Introduction to the

Philosophy of the
Human Person
{ Philosophy 11
First Semester AY 2020-2021
If action speaks louder than words,
Then words are unessential.

- Em Vee Nolong

Quote to Ponder:
 Let’s Dig In:
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know
nothing” Socrates

“The end justifies the means” ---- Machiavelli

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is

no education at all.” ― Aristotle

“Wise men speak because they have something to say;

fools because they have to say something.” ― Plato
What is your philosophy in life?

“A vision without action is just a dream”

My Philosophy in life
  What is
Philosophy

Module 1:
 Let’s go to the journey into Philosophy.

 Humanity by nature is inquisitive, the ability to ask question is

inherent, and the growth of Philosophy is made possible by our
unceasing investigations and discussions into some of life’s
deepest and most significant questions.
 Philosophy plays an important role in our lives, and our
experiences are made more meaningful because of the insights
gained from careful thought and reflection.
 It is an important tool that enables us to examine problems,

determine truth, make wise decisions, and engage more fully

with life’s experiences
 The act of asking is the person’s way of making sense of all the
things around him or her that he/she does not understand.

“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and

philosophy begins in wonder” Socrates
At the end of the lesson, the students will be
able to:

 1. discuss philosophy as a science.

 2. identify and discuss the branches of philosophy,
 3. discuss the origin of philosophy,
 4. enumerate and discuss the characteristics of philosophy,
 5. enumerate and discuss the developments that brought about the
emergence of Western Philosophy,
 6. identify notable ancient and present philosophers and with their
significant ideas and achievements,
 9. compare Eastern and Western Philosophy, and
 10. discuss their thoughts regarding the importance of philosophy
in their daily lives.
  1.
https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5c982d3ce0be5500
1a8871a5/start
 2.
https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5be96ae6bff26f00
1a9c891b/start
 3.
https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5f22bb279c67e100
1ec34b7d/start

Try to answer the following quizzes @ quizzizz

 Philosophy

What ideas come to your mind when you hear

the word Philosophy?
1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=nRG-rV8hhpU
2.
https://www.philosophybasics.com
/

Additional lecture on introduction to philosophy

 Philosophy
 Greek words
 philos – love

 sophia – wisdom

 Literally means “love of wisdom”

 Soon applied to a science or discipline which uses

human reason to investigate the ultimate causes,

reasons, and principles which govern all things.

What then is Philosophy?

 The use of the term Philosophy is attributed to
Pythagoras
 3 classes of people who attend the ancient Olympic

Games:
 1. lovers of gain; (sells wares for money)

 2. lovers of honors; (compete in the games for honor)

 3. lovers of knowledge or wisdom

 The third one is the best kind

 Why?

 They are spectators who seek to arrive at the truth not

the #1 nor the #2.

 Since the ancient times, people have been
reflecting on and discussing various issues
related to philosophy.
 Asian communities already had thriving
schools of thought and beliefs system since
2000 BCE.
 In the west, the first philosophical schools
emerged in ancient Greece around 6th C BCE.
 These first schools of thought gave rise to

changes and developments which brought

about the emergence of philosophy as we
know it at present.
 Concerned with uncovering
the truth through systematic
argumentation and theory.
 Greater emphasis on the use of

reason rather than faith, and

an increased focused on man  Greeks love to learn, especially
as an individual. the Athenians, that is why
 It led to a more scientific, Greece was home to one of the
theory based approach, and great civilization.
more individualistic, self-  The Sophists were an
oriented approach in important group that emerged
analyzing human conditions and influenced learning in
Western Philosophy Ancient Greece.
 Philosophos, headed by

Pythagoras resisted them

 Pythagoras - Pythagorean theorem
 Heraclitus – everything that exist is based on a higher

plan or order (logos)

 Democritus – proposes that matter is composed of

atoms
 Diogenes of Sinope – cynicism and stoicism

 Epicurus - Epicureanism

 Socrates – socratic method (series of questions)

 Plato – (dialectic)

 Aristotle – deductive reasoning (specific to general)

 Archimedes - Eureka

Notable Ancient Greek Philosophers

Modern Science and Philosophy
Science and Philosophy is a product of
changes and development in the Western
world.
from Ancient Greece to

historical developments to

shaping Philosophy

ancient discourse to modern science.

