MOREH ACADEMY

RIGHTEOUS AND EXCELLENCE

RICAHUERTA STREET COR. A BONIFACIO AVENUE,
UPPER BICUTAN. TAGUIG CITY
TEL NOS.: 839-0135; 838-9077
E-MAIL: morehacademy2002@yahoo.com

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

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I

a. OVERVIEW

This module was deals with what philosophy means, it is the

best with what we already know about it. Referring to our common
understanding of philosophy. Philosophy is not only for philosophers.
Every person has the capacity to find the value of philosophy in his/
her own life.

b. OBJECTIVES

 distinguish a holistic perspective from a partial point

of view;
 recognize human activities that emanate from
deliberate reflection;
 realize the value of philosophy in obtaining a broad
perspective on life;
 do a philosophical reflection on a concrete situation
from a holistic
perspective; and
 appreciate Filipino indigenous thoughts.

c. TOPIC OUTLINE

Doing Philosophy
a. The meaning of philosophy c. Philosophical
perspective

b. Branches of philosophy d. Philosophical

reflection

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 II PRE - TEST

MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. His philosophy is also based on claims about propositional

structure and the body of argumentative techniques (eg. Legal
reasoning and geometrical proof

A. Socrates C. Zeno Citium

B. Aristotle D. Plato

2. Who is the founder of movement known as stoicism?

A. Socrates C. Zeno Citi

B. Aristotle D. Plato

3. Who is a philosopher was a student of Socrates and the teacher

of Aristotle?
A. Socrates C. Zeno Citium
B. Aristotle D. Plato

4. A judgement of worth
A. value C. universal
B. virtue ethics D. freedom

5. The position that to live a more life one should be concerned in

cultivating a virtues character rather than just following value and
action.
A. value C. universal
B. virtue ethics D. freedom

TRUE OR FALSE
Directions: B
Write TRUE if the statement is correct, FALSE if the statement
is incorrect. Write it on the space provided before the number.

_______6. Epistemology mainly asks us to consider

the question, do we know anything.
_______7. Socrates was the first philosopher to devise
a logical method.
_______8. Aesthetics is the history of the beautiful in
its various manifestations including the
sublime, comic, tragic, pathetic and ugly.

_______9. Philosophy comes from the Greek word

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 Philo means “to love” and sophia meaning
“wisdom”
_______10. For plato, the realm of ideas are less real
than those things seen in the visible world.

Concept: “Let’s Learn”

Etymologically, the word “philosophy” comes from two

Greek words, philo meaning “to love,” and sophia, meaning
“wisdom.” Philosophy originally meant, “love of wisdom.”
Four things are to be considered:
a. Science, it is called Science because the investigation is
systematic.
b. Natural Light of Reason, Philosophy investigates things,
not by using any other laboratory instrument or investigative
tools, neither on the basis of supernatural revelation.
c. Study of all things, this set the distinction between
philosophy from other sciences.
d. First Cause or Highest Principle, a principle is that from
which something proceeds in any manner whatsoever, the first
principle:
 Principle of Identity – whatever is is; and whatever is not is
not; everything is what it is. Everything is its own being, and
not being is not being.
 Principle of Non- Contradiction – it is impossible for a thing
to be and not to be at the same time, and at the same respect.
 Principle of Excluded Middle – a thing is either is or is not;
everything must be either be or not be; between being and not
being, there is no middle ground possible.
 Principle of Sufficient Reason – nothing exists without a
sufficient reason for its being and existence.

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A. METAPHYSICS
- is really only an extension of a fundamental and necessary
drive in every human being to know what is real.
- Thales, a Greek philosopher, everything is water. He
claims that everything we experience is water – which we call
“reality” Everything else is “appearance.” For Example, blocks
of ice do not look like water, but they can be explained in
terms of water, when water evaporates, it becomes a cloud,
and when water freezes, it become ice.
- Plato, Socrates’ most famous student, is a good example of
metaphysician who draws the sharpest possible contrast
between the reality and appearance.

B. ETHICS
- is generally a study of the nature of moral judgements.
Philosophical ethics attempts to provide am account of our
fundamental ethical ideas.

