Target

We are now at the final phase of our philosophical thought on the human
person. At the outset of the course, we discussed how philosophy direct us towards a
way of looking of life from a holistic perspective. We learned that philosophizing is not
just about “knowing” things; that wisdom is not the same as knowledge. Toward the
end of the course, we learned how individuals form societies and how they are
transformed by societies.
The most uncertain concern for all human beings is the lack of knowledge and
understanding As this concern touches upon our life as a whole, it also provides a
scope within which we ask this question: What is the meaning of life?
In this module, you will deal with the information and activities that will help
you comprehend the meaning of life and various perspective of human limitations
such as death. You are asked to take a step back and examine your attitude with
regard to the environment.
At the end of the module, you are expected to:
1.Enumerate the objectives on wants to achieve and to define the projects
one wants to do in his/her life (PPT 11/12-llh-8.1).
2.Reflect on the meaning of his/ her own life (PPT 11/12-lli-8.2).

Module The Human Persons As

4 Oriented Towards Their
Impending Death
 Jumpstart

For you to understand the lesson well, do the following activities.

Have fun and good luck!

Go over the lyrics

of the song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. You can watch over its music video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BsLd4Y060Q

Born This Way

Lady Gaga
It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up 'cause you were born this way, baby
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
"There's nothing wrong with loving who you are"
She said, "'Cause he made you perfect, babe"
"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way (Born this way)
Oh there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Oh there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Right…
What you need
Pen and paper

What you have to do

After reading the lyrics of the song, answer the following questions.
1.How does the song emphasize freedom and choices in defining oneself??
2.Which lyrics serve as most meaningful to you? Why?

Discover

The Meaning of Life: Philosophers’ Perspective

A. Socrates
He believed that knowing oneself is a condition to deal with life’s problems. For
a person to be happy, he has to live a virtuous life. Virtue is an awakening of
the seeds of good deeds that lay dormant in the mind and heart of a person.
What is in the mind and heart of a human being is achieved through self-
knowledge and self- awareness. He claimed that happiness is impossible
without moral virtue; and unethical actions harm the person who performs
them more than the people they victimize.

B. Plato
According to Plato, the physical human body is the source of endless turmoil
and confusion. To see the truth, quit the body – the soul in itself must behold
things. Knowledge can be attained after death for while the soul is in the
company of body, pure knowledge cannot be realized.

C. Aristotle
He professed that all things are destructible, but the Unmoved Mover is eternal
with pure actuality and with no potentiality. Actuality refers to the complete
and mature form of a creature. All creatures have strived toward their purpose.
Potentiality refers to the condition of change and perishment. Reason is the
highest faculty which finds its perfection in contemplating the Unmoved Mover.

D. Arthur Schopenhauer
He contended that all of life is suffering. Suffering is caused by desire and it will
be alleviated by “putting an end to desire.” Unless we “become ourselves,” life is
meaningless.

E. Martin Heidegger
According to him, to die is a facticity. Life after death is only a matter of belief.
This “not knowing” brings about a feeling of dread. A person has inauthentic
 existence if he runs away from the face of death, from the reality of one’s
finitude, from one’s fallenness.

F. Jean-Paul Satre
Freedom is the door to authentic existence. Authentic existence is realized only
in deeds that are committed alone, in absolute freedom and responsibility, and
which therefor is the character of true creation.

G. Karl Jaspers
He pointed out that God is an absolute imperative. To live an authentic
existence always requires a leap of faith. Authentic existence is freedom and
God.

Explore

Here are some enrichment activities for you to work on to master and
strengthen the basic concepts you have learned from this lesson.

Enrichment Activity 1. Reflective Thinking

Heidegger said that our lives are mostly lived inauthentically when we run away from
the dread that death gives.
What you need
Pen and paper

What you have to do

Discuss how do the following conditions serve as an example of running
away from dread and living inauthentically?

a. Gaming addiction
b. Social media craving
c. Extreme social competitiveness

Enrichment Activity 2: “No One Wants to Die”

This is a part of Steve Jobs’ speech he delivered at Stanford University after he was
diagnosed of cancer.
“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get
there. And yet death is a destination we all share. Death is very likely the single best
invention in life. It is life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new
one…”
What you need
Pen and paper
What you have to do
1.Write a reflective essay based from the speech of Steve Jobs.
2.Do your reflective essay with the following setup:
First paragraph: Focus of reflection
Second paragraph: Personal insights
Third paragraph: Impact in your life
2.Encode in font 12 Times Roman

Deepen
Great job! You have understood the lesson.

