INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILISOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

GETTING STARTED
Learning Objectives:
This module intends you to understand the meaning and process of doing philosophy:
In this module you will be able to acquire basic understanding on:
 The meaning and origin of philosophy;
 The difference between holistic thinking and partial thinking;
 How does one engage in reflection;
 What are the practical uses of philosophy in our lives
In doing this module, please follow these reminders:
1. Take the pre-test before working or answering the module.
2. Perform the activities as suggested.
3. Answer all the exercises
4. Take the Post test.
Let’s Ponder
Read and analyze the following conversation between a high school teacher and her student in
class:
Teacher: Juan, what would you like to be when you grow up?
Juan: Ma’am, I want to be happy!
Teacher: Juan, you did not understand my question.
Juan: Ma’am, you do not understand what life is all about!
PRE-TEST:
1. Do you think that Juan’s answer was appropriate for his teacher’s question?
2. What do you think was Juan’s interpretation of his teacher’s question?
3. Based on his responses, what kind of student do you image Juan to be?
4. How is philosophy related to this situation?
THINK:
Read the following news headlines. What “simple”, “serious”, and “deep” questions come to
mind when you read them.
Flash floods in remote village kill a hundred people
Abused child kept chained in basement for five years finally rescued
Man sentenced ten years for stealing milk to feed his baby
Lottery winner donates half of winnings to local orphanage
DISCUSS:
What questions about life are you struggling to find answers to?
STUDY TIME
Lesson 1: WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
The word philosophy comes from two Greek words: philos (love) and Sophia (wisdom).
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”. Among ancient Greeks, the philosophers became pioneers in various fields
of knowledge such as history, biology, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, an even physics. It
was quite common to hear of ancient philosophers who were “experts” in various fields of
learning.
THINK:
What words come to mind when you heard the word philosophy?

PHILOSOPHY

The following are the most notable ancient Greek philosophers.

 PYTHAGORAS (570 BCE to 495 BCE) – A mathematician and scientist, he was credited
with formulating the Pythagorean Theorem. His work earned him many followers, and
he 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 exist is based on a
higher order or plan which he called logos. For him, change is a permanent aspect of the
human condition as he was credited with the 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 virtuous 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 to be a
vocal critic of well-known philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. His teaching 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. He made great contributions to the field of ethics. Socrates was a known
critic of intellectual 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 also
believe that philosophy could enable a man to live a life of virtue. He was credited with
formulating the Socratic Method – a means of examining a topic by 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. His teaching and writings
were considered the foundation of Western philosophy. Plato’s most significant ideas
included his Theory of Forms, which proposes that everything that exists is based on an
idea or template that can only be perceived in the mind; these nonphysical ideas are
eternal and unchanging. He also focused his studies on the idea society and proposed an
idea model of government and society which is ruled by wisdom and reason. Plato is
also known for his dialectic – a method of inquiry where two opposing ideas are
discussed in an attempt to arrive at new knowledge. Plato’s lasting 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. This view
greatly influenced the study of the physical science. 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.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOLISTIC THINKING AND PARTIAL THINKING

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. 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 – focuses on specific aspects of a situation. The partial view is an important
component of analytical thinking, as an individual focuses on certain areas or aspects of a
problem in order to understand it. 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. This will enable you to set your daily goals and set you on the path of thinking of
ways to achieve them.

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 also improves problem-solving and decision making.
 A philosopher is a good communicator who can clearly and adequately present his/her
ideas.
 Wisdom
 Finally, knowledge of philosophy can contribute to self-development

REVIEW…

 Philosophy is the study that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate causes,
reasons, and principles which govern all things.
 The need to philosophize is traced to a person’s sense of wonder and doubt, the need to
make sense of challenging experiences, and the love for wisdom.
 The study of philosophy can be considered as a way of analyzing ideas and frameworks.
It is also considered as a way of examining a particular area of knowledge. Philosophy
itself is a discipline with its own goals, concerns, and ways of doing things. Philosophy
also makes use of information gathered from other fields of knowledge and not just its
own conclusions. Finally, philosophy can be considered a reflective and meditative
activity.
 Reflection is an important aspect of philosophy. One can engage in reflection by
examining one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions and learning from experience. Reflecting
on situations, activities, actions, and decisions enables a person to gain insights that will
help in effective decision-making.
 Holistic thinking is a perspective that considers larger patterns or the bigger picture
when looking at problems or situations. Adopting a holistic view enables a person to
view a problem more objectively and come up with better decisions or solutions. A
holistic view also means that one does not confine one’s understanding of the world to
one’s own perspective, but also includes the perspective of others. This view also
enables a person to better appreciate his/her experiences as vital components that give
meaning to life.

POST TEST

A. Identify the following. Write your answer on the space provided.

__________ 1. It is the study or discipline that uses human reason to investigate the ultimate
causes, reasons, and principles which govern all things.

__________ 2. The Greek term for philosophy, philosophia, means __________.

__________ 3. The Greek philosopher Plato believes that philosophy is brought about by man’s

sense of __________.
__________ 4. He believes that persons engage in philosophy in order to make sense of difficult

life experiences.

__________ 5. Rene Descartes considers this as a reason why people philosophize.

__________ 6. It refers to a way of thinking about the world and is made up of a person’s views

and beliefs.

__________ 7. These are questions that examine personal ideas regarding correctness and
values.

__________ 8. It is an activity that requires a person to examine his/her thoughts, feelings, and
actions and learn from experience.

__________ 9. It is a perspective that considers the “bigger picture” when looking at problems
and situations.

__________ 10. It is a perspective that focuses on specific aspects of a situation.

APPLY…

1. Make a poster showing a holistic view of your life. Come up with a creative visualization
that will show your life in its totality and how your various experiences contributed to
give meaning to your life.

REFERENCE:

Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person, Roberto D. Abella, M.Div.,D.Min