HUMAN
THEO
COSMOS

Modern Science and Philosophy

 Cosmos
 - the basic answer to questions are coming from
nature.
 (Ancient times - 5th Century CE)

 Theo
 - the basic answer to questions are coming from
God
 (Medieval Period - 5th to 15th Centuries)

 Human
 - the basic answer to questions are the humans.

 (Renaissance Period to Modern Period - 14th to 20th Centuries)

Modern Science and Philosophy

  He was an Italian, Dominican friar, Catholic
priest, and Doctor of the Church.
 He was an immensely influential philosopher,
theologian, and jurist in the tradition of
scholasticism.
 He wrote Summa Theologica
 “The reason is found in God”

Modern Science and Philosophy

  He was an Italian scholar and poet in
Renaissance Italy.
 One of the earliest Humanists.
 Considered as the founder of Humanism.
 Best known for the lyric poetry of his
Canzoniere.

Modern Science and Philosophy

  He was a French philosopher, mathematician,
and scientist.
 Dubbed the father of modern western
philosophy, much of subsequent Western
philosophy is a response to his writing, which
are studied up to this day.
 “Cogito Ergo Sum”

Modern Science and Philosophy

  He was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet,
social critic and religious author who is
considered to be the first existentialist
philosopher.
 Father of Existentialism.

Modern Science and Philosophy

  He was a German philosopher who established
the school of phenomenology.
 He elaborated critics of historicism and of
psychologism in logic based on analyses of
intentionality.
 Father of Phenomenology

Modern Science and Philosophy

  He was a French historian and philosopher,
associated with structuralist and post-
structuralist movement.
 He is best known for Discipline and Punish and
History and Sexuality

Modern Science and Philosophy

 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05wgos9GRzE

Additional lecture on ancient and modern

philosophy:
Western Philosophy
School of Thought
Historical Period School of Main Notable
Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Ancient Rome Stoicism Emphasis on Seneca
(1st Century BCE morality, virtue, Epictetus
to 5th Century CE (the endurance of calm, and Marcus Aurelius
pain and hardship emotional
without a display fortitude.
of feelings and
without
complaint)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Medieval Period Scholasticism Application of St. Thomas Aquinas
( 5th to 15th Philosophy to St. Augustine
Centuries) (based on define and explain
Aristotelian religious doctrines
logic)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Renaissance Humanism Emphasis on the Petrarch
Period human person, use Desiderius Erasmus
(14th to 17th (human is of of philosophy to Niccolo Machavelli
Centuries) prime importance understand society,
rather than the nature and
divine) humanity.

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
The Rationalism Reason and logic Rene Descartes
Enlightenment are considered the Immanuel Kant
(17th to 18th (opinions and basis of knowledge Gottfried Leibniz
Centuries) actions should and belief; man
be based on has innate
reason and knowledge that
knowledge can be accessed
rather than on through intuition
religious belief or deduction.
or emotional
response)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
The Empiricism Knowledge is David Hume
Enlightenment gained through the Francis Bacon
(17th to 18th ( all knowledge senses and John Locke
Centuries) is derived from experience; George Berkely
sense- reliance on
experience) inductive
reasoning to arrive
at generalizations.

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
The Social and Discussions on the Voltaire
Enlightenment Political ideal human Jean Jacques
(17th to 18th Philosophy situation and Rousseau
Centuries) society; emphasis Thomas Hobbes
on individual John Stuart Mill
rights and liberties.

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Modern Period Existentialism Human experience Soren Kierkegaard
(19th to 20th is defined by the Friedrich Nietzsche
Centuries) (emphasizes the views, emotions, Martin Heidegger
existence of the and actions of the Jean Paul Sartre
individual individual Simone de Beauvoir
person as a free
and responsible
agent
determining
their own
development
thru acts of the
will)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Modern Period Pragmatism Emphasis on the Charles Peirce
(19th to 20th practical use of William James
Centuries) (it assesses the knowleddge and John Dewey
truth of meaning ideas.
of theories or
beliefs in terms
of the success of
their practical
application)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Modern Period Phenomenology Experience is Edmund Husserl
(19th to 20th studied based on
Centuries) (it concentrates the subjective
on the study of viewpoint of the
consciousness individual.
and the objects
of direct
experience.)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Modern Period Absurdism Man will never Albert Camus
(19th to 20th understand the
Centuries) (a belief that human condition
human beings and the meaning
exist in a of life.
purposeless,
chaotic universe)