After
learning the views on meaning of one’s life from Socrates to Karl Jaspers, you may
take a personal reflection on the meaning of life.
What you need
Pen and paper
What you have to do
1.Write your own reflection about the meaning of life in the form of a prayer.
2. Your prayer is anchored on the following thoughts:
a. Where I am now?
b. How did I get here?
c. Where am I going?
d. How can I get there?
 Gauge

Check Your Knowledge

Direction: Identify who is referred to.

________________1. He claimed that happiness is impossible without moral virtue.

________________2. He pointed out:” To see the truth, quit the body – the soul in itself
must behold things.
________________3. He believed that pure knowledge cannot be realized when the soul
is in the company of body.
________________4.He believed that actuality and potentiality constitute change in life.
________________5. He emphasized that living authentically always requires a leap of
faith.
________________6. He professed that freedom is the door to authentic existence.

________________7. He contended that suffering is caused by desire and it will be

alleviated by “putting an end to desire.”
________________8. He claimed that reason is the highest faculty which finds its
perfection in contemplating the Unmoved Mover.
________________9. He believed that life after death is only a matter of belief.
________________10. He believed that knowing oneself is a condition to deal with life’s
problems.

Check Your Understanding

Direction: Write your response in a paper.
1. How did Heidegger explain the meaning of life? In your understanding, is it a
negative or a positive view?
2. For Sartre, how can the search for the meaning of life be related to freedom?

Great job! You made it!.

Instructional Rubric
5 4 3 2 1
Content Content is Content is Content is Content Shows some
very comprehensiv accurate lacks thinking and
 comprehensiv e, accurate and substance. reasoning but
e, accurate and persuasive. Major most ideas are
and persuasive. Major points are underdevelope
persuasive. Major points points are addresed d.
Major points are stated stated but not well
are stated clearly and clearly and supported
clearly and are well are well with
are well supported supported specific
supported with specific with specific examples.
with specific examples. examples.
examples.
Organiza Ideas are laid Ideas are laid Ideas are Ideas show Ideas show
-tion down with a down with a laid down some some
high degree of degree of with a coherence coherence but
attention to attention to lesser but lack not logically
coherence coherence degree of logical organized.
logic and logic and attention to organizatio
reasoning of reasoning of coherence n.
points. points. logic and
reasoning of
points.
Develop- Main points Main points Main points Main points Main points
ment are well are developed are are are present
developed with quality developed developed but not
with quality supporting with with limited developed.
supporting details. supporting details.
details. details.
Conclu- The main The main The main The main The main
sion points are points are points are points are points are not
summarized summarized summarized summarize summarized
and have a and have a with d but no and have no
powerful take- take-away unconvincin take-away take-away
away g take-away

REFERENCES

Astorga, C. (2014). Catholic Moral Theology and Social Ethics. Quezon City:
Claret Publishing Group.

Bernadette, S. (2000). Plato’s ” Laws”: The Discovery of Being. Chicago:

University of Chicago Press.

Corpus, Brenda B, et. al. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of Human

Person. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing Inc.
David, A. (2006). “Postmodern Challenges in Contemporary Society: A
Reflection Towards a Relevant Philosophy of Responsibility.” In
Philosophical Papers: Recent Philosophies in the Philippines.Vol. 1.
Manila: Ample Printing Press.

Feuerbach, L. Translated by Massey, J.A.(1980) Thoughts on Death and

Immortality. Berkely” University of California

Gripaldo, R. (2000b). Filipino Philosophy: A Traditional Approach. Manila:

Dela Salle University Press

Job, Steve. (2005). “Find what you love.” In “commencement addresses.”

Humanity.Org.

Ramos, Christine Carmela R. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of

Human Person. Quezon City: Rex Publishing.

VIDEO ATTRIBUTIONS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BsLd4Y060Q