Introduction To

The
Philosophy Of The
Human Person
Module 4-5 - Quarter
1
The Human Person in
their Environment
Lesson

4 The Human Person in their Environment

John Donne: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of
the continent, a part of the main.” This means that as human person, it is
our responsibility to treat a person with respect not only our fellow humans
but also everything in this world. Humankind is a part of the world, and we
significantly affect our environment in the same manner of what that
changes in our environment affect us.

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW?

By the end of this lesson, you are expected to:

1. notice disorder in the environment;

2. notice things that are not in their proper place and organize them in an
aesthetic way;
3. show that care for the environment contributes to health, well-being and
sustainable development; and
4. demonstrate the virtues of prudence and thriftiness towards the
environment.

WHAT I KNOW

PRE-TEST
Directions: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper or in your
notebook.
1. What is environment philosophy?
A. Discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings with the
environment and its non-human contents.
B. Is part of the world, and we significantly affect in environment.
C. Significantly role of humankind in the world.
D. Extends intrinsic value and moral consideration to higher forms of
animals

2. It believes that humans are not the only significant species on the planet.
A. Anthropocentrism
B. Panthocentrism
C. Biocentrism
D. Ecocentrism
3. A science that deals with the relationships between groups of living
things and
their environments. A. Anthropocentrism
B. Ecology
C. Ecofeminism
D. Ecocentrism
4. What is a flame in cyberspace?
A. A person who follows the rules of Netiquette.
B. An expert programmer.
C. An online chain letter.
D. A post or email message that expresses a strong opinion or criticism.
5. Knowledge and understanding of netiquette is useful because
___________
A. it helps you create a positive impression on those you meet in
cyberspace.
B. it explains some of the technical limitations of online communications.
C. it explains the conventions already being used by millions of cybernauts.
D. All of the above.

6. What type of online threat happens when an attacker uses electronic

devices to do unwanted surveillance against its victim?
A. Cyberbullying B. Phising C. Spamming D. Cyberstalking
7. What type of online threat happens when the attacker impersonates
another individual or organization to gather personal or business
information?
A. Cyberstalking B. Spoofing C. Scamming D. Pharming

8. What type of information should you avoid giving when using the
internet?
A. Phone number B. Profile Picture C. Shirt Size D. Religion

9. What is the golden rule of netiquette?

A. Remember the human. C. Use correct grammar. B. Put a smiley in every
message. D. Respect people’s time.

10.You get an email telling you that you won a hundred thousand without
joining in a competition. You should ____________.
A. Claim the prize. C. Return the email with response.

WHAT’S IN?

Lesson 4.1.1: Notice things that are not in their proper place and organize
them in an aesthetic way Listen and sing the song together. Examine the
following pictures below then listen and sing the song together. You can
watch video clips and use it as a guide. After singing it then discuss:
 1. Hold each other’s hands and share with the persons in your right and
left show your visions or how do you imagine the world to be.

What signs of disorder in the environment do you

see?
 What is the world made of?
 How did the world come into being?
 How can we explain the process of change?
 How did the song regard the environment?
 How did the song see the human person in the
environment?
 What is the tone of the song?
 Which lyrics serve as most meaningful? Why?

What Is IT
Environmental philosophy is the discipline that studies the moral
relationships of human beings with the environment and its non-human
contents. Philosophers believe that the human person has the ability to
change the environment to suit his purposes. It will enable them to become
aware of their relationship and its related issues in our society and their
impact on the lives of human persons.

“What is the world made of?” “How did the world come into being?” and
“How can we explain the process of change?” were philosophical questions
already brought up approximately 600 B.C.E. (before the common era) in
the Western lonian seaport town of Miletus across the Aegean Sea from
Athens, Greece.

The speculation of the pre-Socratic philosophers represents a paradigm

shift- a change from mythical explanation of the origins of the cosmos to a
more rational explanation.
Eastern sages probed nature’s depths intuitively through the eyes of
spiritual sages which Greek thinkers viewed nature through cognitive and
scientific eyes (Price 2000). These thinkers were looking for the underlying
laws of nature. They wanted to understand the processes of nature by
studying nature itself, not by listening to the stories about the gods.

According to Payne (2010) there are two frameworks where humans can
be related.

