PHILOSOPHY 25

MIDTERM EXAM

NAME: Shamsa Hynra P. Afdal

BSN 3 - NB

1. There is a common misconception that believing and reason are opposite to each other.
However, faith is not something independent of reason. How is Philosophy and Religion
connected? How do they relate in the common life of people? (15 lines) (20 pts)
- Without giving it much thought, some can easily say that Philosophy and Religion are
really about different things, that it can never be related. Religion is about beliefs and
Philosophy is on the reason. There are some religion belief that defy logic or simply
unreasonable, in which makes Philosophy contradict to it since it is about looking for
rational explications and justification for belief. In other words, it is very easy to say
that Philosophy and Religion could never agree on things. As defined in the reading
given to us, religion is a system of belief that every religion is supposed to share. It is
also something that gives us explanation of the world, our place in it, how we should
be living our lives, and these explanations are then manifested through rituals,
institutions and practices. This makes Religion comprehensive but not critical, when
Philosophy is the most critical and comprehensive thought process. They both aim to
seek the truth, but religion based their claims to faith and philosophy based their claim
to reason or rationality. However, they are still related for the fact that Philosophy is a
critic of belief and belief systems. Thus, Philosophy is another way to help us
understand and evaluate the different religions.

2. At the heart of the person is the capacity for reflection. Fr. Roque Ferriols discuss this in
“Pambungad na Pagmunimuni”. How did he describe the process of reflection in the
article? (10 lines) (15 pts)
- From the discussion of Fr. Roque Ferriols in “Pambungas na Pagmunimuni” he was able
to show us the capacity of reflections. He first told us about how humans are so much alike
to animals, they can both see, hear, smell, touch and taste, but there is something more
about humans that makes them more one of a kind. This is because of reflection, we are
able to put a deeper meaning to something simple because of reflection. When we think
about it, we have the five senses and so does the animals however, as Fr. Ferriols stated we
start reflecting, focusing and looking closer, understanding deeper, and recognizing more
we are able to see a whole new picture. Furthermore, Fr. Ferriols was able to highlight how
important reflecting is in our daily lives, it enables us to not just understand others more
but also gives us a deeper and meaningful meaning about life.

3. Discuss the common Filipino Tradition of the Traslacion of the Nazareno in the perspective
of our subject. How is religiosity expressed? How is it a reasonable expression of faith?
How could reason help in taming yet protecting a long tradition of faith expression? (10
lines) (15 pts)
- Ever since I was young, we don't really celebrate the Traslacion of the Nazareno. We
only stay at the comforts of our home while watching the devotees in the television go
 to Quiapo trying to touch the Nazareno. The tradition has been done continuously for
a long time, however, from what I have observed even though this has been done for
many years it is still a very chaotic procession. This tradition may have been the best
way in showing our faith to celebrate 9th of January years back, but as the world evolve
and adapt I don't think it is still a better idea. There are a lot of ways that we can show
our devotion, a way that the safety of everyone is secured. Reason can help in taming
and at the same time protect this long tradition by helping people realize that we should
also adapt, that there are a lot of possible ways that we can express our faith.