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Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person-Grade 11
Quarter 1 Module 1: What is Philosophy?
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I-Introduction
Have you ever come to a realization of what you want in life? Have you ever
found yourself wondering about the things you experienced or where your life is
headed? Have you ever encountered a situation where you had to think about the
“deeper” questions in life? These activities that follow will concretize your idea of
doing philosophy. With these you will be able to do a philosophical reflection on a
concrete situation from a holistic perspective
II-Objectives
III-Vocabulary List
IV-Pre-Test
Directions: Identify what is asked in each given item. Write your answer in your
module notebook.
V: Learning Activities
Read the short story and answer the following questions. Write your answer in your
module notebook.
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Long ago six old men lived in a village in India. Each was born blind. The
other villagers loved the old men and kept them away from harm. Since the blind
men could not see the world for themselves, they had to imagine many of its
wonders. They listened carefully to the stories told by travellers to learn what they
could about life outside the village.
The men were curious about many of the stories they heard, but they were
most curious about elephants. They were told that elephants could trample forests,
carry huge burdens, and frighten young and old with their loud trumpet calls. But
they also knew that the Rajah's daughter rode an elephant when she travelled in her
father's kingdom. Would the Rajah let his daughter get near such a dangerous
creature?
The old men argued day and night about elephants. "An elephant must be a powerful
giant," claimed the first blind man. He had heard stories about elephants being used
to clear forests and build roads.
"No, you must be wrong," argued the second blind man. "An elephant must be
graceful and gentle if a princess is to ride on its back."
"You're wrong! I have heard that an elephant can pierce a man's heart with its
terrible horn," said the third blind man.
"Please," said the fourth blind man. "You are all mistaken. An elephant is nothing
more than a large sort of cow. You know how people exaggerate."
"I am sure that an elephant is something magical," said the fifth blind man. "That
would explain why the Rajah's daughter can travel safely throughout the kingdom."
"I don't believe elephants exist at all," declared the sixth blind man. "I think we are
the victims of a cruel joke."
Finally, the villagers grew tired of all the arguments, and they arranged for the
curious men to visit the palace of the Rajah to learn the truth about elephants. A
young boy from their village was selected to guide the blind men on their journey.
The smallest man put his hand on the boy's shoulder. The second blind man put his
hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on until all six men were ready to walk safely
behind the boy who would lead them to the Rajah's magnificent palace.
When the blind men reached the palace, they were greeted by an old friend from
their village who worked as a gardener on the palace grounds. Their friend led them
to the courtyard. There stood an elephant. The blind men stepped forward to touch
the creature that was the subject of so many arguments.
The first blind man reached out and touched the side of the huge animal. "An
elephant is smooth and solid like a wall!" he declared. "It must be very powerful."
The second blind man put his hand on the elephant's limber trunk. "An elephant is
like a giant snake," he announced.
The third blind man felt the elephant's pointed tusk. "I was right," he decided. "This
creature is as sharp and deadly as a spear."
The fourth blind man touched one of the elephant's four legs. "What we have here,"
he said, "is an extremely large cow."
The fifth blind man felt the elephant's giant ear. "I believe an elephant is like a huge
fan or maybe a magic carpet that can fly over mountains and treetops," he said.
The sixth blind man gave a tug on the elephant's coarse tail. "Why, this is nothing
more than a piece of old rope. Dangerous, indeed," he scoffed.
The gardener led his friends to the shade of a tree. "Sit here and rest for the long
journey home," he said. "I will bring you some water to drink."
While they waited, the six blind men talked about the elephant.
"An elephant is like a wall," said the first blind man. "Surely we can finally agree on
that."
"A wall? An elephant is a giant snake!" answered the second blind man.
"I'm certain it's a giant cow," said the fourth blind man.
"Don't you see?" pleaded the sixth blind man. "Someone used a rope to trick us."
Their argument continued and their shouts grew louder and louder.
It was the Rajah, awakened from his nap by the noisy argument.
"How can each of you be so certain you are right?" asked the ruler.
The six blind men considered the question. And then, knowing the Rajah to be a very
wise man, they decided to say nothing at all.
"The elephant is a very large animal," said the Rajah kindly. "Each man touched only
one part. Perhaps if you put the parts together, you will see the truth. Now, let me
finish my nap in peace."
When their friend returned to the garden with the cool water, the six men rested
quietly in the shade, thinking about the Rajah's advice.