C. EPISTEMOLOGY
- deals with nature, sources limitations and validity of
knowledge (Soccio 2007).

Epistemology explains:
(1) how we know what we claim to know;
(2) how we can find out what we wish to know; and
(3) how we can differentiate truth from falsehood.
Epistemology addresses varied problems: extent, and kinds of
knowledge; truth; language; and science and scientific
knowledge.
They believe that general ideas are formed from the
examination of particular facts. This method is called induction,
and philosophers who feel that knowledge is acquired in this
way are called empiricists. (e.g., John Locke). Empiricism is
the view that knowledge can be attained only through sense
experience.

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 D. LOGIC
- The term “logic” comes from the Greek word logike
and was coined by Zeno, the
Stoic (c.340-265BC). Etymologically, it means a treatise on
matters pertaining to the human thoughts. Aristotle was the
first philosopher to devise a logical method. He drew upon
the emphasis on the “universal” in Socrates, negation in
Parmenides and Plato, and the reduction to the absurd of
Zeno of Elea. Since the time of Aristotle, the study of lies or
fallacies has been considered an integral part of logic. Zeno
of Citium is one of the successors of Aristotle, He also the
founder of a movement known as Stoicism, derived from the
Greek Stoa Poikile (Pained Porch). The Pained Porch
referred to the portico in Athens where the early adherents
held their regular meeting. Other more influential authors of
logic there are Cicero, Porphyry, and Boethius, in the later
Roman Empire; the Byzantine scholar – Philoponus and Al
– Farabi, Avicenna, and Averroes in the Arab world.

E. AETHETICS
- is the science of the beautiful in its various
manifestations including the sublime, comic, tragic, pathetic
and ugly.

The importance of aesthetics

 It vitalizes our knowledge
 It helps us to live more deeply and richly
 It brings us in touch with our culture

Hans Georg Gadamer, a German philosopher, argues that

our tastes and judgements regarding beauty, work in
connection with one’s own personal experience and culture.
He believes that our culture consists of the values and
beliefs of our time and our society. That is why a “dialog” or
conversation is important in interpreting works of art (white
1991).
A conversation involves an exchange between
conversational partners that seek agreement about some
matter at issue; consequently, such an exchange is never
completely under the control of either conversational
partner, but is rather determined by the matter at issue.
According to Gadamer, interpretative and insofar as all
interpretation, involves the exchange between the familiar
and the alien, so all interpretation is also translative.

A. Western and Non-Western Traditions

Many philosophers hold that there are three great
originals centers of philosophy in the world – Greek (or
Western), Indian and Chinese. All three arose as critical
reflections on their own cultural traditions.

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The knower and the Known: East and Western Distinction

Knower Knower known

Known

Eastern Version Western Version

For the Eastern version, life becomes illusory if we are

attached to the world and in which we are ensnared is
not what is. In terms of knowledge, our everyday
experience of the world presents us with dualistic
distinctions – me/ you or subject/ object. However, this is
artificial; our egos fool us into seeing separation. The
distinction between knower and known is essential
artificial for the Eastern version.

B. Filipino Thinking: From Local to Global

It may sound presumptuous to speak “Filipino
Thought” for the reason that the Philippines could not very
well speak of a tradition such as that of China, India, or
Greco – Roman. Yet, for the Filipino, there has to be “Filipino
Thought” or none at all. These attitudes and values
constitute the hidden springs of the Filipino Mind.
1. Loob: Holistic and Interior Dimensions
Kagandahang- loob, kabutihang- loob, and kalooban are
terms that show sharing of one’s self to other. For Mercado
(1992), interiority manifest itself in freedom.
2. Filipino Philosophy of Time
- Filipino Time is mistakenly interpreted as always delayed
in the committed time of arrival. This notion can be
misleading since the Filipino farmers are early risers to go to
their field and waste no time for work. The concept of “siesta
time” or “power naps” is also important for Filipino culture
that must not be necessarily negative.
3. Bahala na
- The pre - Spanish Filipino people believed a Supreme
Being, Batula or Bathala. However, in this regard, the
originality of Filipino thought will probably be precisely in his
personalistic view of the universe (Timbreza 2002). Bathala
is not an impersonal entity but rather a personal being that
keeps the balance in the universe. The Filipino
subconsciously accepts the bahala na attitude as a part of
life. Bahala na literally means to leave everything to God
who is Bathala in the vernacular. The Bahala na philosophy
puts complete trust in the Devine Providence; it contains the
element of resignation.