1. Anthropocentric Model. Based on the anthropocentric model,

humans are superior and central to the universe, thus, it is human
centered.
 Human
 Cul;ture
 Individualism
 Mind
 Calculative
 Human over/ against environment
 Global / technological

2. Ecocentric Model.
It is the ecological or relational integrity of the humans that provides meaning of our
morals and values and it is nature centered. Devoted to preserving the totality of Earth’s
biodiversity and the functioning of its life –supporting system the ecological or relational
integrity of the humans providesmeaning of our morals and values and it is nature
centered. Devoted to preserving the totality of Earth’s biodiversity and the functioning of
it’s life supporting system.

 Nature
 Wild
 Holism
 Body
 Relational
 Earth / wisdom
 Ecology over. Against human
. Notice things that are not in their proper place and organize them in an aesthetic
way

A. Ancient Thinkers

Anaximander a pre-Socratic philosopher and

scientist said about the creation-Destruction.
According to him, the sketch of the genesis of the
world (cosmology), the evolution of the world
begins with the generation of opposites in certain
region Nature. Nature is indeterminate-boundless in
the sense that no boundaries between the warm
and or the moist and dry regions are originally
present within.
B. Modern Thinker

Beauty is the ultimate a symbol of morality. He

believe that the orderliness of natures and the
harmony of nature of our faculties guide us toward a
deeper religious perspective

Herbert Marcuse said about the power of humans

over nature, while George Herbert Mead tackled

about our duties and responsibilities.

Show that care for the environment contributes to

health, well being and sustainable development

 There are numerous theories to show care for the environment aside
from the ecocentric model such as deep ecology, social ecology and
ecofeminism to name some.
  Demonstrate the virtues of prudence and frugality towards
environment

A self-supporting college student works part-time as a

Service crew to be able to fund his education. He earns PhP2,000.00 more than
what he needs to pay for monthly expenses. With this extra money, he could have
bought the expensive watch he always wanted. Thinking practically, he decided to
save his money in the bank instead.

. 1. How will you describe this college student?

2. What qualities does he possess regarding handling his money?

3. How can you relate his behaviour to current environment trends?

Find out the answer in this lesson!

Prudence is defined as the ability to have good judgment that allows avoidance of
dangers and risks. Meanwhile, frugality is the act of using money or other
resources wisely and practically.

Prudence
covers good judgment, considering the
consequences of an action, using
common sense and discretion,
exercising caution, and conforming to
reason and decency
Frugality
The quality of being thrifty, sparing or
economical in the consumption of
resources and avoiding waste,
lavishness, or extravagance

Arising from the discussions, Fromm (2013) suggested a new society that should
inspire the development of a new human being that will nurture prudence and
fairness or frugality towards environment. These are some of the functions of
Fromm’s envisioned society:

1. The enthusiasm to offer up all forms of having, in order to fully be.

2. Being fully present where one is.

3. Trying to lessen greed, hate and illusions as much as one is adept.

4. Making the full growth of oneself and of one’s fellow beings the utmost goal of
living.

5. Not deceiving others, but also not being deceived by others, one may be called
acquitted, but not naïve.

6. Freedom that is not uncertainty but the possibility to be oneself, not as a

bundle of greedy desires, but as a carefully balanced structure that at any
moment is threatened with the alternatives of growth or decay, life or death

7. Happiness in the manner of ever-growing aliveness, whatever the extreme

point is the destiny permits one to reach, for living as full as one can be so
agreeable that the concern for what one might not attain has little chance to
develop.

8. Joy that comes from giving and sharing, not from hoarding and manipulating.
9. Developing one’s capacity for love, together with one’s capacity for critical,
unsentimental thought.

10. Shedding one’s narcissism and accepting that catastrophic boundaries

inherentin human survival.

ACTIVITY: Human Person in their Environment

DIRECTIONS: Interview a person who is 45-60 years old. Be guided by the following

questions:

1. What are the things that you remember in your environment when you were

my age?

______________________________________________________________

2. What were the things that you like doing when you were young?

______________________________________________________________

3. What are the positive and negative changes in the environment?

______________________________________________________________

4. Do you think environment plays a vital role in a person’s development? Why

or why not?

______________________________________________________________

5. Distinguish the ecocentric from the anthropocentric models. Cite examples.

_____________________________________________________________
6. How do humans react to nature? Explain. In what way are your answers

positive or negative?