"He is right," said the first blind man. "To learn the truth, we must put all the parts
together. Let's discuss this on the journey home."
The first blind man put his hand on the shoulder of the young boy who would guide
them home. The second blind man put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and so on
until all six men were ready to travel together.
Source:https://www.peacecorps.gov/educators/resources/story-blind-men-and-
elephant
Or watch
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn9BUfUCL4I
Discussion
(Read the passage and answer the following activity in your module notebook)
Throughout your life, you have wondered about many things which lead us to
ask a lot of questions. By nature, human beings are inquisitive. We ask questions to
try and make sense of our world and experiences. Young children are very curious,
and we often hear them ask simple and silly questions such as: “What is this?” “What
does this do?” “Why are trees tall? “Why is the sky so far away?” These queries may
be easily ignores because of their simplicity, but these indicate a healthy curiosity
and sense of wonder which is an important feature of childhood innocence.
Still there are other questions that make us pause and think. You often
encounter these “deep” questions in serious conversation, in the books you read, the
songs you hear on the radio, and even in the movies you watch. Some of these
questions include: “What is love?” “Is love worth giving up everything?” “Where can
one find true happiness?” “Does the end justify the means?” “Why do good people
suffer?” “Why is there injustice in this world?” “What can we do to make the world a
better place?” “Why do I have to be a good person?”
A big part of living is spent pondering many questions, and our lives become
more meaningful because we search for answers to these innumerable questions.
This is the essence of philosophy-the search for answers to life questions.
Activity 1
Read the following news headlines. What “simple”, “serious”, and “deep”
questions come to mind when you read them? Write them in your notebook.
Personal Reflection:
What questions about your life are you struggling to find answers to? (Write
them in your notebook)
Activity 2
What words come to mind when you hear the word philosophy? Copy
the graphic organizer in your notebook and write the words in the blank
circles
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 the ancient
Greeks, the philosophers became pioneers in various fields of knowledge such as
history, biology, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and even physics. It was quite
common to hear of ancient philosophers who were “experts” in various fields of
learning.
Since ancient times, philosophers have been pondering some of the most
enduring questions regarding human existence. The following are some of them.
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?
Philosophers have often wondered and argued about the role of philosophy in
man’s life. One view is that each one of us is a philosopher, whether or not we have
studied philosophy. We have all the potential to philosophize since we have the
tendency to wonder and doubt. We possess the capacity to reflect on our
experiences, and we have a never-ending need to learn and discover.
The Greek philosopher Plato traced man’s need to philosophize to his sense
of wonder. Whenever we are confronted with an experience, we always wonder
how it came about. Man’s over bounding curiosity drives him to ask questions, some
of which have no definite answers. Where did we come from? Why do we exist? For
what purpose were we created? Consider a small child’s curiosity about all the things
around him, most of which he encounters for the first time. This perspective drives
the need of a philosopher to question, examine, and learn more.
The 15th-century French philosopher Rene Descartes traced the need to
philosophize to doubt. Descartes was famous for rejecting or questioning
established ideas, and he even went as far as doubting his own ideas. His method of
examining ideas and perspectives became the basis of critical thinking and analysis
of sciences. For example, a scientific hypothesis must be tested and verified before it
is accepted as truth. In life, we will be faced with several ideas and arguments which
present themselves as “truths”. A critical and questioning perspective is necessary to
determine if indeed these ideas or views are correct or true.
Also, there are external questions that seek to question the very frameworks
upon which people base their own beliefs and views. For instance, a child is going
through the bitter experience of his or her parents’ separation will be in a state of
confusion as his or her experience does not conform to his or her personal
framework of what a family should be. In this case, the child begins to question the
very framework of what a family should be. In this case, the child begins to question
the very framework or concept of family that he or she has built based on previous
experiences. By questioning his or her ideas and concepts, the child has already
touched on an important aspect of philosophy. The child seek to clarify, examine,
and evaluate the basis of frameworks which he or she uses to deal with the world
and give meaning to his her experiences.
Ethics-is the branch which deals with moral questions and dilemmas.
