Introduction to the
Philosophy
of the Human Person

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Lesson 1: What is
Philosophy?
What is real? Are we able to perceive and understand and everything in it?
How do we know what we know? Are the things that we know true?
What is the ultimate cause of all things? What is our purpose in this world?
To what extent are our choices and actions considered “free” ?

Have you ever found yourself wondering about the things you
experienced or where your life is headed? Have you ever encountered a situation
where you had to think about the “ deeper” questions in life?
Throughout our lives, we have wondered about many things which
lead us to ask a lot of questions. As we grow older, our questions are influenced
by our experiences and circumstances. We find ourselves asking more “serious”
questions.

 The word Philosophy comes from two
Greek words: philos (love) and sophia
(wisdom).
 Among the ancient Greeks, the
philosophers became pioneers in various
fields of knowledge such as history,
biology, medicine, mathematics,
astronomy, and physics. It was quiet
common to hear of ancient philosophers
who were “experts” in various fields of
learning.
 The ancient Greeks used this term to
refer to “love of wisdom” and they
soon applied it to the study or
discipline that uses human reason to
investigate the ultimate causes,
reasons, and principles which govern
all things.
 People who engage in Philosophy are
called philosophers or “lovers of wisdom”

The Following Are
The Most Notable
Ancient Greek
Philosophers

Phythagoras (570 BCE to 495 BCE)
A mathematician and scientist, he was credited with
formulating the Pythagorean theorem. His work earned him many
followers, and the established a community of learners who were
devoted to the study of religion and philosophy.

Heraclitus (535 BCE to 475 BCE)
He proposed that everything that exists is based on a higher
order or plan which he called logos. For him, change is a permanent
aspect of a human condition as he was credited with saying “No man
ever steps in the same river twice”

Democritus (460 BCE to 370 BCE)
He devoted himself to the study of the causes of natural
phenomena. He was among the first to propose that matter is composed
of tiny particles called atoms.

Diogenes of Sinope( 412 BCE to 323 BCE)
He was a known advocate of living a simple and virtous life. For
Diogenes, one should not only talk of virtue but should show it in words and
actions. His emphasis on austerity and simplicity often went to the extreme,
and he was said to have lived like a beggar. He was also known to be a vocal
critic of well-known philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. His teachings
and views were later developed by his followers and influenced the
development of several schools of Philosophy such as Cynicism and Stoicism.

Epicurus (341 BCE to 270 BCE)
He believed that philosophy could enable man to live a life of
happiness. His views gave rise to Epicureanism – a school of philosophy
which believes that wisdom and simple living will result in a life free of
fear and pain.

Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE)
He was considered the foremost philosopher of ancient times.
Socrates was a known critic of intellectuals during his time, but he
himself did not claim to be “wise” and merely considered himself a
“midwife” that helped inquiring minds achieve wisdom. He was credited
with formulating the Socratic Method – means of examining a topic by
devising a series of questions that let the learner examine and analyze his
knowledge and views regarding the topic.

Plato (427 BCE to 347 BCE)
A student of Socrates, he wrote down his mentor’s
teachings and incorporated some of his own ideas into them.
Plato’s most significant ideas including his Theory of Forms, which
proposes that everything that exists is based on an idea or template
that can only be perceived in the in the mind. Plato is also known
for his dialectic – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas
and discussed in an attempt to arrive a new knowledge. Plato’s
lasting contribution to learning was his founding of the Academy,
an institution of higher learning which was the first of its kind in
the Western World.

Aristotle (384 BCE to 322 BCE)
He attended the Academy, and was a prominent
student of Plato. Aristotle, however, disagreed with Plato’s Theory of
Forms and took a different stance in interpreting reality. For him, all
ideas and views are based on perception and our reality is based on what
we can sense and perceive. Aristotle was involved in a great variety of
disciplines such as zoology, psychology, ethics and politics. He also
proposed a system for the classification of plants and animals. His
studies in logic led to the formulation of a formal process of analyzing
reasoning which gave rise to deductive reasoning – the process by which
specific statements are analyzed to reach a conclusion or generalization.

Why is there a need to
philosophized?
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 philosophized 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.

Take note!
The Greek philosopher Plato traced man’s
need to philosophized to his sense of wonder.
Whenever we are confronted with an experience, we
always wonder how it came about.
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.

Take note!
Finally, the need to philosophize is
driven by the love for wisdom. To love
wisdom is to have an insatiable desire for
truth. A philosopher does not seek to claim
ownership of it; and one who engages in
philosophy is not satisfied with figuring out the
answer to a question. He seeks to continue to
question, to probe, and to discuss in order to
get to the bottom of things

How do characterize the
study of philosophy?

One way of looking at philosophy
is to consider it as a way of analyzing
frameworks.
A framework is defined as away
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
frameworks.
Also, there are external questions
that seek to question the very frameworks
upon which people base their own beliefs
and views.

Philosophy itself is a distinct
area of knowledge with its own
goals, concerns, and ways of doing
things.
It is often divided into several
branches each of which deals with a
particular aspect of life and
phenomena.

The philosophy which deals with beauty and what
make 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 of itself, Philosophy of the Human Person is an
area in philosophy that understands the human person from
a philosophical perspective.
“Philosophy does not limit itself to its own field”

As a discipline
As an examination
of knowledge
As an analysis of
frameworks
PHILOSOPHY
Analyze the characteristics of Philosophy
by expanding the graphic organizer

What is the difference between holistic
thinking and partial thinking?
Partial thinking, on the other hand, focuses
on specific aspects of a situation the
partial views is an important component of
analytical thinking as an individual focuses
on certain areas or aspects of a problem
on order to understand it.
Holistic thinking refers to a
perspective that considers large-
scale patterns in systems. This is
often described as looking at the big
picture when describing and
analyzing a situation or problem.

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.

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.
What are the practical uses of
philosophy in our lives?

What are the practical uses of
philosophy in our lives?
 Philosophy enables a person to engage in critical analysis and
interpretation of concepts, definitions, arguments, and problems.
 Philosophy improves problem-solving and decision making.
 A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and
adequately present his or her ideas.
 Wisdom is one intended product of philosophizing.
 Knowledge of philosophy can contribute to self-development.

Identify the following.
1. It is the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes, reasons,
and principles which governs all things.
2. The Greek tern for philosophy, philosophia, means ______
3. The Greek philosopher Plato believes that philosophy is brought about by man’s sense of
_______
4. He believed that philosophy could enable man to live a life of happiness.
5. Rene Descartes considers this as a reason why people philosophized.
6. His work earned him many followers, and he established a community of learners who were
devoted to the study of religion and philosophy.
7. A branch of philosophy which deals with questions regarding reality and existence.
8. It is an activity that requires a person to examine his or her thoughts, feelings, and actions and
learn from experience.
9. It is perspective that considers the bigger picture when looking at problems and situations.
10. Focuses on specific aspects of a situation.
Activity 1