PHILOSOPHY

Is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason,
mind, and language.

PHILO

Love

SOPHIA

Wisdom

WHY IS PHILOSOPHY IMPORTANT?

Philosophy develops your creative & critical thinking skills.

BRANCHES OF PHILOSOPHY

-WHAT’S THERE: METAPHYSICS

The studies of what cannot be reached through objective studies of material reality. Metaphysics
might include the study of the nature of the human mind, the definition and meaning of existence,
or the nature of space, time, and/or causality.

-HOW DID YOU KNOW: EPISTOMOLOGY

The study of knowledge and how knowledge is acquired and is considered a branch of philosophy.
Some of its examples, such as truth, belief, and justification.

-WHAT IS ITS IMPORTANT: AXIOLOGY

Is derived from the Greek to mean “value or worth,” and is primarily concerned with classifying
things as good and how good they are. Often called the theory of value, axiology is the philosophical
study of goodness or the worth of something.

WHY IS THERE A NEED TO PHILOSOPHIZE (WONDERING PHILOSOPHIZING)

“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder”-SOCRATES

Students in philosophy are encouraged to investigate questions that challenge their ideas and
beliefs. It allows students to reflect on topics that are frequently oversimplified by society and
traditional educational disciplines.

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHIZING?

To think or express oneself in a philosophical manner.

PHILOSOPHERS

PLATO- sense of wonder

+ Plato refers to wonder as the origin of philosophy (Theaetetus 155d3). It involves a sense of the
mysteries that pervade the human condition and a desire to question and reflect about the deeper
meaning of ordinary concepts and experiences

DESCARTES- doubting

+ Cartesian doubt is a systematic process of being skeptical about (or doubting) the truth of one’s
beliefs, which has become a characteristic method in philosophy. Additionally, Descartes’ method
has been seen by many as the root of the modern scientific method.

JASPERS- experiences
+ The idea of being oneself signified for Jaspers the potentiality to realize one’s freedom of being in
the world. Thus, the task of philosophy was to appeal to the freedom of the individual as the subject
who thinks and exists and to focus on man’s existence as the centre of all reality.

ARISTOTLE- all men desire to know

+ An indication of this is the delight we take in our senses; for even apart from their usefulness they
are loved for themselves; and above all others the sense of sight. The reason is that this, most of all
the senses, makes us know and brings to light many differences between things.

SOCRATES- docta ignorancia to that you do not know

+ Docta ignorantia, or learned ignorance, is a Latin expression designating the limitations of human
knowledge. Man knows and affirms what is true but in an incomplete and partial manner.

SAPAGKAT ANG PILOSOPIYA AY GINAGAWA by Roque J. Ferriols

“Ang pilosopiya ay ginagawa. Ito’y pagsisikap ng isip at damdamin na maghanap sa katotohanan ukol
sa nakakabalisa (wonder) sa kalooban ng sinumang tao. Ang Pilosopiya ay gawain ng taong umiibig
sa KATOTOHANAN. Kaya’t ang pilosopiya ay isang pakikipagsapalaran.:”

PARTIAL POINT OF VIEW (SPECIFIC)

Focuses on specific aspects of a situation. The partial view is an important component of analytical
thinking, as an individual focuses on certain areas of aspect of a problem in order to understand it.

HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE (BIG PICTURE)

Refers to a perspective that considers large-scale patterns in systems. A holistic perspective requires
an individual to have an open mind-set and ability to get the general sense or impression regarding a
situation.

LEARNING TOPICS:
 1. The philosophy and its importance as a discipline and means for understanding life.

2. Doing philosophy/The need to philosophize.

DOING PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTION

REFLECTION requires a person to be willing to examine one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions and to
learn more about one’s life and experiences.

HUMAN SELF-REFLECTION is the capacity of human to exercise introspection and to attempt to learn
more about their fundamental nature and essence.

METHOD OF PHILOZOPHIZING

PROPOTISITIONS are statement about the world or reality.

KNOWLEDGE is clear awareness and understanding of something.

CLAIM is a statement that is not evidently or immediately known to be true. This means that any
claim can be proven by verification and experimentation.

FACTS are propositions or statements which observe to be real or truthful.

OPINIONS are less concrete. It’s a viewed formed in the mind of a person about a particular issue.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING in this type of reasoning, conclusion first followed by main points.

INDUCTIVE REASONING reasoning makes specific observations and draws a general conclusion.

SOCRATIC METHOD (also known as method of Elenchus, elenctic method, or Socratic debate) is a
form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering
questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.
DIALECTIC METHOD is a form of reasoning based upon dialogue of arguments and counter-
arguments, advocating propositions (theses) and counter-propositions (antitheses).

SCIENTIFIC METHOD the study of scientific method is the attempt to discern the activities by which
that success is achieved. Among the activities often identified as characteristic of science are
systematic observation and experimentation, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the formation
and testing of hypotheses and theories.

HISTORICAL METHOD the term historical method refers to the collection of techniques and
guidelines that historians use to research and write histories of the past. In the philosophy of history,
the question of

Opinions are statement that go beyond providing facts.

A conclusion is a judgment based on certain facts.

Beliefs are statements that express convictions that are not easily and clearly explained by
facts.

Explanations are statements that assume the claim to be true and provide reasons why the
statement is true.

Arguments are series of statements that provide reasons to convince the reader or listener
that a claim or opinion is truthful.

Fallacies are arguments based on faulty reasoning.

Bias is disproportionate weight in favour of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that
is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair.

FALACIES
APPEAL TO FORCES (Argumentum Ad Baculum)

Using the threat to force or an undesirable event to advance an argument.

APPEAL TO EMOTION (Argumentum Ad passiones)

Using emotions such as pity or sympathy.

APPEAL TO THE POPULAR (Argumentum Ad populum)

The idea is presented as acceptable because a lot of people accept it.

APPEAL TO TRADITION (Argumentum Ad antiquitam)

The idea is acceptable because it has been true for a long time.

BEGGING THE QUESTION (petitio principal)

Assuming the thing or idea to be proven is true; also known as circular argument.

FALLACY OF DIVISION

Assuming that what is true for the whole is true for its part.

FALLACY OF COMPOSITION (modo hoc-firmitas)

Assuming that what is true of a part is true for the whole.

AD IGNORANCE (Argument from ignorance)

AD MISERICORDIAM (Appeal to pity)

AD VERECUNDIAM (Appeal to authority)

AD HOMIMEM

Attacking the person presenting the argument instead of the argument itself.

CAUSE-AND-EFFECT (post hoc, ego propter hoc)

Assuming “cause-and-effect” relationship between unrelated events.