Analyze the characteristics of philosophy by filling out the graphic organizer. (Answer
it in your module notebook)
Philosophy
A holistic perspective can enable a person to step back and consider the
general aspects of a certain problem. In the case of an argument among friends,
would it be beneficial to take one side or act as a mediator and try to reconcile all
sides? Should we simply condemn a person who misbehaved in a video that has
gone viral? Or should we reserve judgment until we get all the facts regarding what
made that person act in that manner? Adopting a holistic approach in thinking
encourages us not only to be more critical but also to be more considerate in dealing
with others.
A holistic view also gives rise to a more appreciative perspective about life, as
we are able to look at life in its totality. This means that we try to understand a
situation from different vantage points so we can see it more fully. Just as we savor
food in its entirety and not just its specific “flavors”. All the positive and negative
experiences in our life come together to give meaning to our existence, and we learn
to appreciate our individual experiences as vital aspects of a larger and more
meaningful life.
Process questions:
Venn diagram
(Compare and contrast partial thinking and holistic thinking. Answer in your
notebook)
Partial Holistic
Thinking Thinking
How does one engage in reflection?
Seemingly simple or mundane actions take a whole new meaning when one
engages in reflection. When buying clothes, for example, think of the questions that
you ask yourself as you consider buying the t-shirt or blouse your holding. You may
start with simple questions: “Will this fit me?” “Do I look good in this color?” These
are the usual questions any buyer would ask himself or herself.
But since we are in a reflective and philosophizing mood, let us now try and
think of “deeper” questions and reflect on the situation. You may find yourself asking
the following questions: “Do I even have to buy a new t-shirt today?” “Am I better off
spending my money on other things?” “Do I see myself wearing this shirt often, or
am I just going to wear it once?” “What sort of person wears this kind of shirt?”
Notice the difference when you engage in reflection. The simple task of
buying a shirt becomes something much more. If you concentrate only on the simple
questions, you would just buy that shirt immediately. But reflection allows you an
opportunity to think more deeply about your action, your motivations for doing such
an action, and even its possible consequences. Buying a shirt becomes a much
more meaningful act with the aid of reflection. Constant reflection on your possible
purchases may even help you make wiser choices and improve your spending habits
in the future.
Reflection is vital in ensuring that our actions and decisions are well thought
out and done with due regard for their implications and consequences on ourselves,
others, and our surroundings. Reflection helps us understand ourselves and our
actions better. When we reflect, we can judge whether our actions or decisions are
reasonable or not. Taking time to analyze your decisions and actions is one vital skill
that will greatly help you encounter more challenges in life.
Engage in reflection on the following situations. List down the simple, serious,
and deep questions you would ask yourself in these situations. (Answer in your
module notebook)
1. You go into a restaurant and the waiter hands you a menu. You are deciding
which dish to order.
2. You and your friends are deciding on a “fun” thing to do while at the mall.
3. You open your wallet and saw that you still have a hundred pesos left from
your weekly allowance.
Philosophy also improves problem solving and decision making. The ability to
analyze a problem or dilemma, identify its significant aspects, and come up with
alternative solutions is an important skills learned through philosophy.
1. Discuss with your family members a problem or issue important to your family.
Write down their views and use them as bases to come up with a solution
based on a holistic perspective. Use the graph as guide in conducting the
discussion.
My mother’s views
My Father’s views
My brother’s/sister’s views
My own views
Solution
2. Make a poster showing holistic view of your life. Come up with a creative
visualization that will show your life in its totality and how various experiences
contributed to give meaning to your life.
Criteria Rating
The poster clearly conveys the information and message 1 2 3 4 5
6. The Greek philosopher Plato believes that philosophy is brought about by man’s
sense of ______.
9. It refers to a way of thinking about the world and is made up of a person’s views
and beliefs.
10. These are questions that examine personal ideas regarding correctness and
values.
VIII- Assignments
Make a reflection journal where you will answer the following questions:
1. Among the needs that drive man to philosophize, which is most relevant to
you?
2. What philosophical questions do you wish to be answered as you study this
module? List down five.
3. Can you say that you have lived a meaningful life, considering all your
experiences and achievements? What do you consider as the “highlights” of
your life? What things are you looking forward to in the future?
Pre-test
1. Philosophy
2. Love of wisdom
3. Reflection
4. Holistic thinking
5. Partial thinking
Post test
1. Philosophy
2. Love of wisdom
3. Reflection
4. Holistic thinking
5. Partial thinking
6. Wonder
7. Karl Jaspers
8. Doubt
9. Framework
10. Internal questions
References: