Introduction to the

Philosophy
of the Human Person

June 6, 2018
The word philosophy came from
two Greek words:
1) philos (love)
2) sophia (wisdom)

philosophy = “love of wisdom”

People who engage in philosophy
are called philosophers or “lovers
of wisdom.”
Among the ancient Greeks, the
philosophers became the pioneers
in various fields of knowledge such
as history, biology, medicine,
mathematics, astronomy, and even
physics.
What does it mean to be a lover of
wisdom?
What characteristics should a
philosopher posses?
• What is real? Are we able to
perceive and understand reality
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”?
What are some philosophical questions
have you asked yourself?
What led you to ponder those
questions?
Do you think that you will be able to
figure out the answers to these
philosophical questions?
Explain.
The most notable ancient Greek
philosophers:
 (570 BCE to 459 BCE)

• A mathematician and scientist.

• 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.
 (535 BCE to 475 BCE)

• 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 the human condition as
he was credited with the saying,
“No man ever steps in the same
river twice.”
 (460 BCE to 370 BCE)

• Devoted himself to the study of the

causes of natural phenomena;
• Among the first to propose that
matter is composed of tiny
particles called atoms.
 (412 BCE to 323 BCE)

• A known advocate of living a

simple and virtuous life.
• For him, one should not talk of
virtue, but should show it in words
and actions.
 (341 BCE to 270 BCE)

• Believed that philosophy could

enable a man to live a life of
happiness.
 (470 BCE to 399 BCE)

• Considered the foremost philosopher

of ancient times.
• He was credited with formulating the
Socratic method (a means of
examining a topic by devising a
series of questions that let the learner
examinee and analyze his knowledge
and views regarding the topic.
(427 BCE to 347 BCE)

• A student of Socrates;
• Known for his dialectic – a method of
inquiry where two opposing ideas as
discussed in an attempt to arrive at
new knowledge.
 (384 BCE to 322 BCE)

• A prominent student to Plato;

• 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 philosophize?
 (PLATO)

• Whenever we are confronted with an

experience, we always wonder how it
came about.
• “Where did we come from?” “Why do
we exist?” “For what purpose are we
created?”
 (RENE DESCARTES)

• Descartes was famous for rejecting or

questioning established ideas, and
he even went as far as doubting his
own ideas.
• A critical and questioning
perspective is necessary to
determine if indeed these ideas or
views are correct or true.
 (KARL JASPERS)

• A man is often confronted by

experiences which challenge his
ideas and frameworks.
• These challenges are called limit
situations, which are often
accompanied by feelings of
hopelessness, anxiety, or dread.
 (SOCRATES)

• To love wisdom is to have an

insatiable desire for truth.
• A philosopher seeks to continue to
question, to probe, and to discuss in
order to get to the bottom of things.
• “An unexamined life is not worth
living.”
What are some situations that compel a
person to engage in philosophical
thinking?
How can a person benefit from
philosophizing?
What are the branches of Philosophy?
• Aesthetics
• Logic
• Epistemology
• Ethics
• Political philosophy
• Metaphysics
• Philosophy of the human person
• The philosophy which deals with
beauty and what makes things
“beautiful.”
• The branch of philosophy which
deals with correct reasoning.
• Discusses the nature of knowledge
and knowing.
• The area in philosophy which
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
• What is philosophy?
• Why is there a need to philosophize?
• What are the branches of
philosophy?
• What is ‘Philosophy of the Human
Person’?
 Is it possible for a any person to
engage in philosophical discussion?
Why?
 Make a list of 5 “Why?” Questions

Example:
“Why do we cry when we are sad, and
smile when we are happy?”