Western Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Notable
Period Thought Features/Beliefs Philosophers
Modern Postmodernism, Analysis on how Jacques Derrida
Period Poststructuralism knowledge, ideas, Michel Foucault
(19th to 20th and power
Centuries) (society is in a relations are
state of constant define.
change, no
absolute version
of reality, no
absolute truth)

Western Philosophy
 - The Alchemist

Quote to ponder:
 As the Greeks laid the foundation of Western
philosophy in Europe, several belief systems
and philosophies were already prevalent in
many communities in Asia.
 Eastern Philosophy consists of school of
thought which are often closely tied with
religious beliefs.
 They are often described as “wisdom”
literature, where stories, sayings, and texts
encourage people to adopt an ethical and
harmonious way of life.

Eastern Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Proponents, Major
Period Thought, Features/Beliefs Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 2000 BCE Judaism Belief in one God, Abraham
who has a role in the Moses
Israel, ultimate destiny of Various prophets
the Levant mankind; the Jewish
people are God’s Tanah
chosen people. Torah
Various scriptures
The observance of
God’s
Commandments has
rewards.
Understanding of the
scriptures will lead to
wisdom

Eastern Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Proponents, Major
Period Thought Belief Features/Beliefs Texts
System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 1500 BCE Hinduism Belief in a pantheon The Vedas
of gods, with three
India main gods – Brahma,
South Asia Shiva, Vishnu.

Belief in a cycle of
birth and rebirth
(samsara), which is
broken when a
person achieves
ultimate union with
the Divine (moksha)

Emphasis on dharma,
actions contribute to
karma.
Eastern Philosophy
Historical School of Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Period Thought Major Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 600 Shinto An animistic religion No distinct
BCE influenced by Japanese myth philosophers or
Japan and traditions. sacred texts

The material and spiritual

worlds are closely connected;
rituals and traditions are a way
to connect with the spiritual
world.

Mankind and the world are

essentially good.

Harmony and balance are

essential in maintaining purity.

Eastern Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Period Thought Major Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 600 – 500 Jainism Rejects the idea of a Creator and Mahavira
BCE considers the universe as eternal
India and unceasing; Jain Agamas
time is a wheel which goes
through cycles of prosperity and
suffering.

Wisdom is developed through

the practice of five main vows:
Ahimsa – non-violence
Satya - truth
Asteya - honesty
Brahmacharya - chastity
Aparigraha – piety

Eastern Philosophy
Historical School of Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Period Thought Major Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 400 BCE Buddhism Shares a number of main beliefs Siddharta
(samsara, dharma, moksha) with Gautama
South Asia Hinduism. (Buddha)
East Asia
Southeast Asia The 4 Noble Truth describes Tripitaka
worldly existence as imperfect
and influenced by earthly desires
and sufferings ((dukkha);
To rid oneself of desire and
achieve liberation from suffering,
one must follow the 8 Fold Path.

Theravada
Mahayana

Eastern Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Period Thought Major Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 400 BCE Confucianism The contemplation of the Confucius
order of things can lead to
East Asia self-transformation. The Five Classics
Self-transformation can lead
to the betterment of the
family and society.

Human relationships are

based on mutual obligations;
Individuals should perform
their intended roles and
contribute to social order

Eastern Philosophy
 Historical School of Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Period Thought Major Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 200 BCE Taoism Emphasis on the unity and Lao Tzu
harmony among opposing
East Asia elements (yin and yang); I Ching
Individuals must seek to Tao Te Ching
understand and act in Zhuangzi
accordance with the natural
order.

Eastern Philosophy
Historical School of Thought Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Belief System
Period (Region/Area) Major Texts
Ca. 610 CE Islam Belief in one God (Allah); Muhammed
Commitment to faith is shown
West Asia through the practice of The Five Quran
Pillars:
Testament of faith (shahada)
Daily prayers (salat)
Alms- giving (zakat)
Fasting (sawm)
Pilgrimage (hajj)

Religion and society are closely

intertwined;
All Muslims are members of a
community (ummah) bounded by
faith.

