ enables us to do actions whenever we want to
and makes self -determination possible.
3. Self –determination and free will eventually leads to a discussion
of ___________
4. The human person is an ____________
5. This term refers to man as a species and distinguishes man from
other animal.
Explore your abilities and limitations. Copy the table below. In the “I
can” column, write down the skills and abilities that define you as a
person. In the “I cannot” column, list down the things you have tried
to do but could not because of your personal limitations.

I CAN I CANNOT

When enabled you to do the things you identified in the first column?
Do you see yourself overcoming the limitations that prevented you
from doing the things you stated in the second column, discuss your
thoughts in class.