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 4. Filipino Thought and values: Positive and Negative
Aspects

It is believed, however, that the Philippine values and

system, in line with Filipino philosophy, are in dire need to be
used as positive motivation. Beyond his family group, the
Filipino sees himself belonging to a small, primary group in a
dyadic, pyramidal fashion. Bayanihan is another moving spirit
of the Filipino people Gripaldo (2000) believes four important
items to be considered:
1. replacing colonial consciousness with a nationalist
consciousness thereby doing away with colonial and crab
mentally;
2. creation of super industrial society.
3. utilization of Education as the means of realizing the image
of the future as super industrial society and;
4. Choosing not just for one’s self but for all humanity, for the
nation as a whole.

C. Philosophy: Transcending and Aiming for a life of

Abundance
Abundance is comes from the latin term, “abundare”
(Aguilar 2010) meaning, “to overflow nonstop.” In Aguilar’s
The gift of Abundance was giving a new spiritual, even
Buddhist paradigm. Abundance is out flowing than incoming.
Aguilar (2010) asserts that our very life belongs to God.
Abundance is not what we gather but what we scatter.
Abundance is equated with materialism, but it is when
we raise our empty hands and surrender, when we do not
grab, when we are unattached to anything or anyone, when
we offer oneself – all these are abundance.
Abundance is not what we keep but what we give away.
To live an abundant life, one must pursue one’s
desires and inner self. One must go after what fulfils, before
making more money. It is truly paradoxical because to be able
to have, we must first let go. To be able to acquire, we must
first control ourselves.

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 Abundance is not what we hold but what we share.
Abundance comes to the one who has money and
heart, money and values, money and relationship, money and
deeper happiness. The author agrees with Aguilar’s claim
that abundance is more than our ambitions; there are more
precious things such as people that matter.

Abundance is a choice.
Is more of an effort of the heart than mind alone
(Aguilar 2010) For Aguilar’s to achieve, one must commit.
However, Aguilar’s theorizes that only the heart can commit.
Abundance, therefore, is a choice which translates to
commitment, determination, and perseverance.

Abundance is to evolve into a higher being.

It becomes clear that the concept of abundance
covers both external and internal life.

“Let’s Explore”

Happiest Times Worst Times

List the activities, people,
locations. and conditions
in your life you were most
happy.
What did you learn about
your purpose?
List the activities, people,
locations, and conditions in
your life when you felt
dissatisfied.
What did you learn about
your purpose?

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

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 LET’S WRAP UP

1. Philosophy - “philosophy” comes from two Greek words, philo

meaning “to love,” and sophia, meaning “wisdom.” Philosophy
originally meant, “love of wisdom.”
2. Metaphysics - is really only an extension of a fundamental and
necessary drive in every human being to know what is real.
3. Ethics - is generally a study of the nature of moral judgements.
Philosophical ethics attempts to provide am account of our
fundamental ethical ideas.
4. Epistemology - deals with nature, sources limitations and validity of
knowledge.
5. Logic - The term “logic” comes from the Greek word logike and was
coined by Zeno, the Stoic (c.340-265BC). Etymologically, it means a
treatise
on matters pertaining to the human thoughts.
6. Aesthetics - is the science of the beautiful in its various
manifestations including the sublime, comic, tragic, pathetic and ugly.

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 LET’S CHECK

FILL IN THE BLANKS

Direction: Fill each blank with the correct answer. Write your answer on the
blank provided

_____________1. Which branch of philosophy deals with

arguments?
_____________2. What Filipino value puts one in touch with
the one’s fellow beings and is essentially interpersonal.
_____________3. Which branch of philosophy evaluates
human actions?
_____________4. The issue of whether Nora Aunor deserves
to be a National Artist fall under which branch of philosophy.
_____________5. What does philo mean?

6 – 8, who consist the Greek triumvirate?

6. ___________
7. ___________
8. ___________

_____________ 9. “Virtual Reality vs. The real thing” is under

which branch of Philosophy?

10. How do you understand “holism” Explain in 2 sentences.

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 LET’S PRACTICE

1. Share your thoughts about what is “right” or “wrong”. Share your

Experience with us.
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2. Can anyone be a philosopher? Explain your answer.

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REFLECTION

Write your own philosophy about life or about specific. Does it have a
purpose or a method? If so, what is it? If not, what is it about? And what do
you think its means?

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 VII. Reference

INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

BY: Christine Carmela R. Ramos, PhD

Prepared By: Ms. Celeste M. Bermundo

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