Introduction to Philosophy

of the Human Person

 CO QAH + MELC LW
Course Outline & Quality
Assured Handouts paired HANDOUT No. 2
with MELC- Based Learner’s in Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person
Worksheet

MELC 3:
 Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth (PPT11/12-Id-2.3)
 Evaluate truth from opinions in different situations using the methods of philosophizing
(PPT11/12-Ie-2.4)
Semester: 1st Sem. Week No. 2 Day: 1 to 4
LESSON: METHODS OF PHILOSOPHIZING

The methods of philosophy will help to learn the process of doing philosophy in a systematic way. On
the other hand, philosophizing is to think or express oneself in a philosophical manner.

Although philosophy is an organized body of knowledge, the subject matter of philosophy is

questions, which have three major characteristics;
1. Philosophical questions have answers but the answers remain in dispute.
2. Philosophical questions cannot be settled by science, common sense, or faith.
3. Philosophical questions are of perennial intellectual interest to human beings.

The methodology or method that philosophers use to address philosophical question is critical thinking.

Critical Thinking is the careful, reflective, rational and systematic approach to questions of very
general interest.

Critical thinking means understanding if philosophy and refraining from merely giving claims but
through careful thought, one reasons through to argumentation.

The scientific method also leads to wisdom and truth because it uses an evidence- based approach to
come up with its conclusion. In this method, all truths are supported by facts that can easily be tested or
proven again through experiments, logical reasoning, or observation.

TOPIC 1: Methods of Philosophizing

A method of philosophizing is a process of determining the truth or drawing conclusions from a statement
using various philosophical methods, such as:
• Socratic,
• Dialectic,
• Scientific, and
• Historical.

A. Socratic Method of Philosophizing

The Socratic method, also known by the Greek term elenchus that means "to inquire or to cross-examine", is
an exchange of ideas using Socratic questioning.

 It was developed by Socrates, a Greek philosopher and teacher, who laid the groundwork for
Western systems of philosophy and logic.
  In this process, statements are deconstructed or questioned to come up with the actual truth that is
believed to rest on the roots of the argument.
 Conflicting ideas are seen as invalid sources of the truth, and probing questions are immediately
derived from the given statements.
 In a classroom setting, this method is used not to intimidate students, but to produce a deeper
understanding of thoughts and ideas through further questioning statements or claims.
 There is no particular end goal aside from reaching an absolute truth from probing statements and, in
the process, eliminating ideas that are questionable or contradicting.

Examples:
o A psychologist is trying to dig deeper into the story of his patient who only mentions vague
and general ideas.
o A lawyer is asking further questions about the suspect’s whereabouts during the crime because she
is not entirely convinced by his alibi.
In using the Socratic method, it is important to analyze expressions and statements that show the differences
of opinion, fact, and truth.

Example:

Opinion Fact Truth

o Filipinos are the o Based on the Miss World Organization o All things that can
most resilient and records, Megan Young was the first be seen are
hospitable people Filipina to be crowned as Miss World. temporal.
in the world. She won the title in 2013 in Bali, (undisputed)
o Manny Pacquiao Indonesia. o Two plus two equals
is the best o According to the Philippine Statistics four (2 + 2 = 4).
Filipino boxer. Authority, the country's total population (exact)
is 92,337,852. It is based on the recent
May 2010 census.
Opinion is what someone believes or thinks. A fact is firmly planted in the material world, while truth
extends to the spiritual realm.

Socratic Method Leads to Wisdom and Truth

The Socratic method has been emphasized to use statement deconstructions and creative questioning to
delve deeper into an issue. It is a systematic process whereby random and ambiguous ideas are eliminated to
reach a sound conclusion. Reaching an endpoint, therefore, would only mean that truth has been realized,
and new knowledge has been acquired.

Doing experiments are standard in science classes. In the previous example, knowing whether a mixture is
heterogeneous or homogeneous can easily be done just by performing a simple test. This lesson involves the
process of experimentation and observation referred to as the scientific method of philosophizing.

B. Dialectic Method of Philosophizing

The dialectic method may involve both opinions and facts as long as they are logical and lead to the truth. It
is therefore important to distinguish opinion from truth.

An opinion is a personal view formed about a particular matter, such as your perception of using e-books
rather than actual books.

Truth is something that has real and proven existence regardless of one’s opinion, such as the fact that the
heart is a muscle.

Read the statements below, then distinguish the opinion from the truth.

Statement A Statement B
The president is the most intelligent person in The president is the most powerful person in
the country. the country.

Statement A is an opinion since there is no proof or evidence that the president is indeed the most intelligent
person in the country.
Statement B is a truth because the president is the head of the state and the chief officer of the country. Thus,
he is the most powerful leader of the country.

The Dialectic Method Leads to Wisdom and Truth

The dialectic method can easily be seen in the day-to-day interactions of people. It is much like a debate that
poses two clashing but valid arguments to determine an endpoint that is correct and true. In this sense, the
truth of both arguments is always expected to rise from each conversation.