Sunni and Shia

Eastern Philosophy
Historical School of Main Features/Beliefs Proponents,
Period Thought Major Texts
Belief System
(Region/Area)
Ca. 1440 Sikhism God is believed to have created Guru Nanak
CE the universe and is present
India everywhere and in everything. Guru Nanak
Sahib
Man communicates with God
through meditation and his
ultimate destiny is union with
the Divine.

Apart from meditation, believers

must devote themselves to
selfless service and action

Eastern Philosophy
 1.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=history+of+ea
stern+philosophy

Additional lecture on Eastern and Western

Philosophy:
 emphasis:
 social relations

 Family relations

 Community relation

 The goal of philosophy is to achieve a balanced

life and find one’s role in society.

 Classification:
 Theistic (belief in a Supreme Being or deities)

 Nontheistic (belief in oneness with nature)

Eastern Philosophy
 Dividing the discipline into Western Philosophy
and Eastern Philosophy will classify it according
to its development through history.
 As a field of study it is with great variety and

diversity.
 Same thing with looking at a problem in many

ways, it has varied means of looking into the

fundamental questions regarding human
conditions.
 Making the rise of various viewpoints, thoughts,

and approaches.

Characterizing the study of Philosophy

 1. A way of analyzing frameworks.

 Framework is a way of thinking about the world

composed of the views and beliefs of a person.
 Ex: by answering questions or problems in life,
one will go back to his/her framework.
 Internal questions – questions dealing with our

own correctness and values

 External questions – questioning the very
framework in which we based our own beliefs
and views.

Characterizing the study of Philosophy

 2. An examination of a particular area of
Knowledge

 The central principle is examination and

questioning
 Which is analysis of the framework of other areas
or sciences.
 Such as philosophy of science, philosophy of

religion, philosophy of education, philosophy of

law, philosophy of history

Characterizing the study of Philosophy

 3. as a discipline

 It is a distinct area of knowledge with its own

goals, concerns, and ways of doing things.
 Divided into several branches which deal with a

particular aspect of life or phenomena.

 Such as:

 Aesthetics that studies beauty and what makes

things “beautiful”
 Logic that deals with correct reasoning

 Epistemology that deals with the nature of

knowledge and knowing

Characterizing the study of Philosophy
 Political Philosophy deals with government and
questions of justice, power, and the rights and
obligations of citizens;
 Ethics that deals with moral questions and

dilemmas;
 Metaphysics that deals with questions regarding
reality and existence; and
 Philosophy of Human Person that studies the

nature of man

Characterizing the study of Philosophy

 Remember:

 Philosophy is
 A reflective activity; and

 A meditative activity

 It has no designated subject matter of its own.

 Rather

 It is a method of mental exercise on any type of

experience

Characterizing the study of Philosophy

 Philosophy

As an Analysis of
Framework As an As a Discipline
Examination of
 Focuses on how Knowledge  Has its own
individuals think goals,
about the world Analyzes the concerns, and
frameworks of methods
 Seeks to address sciences and
internal and other areas  Has branches
external questions that deal with
Examines the certain aspects
 Clarifies, fundamental of life and
examines, and purpose of other
evaluates the basis scientific study phenomena
of frameworks
 Philosophers are often wonder and argued about
the role of philosophy to a man’s life.

 All of us is a philosopher.

 Why study?
 1. sense of wonder

 2. due to doubt

 3. because of experience (limit situation)

 4. love for wisdom

Need for the Study

 Philosophizing is driven by our need and desire
to understand our condition and situation.

 A tendency to wonder and doubt about our

experiences in gaining more knowledge,
understanding new experiences, and examining
our present condition.

Need for the Study

 1. Abella, Roberto D. Introduction to the Philosophy of the
Human Person, 2016, C & E Publishing, Inc., Quezon City
 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRG-rV8hhpU
 3. https://www.philosophybasics.com/
 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05wgos9GRzE
 5.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=history+of+east
ern+philosophy
 6. https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5c982d3ce0be55001a8871a5/start
 7. https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5be96ae6bff26f001a9c891b/start
 8. https://quizizz.com/join/quiz/5f22bb279c67e1001ec34b7d/start

Sources:
End of Lesson 1