WHAT I CAN DO?

ACTIVITY 4.4. Demonstrate the virtues of prudence and frugality towards environment

Directions: Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What is happiness? If possible, related Fromm’s view with other philosophers

discussed.

2. What is freedom? Relate Fromm’s view with other philosophers discussed

in previous lessons. 3. What is joy? Do you agree with Fromm’s view?

A. Check your knowledge

1. What are the different environmental theories discussed in this lesson?

Compare the theories.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. What is carbon footprint?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

B. Check your understanding

1. Based on your own understanding, relate and contrast the Anthropocentric

and Ecocentric Models. Write your answers inside the circle. Anthropocentric Model
Ecocentric Model
2. Research about animal rights. In your opinion, do animals deserve respect?

Why or why not?

3. How do you apprehend the meaning of frugality and prudence toward the

environment? Cite three examples.

_____________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

C. Apply what you know

1. Open field: Nature walk Organize a local tour. Students will have a nature walk they
will not just be able to exercise by walking but be at one with nature. Teachers or
guardians must be present to assist students. Terrains of the site must be studied
carefully prior to the occasion. Give feedback and reflection on this activity.

2. (Optional) Gardening In nature walk is not possible, students can choose for
gardening. If the school has no garden yet, this is the chance to plant seeds and/ or put
in pots of flowers or vegetables to create a view of panoramic “greens”. Design the
perimeters creatively (i.e. paint). Take pictures and write your reflection on this activity.
3. If your class cannot do either of these suggested activities, you can invite speaker/s
from PAW (The Philippine Animal Welfare Society), WWF (World Wild Fund for Nature),
or DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and hold a symposium.

ASSESSMENT
Directions: Read carefully and write the letter of your answer on your notebook.

1. What is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason?

a. Transcendence

b. Frugality

c. Aesthetics

d. prudence
2. What is the act of using or other resources wisely and practically?

a. Aesthetics

b. Prudence

c. Frugality

d. Economics

3. What may be a sign of an environmental disorder?

a. Lack of material things

b. Lack of resources

c. Lack of friends

d. Lack of space

4. Which among the following options is a disorder in the environment?

a. A basket of unwashed dirty clothes

b. A house with no single plant

c. A garden with dying plants

d. A library with a small number of books

5. In what way can the environment contribute to health and well-being?

a. It can be available anywhere.

b. It is the source of life.

c. It an produce products that provide medicinal value.

d. It is made up of consumers and producers.

6. In which of the following scenarios is prudence demonstrated?

a. Ordering food that you can consume

b. Searching assignment answers over the internet

c. Keeping the lights on all day

d. Being friendly to neighbors

7. Lila wants to buy an expensive phone using the money she has been saving since
last year. She asked for her friends’ opinions in making her decision. Which among her
friends is frugal?

a. Jen suggested that she should spend the money for travel abroad.

b. Marco advised her to spend the money on the expensive phone.

c. Aiza said that the she should go on a shopping spree using the money.

d. Jack suggested that she should keep the money for future, more important uses.

8. Which of the given statements is true?

1. Prudence and frugality can only be applied in one environment.

2. Looking at aesthetics is a way of determining disorder. a. both statements 1 and 2 c.

statement 1

b. neither statement 1 nor 2 d. statement 2

9. what is the role of the environment in achieving sustainable development?

1. It can reproduce resources.

2. It is the venue for producer-consumer relationships. a. Statement 1

b. Statement 2

c. Neither statement 1 nor 2

d. Both statements 1 and 2

10. Which of the given statements is true about frugality?

1. It is only limited to tangible or solid materials

2. It applies to a select few. a. Statement 1

b. Both statement 1 and 2

c. Statement 2

d. Neither statement 1 nor 2

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 4.1 Notice disorder in the universe

DIRECTIONS: Interactive work: Write your answer in your notebook.

1. In your opinion, how can we protect, conserve and restore our environment?

You can further assess your answer by planning a nature walk or gardening.

a. How can you promote the human person in the environment through nature walk or
gardening?

b. Design: Conceptualize your designs if you will choose gardening. If you

choose nature walk, your teacher must suggest safe place such as La Mesa Dam, etc.

2. Based on the previous images, what could be improper? Are you happy with what
you see or experience in nature? How will you organize or improve the environment or
world that you belong to?