C. The Scientific Method of Philosophizing

 The term "science" is derived from the Latin word scientia that means “to produce knowledge.”
 The scientific method, also called empirical method, is a process of determining truth or knowledge
through experimentation, inductive and deductive reasoning, and hypothesis or theory testing.
 The scientific method could trace its history from the Classical period with Aristotle giving the
earliest structured theory on the scientific approach.
 The process begins with an idea about any given topic. Hypothesis testing is done to prove the validity
of this idea.
  In a philosophical view, the means of hypothesis testing and its results are considered the most
important feature of the method.
 The scientific method also values observation as an important aspect because it contributes to further
understanding the results of the hypothesis testing

Examples:

Statement A Statement B
In the midst of advanced knowledge and Country X’s law, as rooted in the belief in an
sophisticated technologies, no man at present inalienable right to live, disallows its citizens
can bring a dead person back to life. to take their own lives; however, euthanasia
becomes an exception when a citizen is
considered a bad person.

Statement A reveals the truth because it is proven scientifically.

Statement B expresses an opinion because it is a personal view about the topic.

The Scientific Method Leads to Wisdom and Truth

The scientific method leads to wisdom and truth because it uses an evidence-based approach to come up
with its conclusion. In this method, all truths are supported by facts that can easily be tested or proven again
through experiments, logical reasoning, or observation. The knowledge and truth gained from the scientific
method are assured to come directly from valid conclusions.

D. The Historical Method of Philosophizing

  The term "history" is from the Greek word iotopia which means “to investigate" or "to find out.”

 The historical method is the process of gathering evidences, examining them, and formulating
ideas about the past to come up with present truths.

 In this approach, it is believed that history has a “divine order” or a large “cyclical or progressive”
pattern that enables events to repeat themselves and record information through historical accounts
or archaeological findings.

 The process of learning the truth is simply through looking at past records to validate the
present hypothesis.

 If viewed in a more general perspective, the historical approach would include only a
historical account to differentiate truth from opinion.

 History is seen as more important than logic and a more valid source of the truth.

 Using the historical approach is much like researching for an answer to a particular question.
Reviewing what has been done in the past is the primary method of looking at a solution for
a problem at present.

Examples:

Situation A reveals the truth because this account is derived from historical evidence.
Situation B expresses an opinion because it is a personal view.

REFERENCES
Roberto D. Abella, M.Div., D.Min. (2016). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person.
Lovella D. Tompong (2020). Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human Person. ADM
https://www.slideshare.net/arielgilbuena7/intro-to-the-philosophy-of-the-human-person-ch-23-scientific-
method-of-philosophizing
 CO QAH + MELC LW LEARNING WORKSHEET No. 2

in Introduction to the Philosophy of the Human

Course Outline & Quality Assured
Person
Handouts paired with MELC- Based
Learning Worksheet

Name: Grade & Section:

Teacher: Date Submitted:

MELC 3:
 Realize that the methods of philosophy lead to wisdom and truth (PPT11/12-Id-2.3)
 Evaluate truth from opinions in different situations using the methods of philosophizing
(PPT11/12-Ie-2.4)

Topic: Methods of Philosophizing

Semester: 1st Sem / 1st Quarter Week No. 2 Day: 1-4

“JUMBLED WORDS WITH A TWIST”

Instructions: Identify important terms in methods of philosophizing by arranging the jumbled letters. Give a
short definition about each term which you may gather from the handout or from other sources you have at
home. Then, choose five (5) terms and give an example or situation that explains it. Write your answer in a
separate sheet of paper. Copy and follow the table.

JUMBLED WORDS CORRECT DEFINITION / EXPLANATION

TERMS DESCRIPTION
Example: It is another term for Research studies
scientific method that refers provide empirical data.
EMCIALPIR EMPIRICAL to the process of determining
truth or knowledge through
experimentation, inductive
and deductive reasoning, and
hypothesis or theory testing.

1. AOTCSCIR –
2. LCTIDEIAC -

3. STICECINFI –

4. IOCLIHSATR –
5. RATSESCO –

6. OONNIPI –

7. CATF –

8. RTTUH -

9. LTTEAORIS -
 10. MDWOIS

“THE TRUTH CHALLENGE”

Direction: Read the conversations below and answer the question. Write your answer in a separate sheet of
paper
Lover’s Quarrel
Shanon: Did you hear about what happened between Angel and her boyfriend?
Vanvan: What happened?
Shanon: They got a huge fight last night. Angel called me up. She was crying and she said that Mike hit her.
Dean: Wait, what? That’s not right? Mike came by my place last night and he was pretty shaken up. He had
scratch marks on his arms and a bite on his left hand. He said Angel just attacked her and was accusing him
of seeing another girl.
Shanon: No! Angel said it was Mike who started to hit her and she had to defend herself!
Question: Which method of philosophizing will you use to determine the truth in this situation? Why?

Classmate’s Convo

Peter: Did you hear Madel say that Ma’am Gonzales will not give a test today?
John: Really? I heard Madel is pretty close with Ma’am. Maybe she is right.
Peter: Remember when she said last Monday that classes will be suspended in the afternoon because it was
the principal’s birthday? Well, that didn’t happen. I don’t think we should believe what she says.
Question: Which method of philosophizing will you use to determine the truth in this situation? Why?
 “WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

DIRECTION: Read and analyze the questions. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper.

1. What are the things that you consider real, true, and unchanging as son/daughter, as a student or as
member of the community? (10 points)
2. Cite a news from the television, internet and other types of media which you believed to be true, and later
you found out to be untrue or fallacious? How did this experience affect you? (10 points)