Philosophy Notes

Introduction to Philosophy
(Kurcinka, 2006) – Educational challenge in the 21st Century entails how to dead appropriately with
cultural and racial differences where one does not need to engage in harassment and discrimination of
any form.

Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or Republic Act No. 10533 (signed on May 15,2013) – the
rationale for revising the General Education curriculum for Philippine higher and basic education
systems come from a viewpoint that adheres to a more holistic and less disciplinal program.

The Meaning of Philosophy

Etymology – 2 Greek Words

- Philo “to love”

- Sophia “wisdom”
- Love of Wisdom

Philosophy – is defined as the attitude of mind that by natural light of reason studies the first causes or
the highest principles of all things

Four Things to be considered:

1. Scientific Approach – it uses scientific approach because the investigation is systematic. It

follows certain steps or it employs certain procedures. It is an organized body of knowledge
2. Natural Light of Reason – Philosophy investigates things, neither by using any laboratory
instruments or investigative tools, nor on the basis of supernatural revelation. The philosopher
uses his natural capacity to think or observe the world and people.
3. Study of All Things – all other sciences concern themselves with a particular object of
investigation. A philosopher studies human beings, society, religion, language, God, and plants,
among other concerns. Philosophy is not one-dimensional or partial. Rather, philosophy is
multidimensional or holistic.
4. First Cause or The Highest Principle – an idea which means something is the main and first
cause why an event or situation took place.
- Principle of Identity – it means a thing, idea, or person always has a name, a concept,
and a characteristic for that thing to exist.
- Principle of Non – Contradiction – it is impossible for a thing to be and not to be at the
same time, and at the same respect.
- Principle of Excluded Middle – a thing is either is or is not; everything must be either be
or not be; between being and not being; there is no middle ground possible.
- Principle of Sufficient Reason – nothing exists without a sufficient reason for its being
and existence
The Branches of Philosophy

1. Metaphysics – is only an extension of the fundamental and necessary drive in every human
being to know what is real.
- Examples: What is causality? What is time? Is there such a thing as free will? What is a
substance?
2. Ethics – is the branch of philosophy that explores the nature of moral virtue and evaluates the
morality and virtue of human actions. Has 5 Main Frameworks
- Divine Command – a strong sense of individualism does not exist, but rather, the
collective is emphasized
Example: lies can be good
- Consequentialism or Utilitarianism – what is good for the greatest number of people is
the best choice and moral choice.
Example: If turning the child away means that she would starve, or turn to something
worse (like prostitution) then it would be ethically better to give her the job
- Deontological Ethics – a person has a moral duty to do what is right regardless of what
the person thinks or feels about the situation.
Example: If you’re a Hindu you might believe that it’s wrong to eat beef
- Virtue Ethics – this ethical theory ignores the consequences, duties and social contracts.
Instead, it focuses on character development of individuals and their acquisition of good
virtue ethics
Example: It is virtuous to be courageous when faced with physical confrontation
- Relativism – is about making judgments based on a context (i.e., culture).
Example: An appropriate example of ethical relativism is one where premarital sex is
considered morally unacceptable in many cultures across South-Asia, for instance in
India.
3. Epistemology – deals with the nature, sources, limitations, and validity of knowledge (Soccio,
2007). Epistemological questions are basic to all other philosophical inquiries. Epistemology
explains:
- How we know what we claim to know?
- How can we find out what we wish to know?
- How can we differentiate truth from falsehood?

Epistemology addresses varied problems:

- The reliability, extent, and kinds of knowledge;

- Truth
- Language
- Science and Scientific Knowledge

Example: What is truth? Do we really know what we think we know? How can knowledge be
made more reliable?

Empiricism – is the view that knowledge can be attained only through sense experience.
Deduction – it is more important to find a general law according to which particular facts can be
understood or judged.

Pragmatism – has a third way approach. Value in use is the real test of truth and meaning. In other
words, the meaning and truth of an idea are tested by its practical consequences.

4. Logic – reasoning is the concern of the logician. This could be reasoning in science and medicine,
in ethics and law, in politics and commerce, in sports and games, and in the mundane affairs of
everyday living.
- The term logic comes from the Greek work logike and was coined by Zeno the Stoic.
- Etymologically, it means a treatise on matters pertaining to the human thought.
5. Aesthetics – is the science of the beautiful in its various manifestations- including the sublime,
comic, tragic, pathetic and ugly.
- It vitalizes our knowledge – it makes the knowledge of the world alive and useful
- It helps us live more deeply and richly - a work of art-whether a book, a piece of music,
painting or a television show- helps us rise from purely physical existence into the ream
of intellect and the spirit.
- It brings us in touch with our culture – things about us change so rapidly nowadays that
we forget how much we owe to the past.

Conversation – involves an exchange between conversational partners that seek agreement about some
matter at issue.

Attaining a Comprehensive Outlook in Life

A. Expanding Our Philosophical Frames: Western and Non – Western Traditions

- Attitudinal Imperative – is the assumption that the East does not make a rigorous
distinction between religion and philosophy. Three Attitudinal Imperatives:
- First – In contrast to the propensity of the West to think in a linear manner, that is, in
terms of beginning and ending in a straight line. Oriental Thought runs in a circular
manner in which the end conjoins the beginning in a cyclic style
- Second – life for Oriental thinkers is a translation of thought; it is philosophy in action.
- Third – is the acceptance of the validity of intuition and mysticism, the readiness to
revert to extra logical, if not, illogical modes of thinking.

Knower
Knower Known
Known

Eastern Version Western Version

Samsara - rebirth
 B. Filipino Thinking: From Local to Global
1. Loob: Holistic and Interior Dimensions- Kganadahang-loob, kabutihang loob, and kalooban are
terms that show sharing one’s self to others. This ethics is more constant than other legalistic
moral philosophies that are rather negative
2. Filipino Concept of Time – this philosophy of life makes the Filipino an unmitigated optimist.
3. Bahala-Na – the originality of Filipino thought will probably be precisely in his personalistic view
of the universe. The Bahala Na philosophy puts complete trust in the divine providence; it
contains the element of resignation.
- Bathala – is not an impersonal entity but rather a personal being that keeps the balance
in the universe
- Bahala na – literally means to leave everything to God who is Bathala in the vernacular
- Bahala na (come what may) – is one of the most outstanding Filipino virtues.
C. Filipino Thought and Values: Positive and Negative Aspects
- It is believed, however, that the Philippine values and system, in line with Filipino
Philosophy, are in dire need to be used as positive motivation.

Utang na loob – indebtedness to patrons

Bayanihan – helping others in time of need

- Is another moving spirit of the Filipino people

Four Items to be considered:

- Replacing colonial consciousness with a nationalist consciousness thereby doing away

with colonial and crab mentality;
- Creation of a super industrial society
- Utilization of education as the means of realizing the image of the future as a super
industrial society; and
- Choosing not just one’s self bot for all humanity, for the nation, as a whole
D. Philosophy: Transcending and Aiming for a Life of Abundance
- Abundance – comes from the Latin term, abundare, meaning “to overflow nonstop”
- Abundance is outflowing rather than incoming
a. Abundance is not what we keep but what we give away – to live an abundant life, one
must pursue one’s desires and inner self.
b. Abundance is not what we hold but what we share – abundance comes to the one who
has money and heart, money and values, money and relationships, money and deeper
happiness.
c. Abundance is a choice – abundance is a choice which translates into commitment,
determination and perseverance.
d. Abundance is to evolve into a higher being – the concept of abundance covers both
external and internal life. To live in abundance means evolving to a higher being in
following one’s mission; a deliberate or conscious desire to act upon what can make us
and others happy.