Santa Monica Institute of Tech.

Module
Andrada Bldg. Poblacion, Iligan City

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Senior High School Week 1
Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
1st Semester of A.Y. 2021-2022 Instructor: Ceasar Ian H. Mundala

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point of view

2. Recognize human activities that emanated from deliberate reflection
3. Realize the value of Doing philosophy in obtaining a broad perspective in life
4. Doing a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation from a holistic perspective
Activity

Look at the pictures below. What can you say about them? Describe their similarities and
differences.

Discussion

As we go on to our journey, we may gain new experiences in life that we may have never dreamed
of. There are experiences that may excite or challenge us, while some can make us rethink our life and
decisions.
At your age, you may have already asked yourself important questions about your life that cannot
be directly answered through research or education, such as “What do I want?” or “What will make me
happy?”
If you have already asked yourself those big questions, then you have already engaged in philosophy.
– What is Philosophy?
– Is it a way of life? Why or why not?
– How do you apply it in everyday life?

Lesson: Doing Philosophy

> Doing philosophy helps you think many things, including those that leave you confused or without an acceptable
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answer. You can do philosophy by yourself, with a partner, or with a group.

The Meaning of Philosophy

Philosophy - etymologically
Philo – to love
Sophia – wisdom
Wisdom – is the goal of Philosophy

Philosophy – meaning "love of wisdom," is a science where reason and logic are used to understand reality and
answer questions of knowledge, morality, and human nature. It can be described as either a body of knowledge or an
intellectual activity.

the science that by natural light of reason studies the first causes or highest principle of all things.

Science
 The investigation is systematic.
 It follows certain steps or it employs certain procedures.
 An organized body of knowledge.
-Philosophy as a body of knowledge provides methodologies and insights on how societal questions, such
as moral dilemmas of euthanasia or same-sex marriage, can be answered.

Natural light of reason

 Not using any other laboratory instrument or investigative tools
 Not on the basis of supernatural revelation (Theology)
 Philosopher is only using his natural capacity to think or simply human reasons
 Unaided reason.
- Philosophy as an intellectual activity is an analytic procedure of addressing individual thought processes
such as resolving conflict and confusion, testing positions, and analyzing beliefs. In all instances, doing philosophy
is prescribed by logic, reason, and ethics leading to wisdom.
- Philosophy applied to human experience or everyday life denotes the use of philosophy as an intellectual
activity. Also known as philosophy in life, this concept is important because it serves as the guiding principle on
how one ought to live life.

Study of all things

Other sciences concern only with a particular object of investigation
Anthropology – the study of human beings in relation with the society
Sociology – the study society
Philosophy studies human beings, society, religion, language, and God, among other concerns.
 Philosophers question almost anything
 It is multidimensional or holistic

> Philosophical reflection is the process by which a person undergoes a reflective state or evaluates his or her
experiences first before making any related action. The use of philosophical reflection is important as it enables
thought to be looked into using a deeper, holistic perspective. In effect, actions are directed towards greater sources of
wisdom and truth.

Human Activities Emanated from Deliberate Reflection

- In the process, one can learn more about himself or herself, including personal beliefs, ideals, or values.
Previous experiences may be seen as important aspects of making reflections because they facilitate deeper
thinking and understanding of the self.

Aside from knowing the self, many other activities also emanate from reflection.
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  learning from your previous mistakes and not repeating them again
 evaluating and knowing the best choice from a set of options
 gaining a holistic point of view first before making any conclusion

> Meaning and Process of Doing Philosophy

-Doing philosophy means engaging oneself in “matters of utility” and methodologies to eliminate any practical
problem or abstract idea.
- In the process of doing philosophy, it is critical to have a holistic point of view—the perception of looking at all
aspects of a situation first before making a conclusion. Some other skills involved in doing philosophy are critical,
logical, and analytical thinking, observation, and communicative skills.
> Holistic and Partial Points of View
- Before engaging in philosophical inquiry, one must be able to distinguish between a holistic and partial point
of view. This is critical for anyone doing philosophy because it sets a limit in coming up with conclusions about a
given situation.

Holistic  Point of View

Holism comes from the Greek word  "holos," meaning literally everything, whole, whole.  Holism is a way of
thought which preserves  the interdependence of factors with other causalities agencies.  In other words, a certain
structure or component can not alone determine the properties of a  particular phänomen or system ( e.g.,
philosophical, biological, psychological , emotional, spiritual , social, political, and linguistic).  This type of system
therefore aims, by analyzing the behaviour and operations of  certain components, to define and describe any or more
of a certain system.

Example:
Partial Point of View
A point of view is characterized in philosophy as a way or  method of how the fact or the situation is seen or
interpreted.  Therefore, if one speaks from a partial perspective, he made it clear that the way  he sees the reality or
some phenomenon depends on a single factor or causal agency.  A partial view is then a view centered  on a single
portion of an entire object.

Example:
- Looking at the characteristics of holistic and partial points of view, it can be concluded that using a
holistic perspective is more desirable in doing philosophy than using a partial perspective. Partial
points of view only promote limited knowledge on the situation. This leads to wrong conclusions.

- Learning philosophy requires learning to look into all available perspectives and work on their
relationship to come up with sound, logical, and valid conclusions. In the process, doing philosophy
helps one to develop the skill of broadly looking at the situation first before concluding anything.

> Importance of Doing Philosophy

Doing philosophy can be applied in day-to-day activities and life perspectives. Because it involves an
evaluative process, doing philosophy allows a person to make better decisions and act accordingly to
situations with the help of various philosophical skills.

Furthermore, on life perspectives, philosophy enables reflective thinking which greatly influences a
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person’s view of life, challenges, and relationships. Doing philosophy directs how a person will perceive
these factors in life and how they will be faced. In any setting, wisdom is always gained when philosophy is
applied to formulate a conclusion about a certain concern.

Exercise

Complete the table below

WHAT MUST BE DONE BEFORE

THE
ACTIONS ACTION?
1. Buying new clothes
2. Choosing friends
3. Eating food
4. Deciding where to study for Senior High School
5. Attending classes in the afternoon
6. Going to school
7. Visiting a friend
8. Joining an organization in school
9. Playing computer games
10. Buying a new gadget
11. Asking permission if you would like to go out with friends
12. Helping a stranger
13. Traveling without your family
14. Going to mass or any religious activities
15. Watching movies that are not allowed for your age
16. Posting your opinion or feelings in the social media
17. Communicating to your siblings about a conflict
18. Giving opinions
19. Going out with the opposite sex
20. Confronting a person who verbally hurt you

Assessment
Answer the following questions.

1. Based on your answers in Exercise, what must before making actions?

2. Is it helpful that you do this before making actions? Why or why not?

3. As a grade 11 student, what have you realized about this activity? Reflect and
explain your answer.

Reflection

What can you say about the quotation below? Do you agree with this? Express your answers on the
space provided.

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Resources and Additional Resources

 Ariel Gilbuena (2018), Intro to the philosophy of the human person Chapter 1 the process of doing
philosophy, Retrieved from: https://www.slideshare.net/arielgilbuena7/intro-to-the-philosophy-of-the-
human-person-chapter-1-the-process-of-doing-philosophy